Westfield paper mill

[Seoras]

I have finally found out just which mill my grandmother was working in around the time of her 1917 marriage,Westfield paper mill.I have googled about a bit but not come up with much.Can anyone supply more information on the mill or if I am very lucky,pre WW II photos to give me some idea of the place.Or indeed any site where I can find some more info.

George.

[Br1gau]

Hi George,

Westfield Paper Mill, also known as Bathgate, closed in 2002 and has since been demolished.  RCAHMS have 24 photographs including some from the 1950s:
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/165800/details/westfield+paper+mill/

Two photos of the chimney being demolished:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1156768
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1156773

Some general background:
http://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/1westfield-west-lothian.aspx

brigau

[Seoras]

Hi brigau,thanks for that but I have been through those.It would appear you have to order the photos.When my gran worked there it would have been pre WW II so was hoping for some older than 1950.I must have driven past the site a dozen times a few months ago but didn't have the info I have now.

George.

[Br1gau]

I don't know the area or the Mill, but possibly their records have been archived somewhere?  RCAHMS might be a good place to start.
brigau

[Forfarian]

Why not try the

West Lothian Archives http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/tourism/FamHistGenInfo/famhistarch/enquiries

or

West Lothian Local History Library http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/tourism/LocalHistory/

They may well have some old photographs

Also the Bennie Museum in Bathgate http://benniemuseum.org.uk/contentw/

[Seoras]

Hi Forfarian,thanks for those links.I was staying in Bathgate a few weeks ago and kept meaning to pop into the Bennie museum,but every day seemed to be filled with other things to do.

George.

[scottmackay]

I have finally found out just which mill my grandmother was working in around the time of her 1917 marriage,Westfield paper mill.I have googled about a bit but not come up with much.Can anyone supply more information on the mill or if I am very lucky,pre WW II photos to give me some idea of the place.Or indeed any site where I can find some more info.

George.

George,

My name is Scott Mackay and I am currently researching the mill for a heritage project commissioned by the village and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. I would love to hear what you know already and I can let you know when the project starts as well as detailing what we find. Hope this is of interest but let me know about anything you currently have and I might be able to add it to the project. We are just getting started.

thanks

Scott

[Seoras]

Hi Scott, I know little about it myself as I left the area when I was 7 and was just looking for a photo. However my mother was born and raised there so I will see if she can tell me anything and get back to you.

It may also be useful to contact Mosstrooper. He was born and still lives nearby. He has been a great help to me on anything to do with the locality.

[James Q]

Scott McKay.

My name is Jim Quin.  My Grandfather Henry William Nimmo Quin worked there after WW1 and brought his family up in Torphichen.  I have his gold watch presented to him by the
Westfield Paper Coy Ltd in recognition of his War Service 1914-1918.
I know he worked at the Mill but no exact dates.  At least he survived.  The watch has been cleaned and restored and returned to me today and I want to know more about the Westfield Paper Mill if there are any records of him when he worked there.  I know he was there for several years until the late 1930s, but I do not know any more than that.  Regards  Jim