Brightons is a village in the east of the
Falkirk council area of
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
. It is south-east of
Falkirk, south of
Grangemouth and east of
Linlithgow
Linlithgow (; gd, Gleann Iucha, sco, Lithgae) is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It was historically West Lothian's county town, reflected in the county's historical name of Linlithgowshire. An ancient town, it lies in the Central Belt on a ...
. It is surrounded by the villages of
Polmont
Polmont ( gd, Poll-Mhonadh) is a village in the Falkirk council area of Central Scotland. It lies towards the east of the town of Falkirk, north of the Union Canal, which runs adjacent to the village.
Due to its situation in Central Scotland, ...
,
Wallacestone
Wallacestone is a village in the area of Falkirk (council area), Falkirk, central Scotland. It lies south-west of Polmont, south-east of Falkirk and north-east of California, Falkirk, California.
The population of Wallacestone was recorded a ...
and
Rumford. It is central within the Braes area of Falkirk which makes it “Capital of the Braes”
History
The village was built up around the sandstone quarry - known as Brighton Quarry - which was in operation from as early as the 17th Century.
[Falkirk Local History Society - Polmont and Brightons](_blank)
www.falkirklocalhistorysociety.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-12 The Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal was built to the south of the village in 1822 and connects the village with the two main cities of Scotland. Later stone was carried by the canal to help build Edinburgh's new town in the 1830s and Falkirk's public buildings in the 1850s.
The local church was built between 1846 and 1847 from stone quarried in the village and gifted by the quarry owner, Alexander Lawrie.
[Falkirk Council Cultural Services - Guide To Archives - Brightons Parish Church](_blank)
, www.falkirk.gov.uk. Retrieved 2011-05-12 The old quarry was then named ''Lawrie Park'' in his honour, though newer residents to the village call it Quarry Park.
Amenities
Brightons is well catered for a village of its size. Main Street and Station Road include a pharmacy, a café, a Chinese takeaway, two grocers, a butcher, a florist, a hairdresser, a tanning shop, and an estate agent. Lawrie Park is a recreational area which has two football pitches, one of which is the home of
Brightons F.C. Brightons Parish Church is located next to the community hall on Main Street.
Due to its position, almost equidistant between
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
and
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...
the village has become a popular commuter location,
with many new houses built since the start of the 1980s. Both the main
Glasgow to Edinburgh and the
Dunblane to Edinburgh trains stop at
Polmont railway station which is within easy reach of Brightons. The
M9 motorway to Edinburgh and Stirling is also easily accessible. Based on the
United Kingdom 2011 census
A census of the population of the United Kingdom is taken every ten years. The 2011 census was held in all countries of the UK on 27 March 2011. It was the first UK census which could be completed online via the Internet. The Office for National ...
, Falkirk council reported the population of Brightons as being 4,461 residents.
Education
Despite its name Wallacestone Primary School is located within Brightons which sends its pupils to the local high school, Braes High School, in the neighbouring village of
Reddingmuirhead
Reddingmuirhead is a village located in Stirlingshire, Falkirk council area, Central Scotland. A few hundred yards uphill from the village of Redding, it is between Shieldhill and Brightons.
The village contains a large Co-operative Society ...
.
See also
*
Falkirk Braes villages
*
List of places in Falkirk council area
''Map of places in Falkirk council area compiled from this list'':See the list of places in Scotland for places in other counties.
The article is a list of links for any town, village, hamlet, castle, golf course, historic house, hillfort, lightho ...
References
External links
{{authority control
Villages in Falkirk (council area)