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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => West Lothian (Linlithgowshire) => Topic started by: mirrin on Wednesday 13 February 13 13:08 GMT (UK)
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I have been trying to find out the history of Breich Inns or The Breich Inns. I would like to find out when it was built. My grandfather James Hamilton bought the building in the 1920's or perhaps earlier. I would like to know when he bought it. I have tried the valuation rolls on Scotlands People and I do not know where to go from there.
Prior to 1975 Breich Inns was in Midlothian/Edinburghshire then in West Lothian/Linlithgowshire. In the 1901 census he was aged 17 and lived in Breich Inns with his parents and family. The address for them is given as 3 Ayr Road with other famillies resident in the property of Breich Inns at 1 Ayr Road and 2Ayr Road etc. Shown as Hamlet of Breich inns. Civil Parish is West Calder and Parish Ward Addiewell. In the earlier census the Hamilton family did not live at Breich Inns. (Breich Inns is about 4 miles from West Calder) My grandfather bought it from James Thornton the previous owner. Any advice, suggestions much appreciated. Thanks
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If he bought the buildings, there should be a record of the change of ownership in the Register of Sasines in the National Archives of Scotland www.nas.gov.uk. You wouldn't need to see the whole document - there should be enough detail in the Abridgment. Calendars of abridgments were published annually, so it means going through them one after the other until you find the transaction. The West Lothian heritage centre or West Lothian archives in Linlithgow may have copies of the calendars and if so might be willing to look them up for you. Otherwise it's a case of hiring a searcher if you can't get to Edinburgh or Linlithgow yourself.
As for the age of the building, you need to find an old photograph of the building. The style of the building will give an indication of its age. Again, the Heritage Centre is probably the best place to start.
Breich Inn is marked and named on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey six-inch map, published in 1854. See http://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch/view/?sid=74426709#zoom=6&lat=8000&lon=34672&layers=BT
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:) Hi Forfarian Thank you very much for that information. The map is great and very clear and confirms the building was there in 1854. I have old photographs of the building. The story goes that it was a coaching inn at one time I guess being on the Edinburgh to Ayr road. It started off as two houses joined together by a single storey building used as stables. My grandfather built another floor in the middle to make it one full building of 5 houses. There is a possibility that it may have been built between 1832 1852 - not sure about that. Not sure when, probably the fifties it was sold and later became a hotel. It was knocked down in the last few years. I will now investigate the Register of Sasines and hope to have some more information. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.
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Using the street address of Breich Inn on the 1851 Census transcription for West Calder returns results for 30 people(freeCEN).
Can't easily see anything in 1841.
ev
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Hi Ev Thanks for that. In the 1901 census the family were at Breich Inns but not in the 1891 census, but lived about 1 mile away. Very interesting to check out who lived there in the 1851 census so I will go and do that now.
Have been on the Record of Sasines have found lots of interesting things but so far no mention of Breich Inn plenty of other inns and a few mentions of Breich re land and mining.
Thank you both for help.
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:) Hi Forfarian Thank you very much for that information. The map is great and very clear and confirms the building was there in 1854. I have old photographs of the building. The story goes that it was a coaching inn at one time I guess being on the Edinburgh to Ayr road. It started off as two houses joined together by a single storey building used as stables. My grandfather built another floor in the middle to make it one full building of 5 houses. There is a possibility that it may have been built between 1832 1852 - not sure about that. Not sure when, probably the fifties it was sold and later became a hotel. It was knocked down in the last few years. I will now investigate the Register of Sasines and hope to have some more information. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.
You say the Breich Inns have been knocked down, it was still standing the last time I passed and that is not years ago, if need be I will go again.
James,
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Breich Inns is no longer there. I think it was destroyed by fire about 3 or 4 years ago.
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Breich Inns was knocked down a few years ago. I can't remember exactly how many years but it is a few anyway. I would be guessing at 4 or 5 maybe. It was destroyed by fire then demolished. I believe it was no longer running as a business at the time. I saw the building after the fire and then later the empty site. The site has been up for sale for a long time now.
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Thanks again for any input.
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Took photos before it was demolished.Distant relative of my father in law was the publican in 1960s.
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Thank you very much for the photos - they are much appreciated.
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Hi Mirrin, I currently stay in Breich and used to go to the Breich Inns all the time before it was closed and knocked down. The owner when this happened is a Councillor now. could be worth an email to him as he might know a lot more information? Gordon Beurskens is his name.
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Each [owned/feued but not rented] property in Scotland has a search sheet in the relevant county of the Register of Sasines. The First Series started in about the 1870s and each sheet transferred to the Second Series later between 1890 & 1905. The search sheet shows the recording details of each change of ownership. The first Series sometimes had marginal notes giving the dates of earlier deeds so you may be able to find the date of the first recorded deed which may indicate date of building.
Through my work I have access to the online indexes of search sheets. If you like I can look up the Breich Inn - it may have in fact been rented from the local estate so will have no search sheet. Search sheets themselves cost £3.60 to download [they cost more if you obtain them through search firms].
Josey
EDIT: The Land Register has taken over from the Sasines in the past 20 years or so but the Sasine search sheets are still available from before the time that a property is transferred.
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Thank you both for your reply and suggestions.
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Josey Thank you very much for all the information that you managed to find for me.
Mirrin