Archives
West Lothian Council Archives are responsible for preserving and making accessible records reflecting the history of both local government and the wider community in West Lothian.
What are Archives?
The archival holdings date from the 16th century to the present day and include local authority records and private deposits, for example:
- School records
- Poor Law records
- Business records
- Estate papers
The Collections
You can search our archives using our online catalogue (opens new window).
The main collections include the records of:
- West Lothian Council
- West Lothian County and District Councils
- Livingston Development Corporation
- Linlithgow Incorporation of Wrights
- Bob Wallace photographic collection
- Bathgate Forge
Access
On-site visits are available by appointment only, between 10am and 4:30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please note that we are a very small team with limited reading space available and appointments will be limited within these hours. Please plan your visit in advance to ensure you are able to have the time you need.
To make an appointment or for any other enquiries, please email: archive@westlothian.gov.uk or write to West Lothian Council Archives, Kirkton Service Centre, 1 Lister Road, Livingston, EH54 7BL.
Charges
If you require scans or photocopies, images, building warrants/planning applications, or for us to carry out research on your behalf, we will charge a fee. We also charge for commercial reproduction of archival material. You can download a list of our charges (Word doc, 28 KB)(opens new window).
Private Deposits
We welcome donations of records from individuals and organisations that relate to the local history of West Lothian.
