Fallahill

NS96SW 9.00 centred 922 610

NS96SW 9.01 centred on 920 610 Fauldhousehill Rig

NS96SW 9.02 9215 6080 Fallahill Sandstone Quarry

No traces of the farm buildings at Fallahill could be identified during a pre-afforestation survey by Headland Archaeology (NMRS MS 899/65, no.1 a -d). The site of the farm lies in an area of ground disturbance and dumping at the very N end of a quarry (NS96SW 9.02). However, fragments of a turf and stone-built wall, forming the W side of an enclosure, and an internal dividing wall (NMRS MS 899/65, no.1 c and d) were identified to the SW of the farm as were traces of a mid 19th century field boundary on the NW and raised tracks leading to the farm from the N and E (NMRS MS 899/65, no.1 a and b). These features overlie an area of rig as do the remains of an golf course constructed between the revised edition of the 2nd edition of the OS 6-inch map (West Lothian 1921, sheet n XIII) and the provisional edition of the OS 6-inch map (West Lothian 1946, sheet n XIII).

Roy (1747-55) depicts Fallahill as a settlement, distinct from Fauldhouse, with rigged fields but surrounded on the N, W and E by moorland. At the time of the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Linlithgowshire 1856, sheet 11) Fallahill is depicted as a single long range, or terrace, approached by tracks from the E and N (Headland Archaeology NMRS MS 899/65, nos.1a and 1b) as well as the large enclosure on the SW (NMRS MS 899/65, no.1c and d) which is depicted as sub-divided and containing a small outbuilding. At this date, Fallahill quarry ( new) still lay some 250m to the S. Prior to the survey of the 2nd edition of the OS 6-inch map in 1895 (West Lothian 1899, sheet xi), the farmstead is re-organised into a courtyard steading with a possible horse-engine attached. The ground to the N was enclosed of which traces of both the N and SW sides survive whilst expansion of the quarry was encroaching on the enclosure to the S of the farm. In 1914 (revised edition of the 2nd edition of the OS 6-inch map, West Lothian 1921, sheet nXIII) the farmstead is depicted as partially abandoned. Although the extents of the quarry had not altered by 1939, (Provisional edition of the OS 6-inch map, West Lothian 1946, sheet nXIII) no farm buildings are depicted and the ground was given over to a golf course.

C Lowe and M Dalland (Headland Archaeology) 12 February 1998; NMRS MS 899/65, nos 1a-d

W Roy 1747-55

NS 922 610 (centre) A short-notice pre-afforestation survey was undertaken of 0.5 sqkm of land at Fallahill. The remains of extensive rig and furrow cultivation (part of NMRS NS96SW 9) cover the hillside. Elements of banks and enclosures associated with the pre-1854 settlement were recorded. A rapid survey of surviving rig within a 2km radius of the site was also undertaken.

A full report has been lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsor: Historic Scotland

C Lowe 1998