Falkirk is in the Central Lowlands of Scotland.
It is in the Forth Valley, 24 miles northwest of Edinburgh and 20 miles northeast of Glasgow. Situated between the Slamannan Plateau and the upper reaches of the Firth of Forth, two tributaries of the River Carron (the East Burn and the West Burn) flow through the town.
The town's name was derived from the Scots Fawkirk, which translated to "variegated church," apparently a reference to a church building that was made of many-coloured stones, which dates back to the 7th century. Today, Falkirk Old Parish Church is on the site of the medieval church.
The Antonine Wall, which stretched across the centre of Scotland, passed through Falkirk. Parts of it can still be seen at Callendar Park. As it was built of turf, not much of it has survived. It marked the northern frontier of the Roman Empire between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde in the 140s AD. Some of the best evidence of the Roman occupation has been found in Falkirk, including Roman coins and the oldest Roman tartan ever documented. The remains of a Roman fort were found in the Pleasance area of Falkirk in 1991.
The 1298 Battle of Falkirk was a significant battle during the First War of Scottish Independence, where King Edward I of England defeated the Scots led by William Wallace. Much later, the town saw the Battle of Falkirk Muir in January of 1746 during the Jacobite Rising of 1745.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Falkirk was a hub for the iron and steel industry. Of particular importance was the construction of the Carron Iron Works in 1765. The Forth and Clyde Canal was built to support the industry in 1790. Later, the 1822 Union Canal linked Falkirk to Edinburgh, and early railroad development followed in the 1830s and 1840s. In time, trunk roads and motorways followed the canal corridors through the Falkirk area, linking the town with the rest of Scotland. Other industries included a large brickworks operated by the Howie family.
Another important sector in Falkirk was the Alexander Dennis bus manufacturing plant that opened in 1969. However, Alexander Dennis, a British company, closed its Falkirk plant on June 24, 2024.
Today, heavy industry has declined in Falkirk and the surrounding area, and its economy now relies on retail, tourism, and transportation.
While its heavy industry has declined, the town still supports manufacturing, chemical sciences, and logistics industries.
The Falkirk Growth Deal is designed to boost the local economy with a significant investment in job creation and supporting projects like a sustainable transport hub and arts center.
Notable landmarks in Falkirk include the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. Considered an engineering marvel, it's a popular tourist attraction. The Kelpies, towering equine sculptures representing mythical water horses, are between Falkirk and Grangemouth. These 30-meter-high steel sculptures stand next to the Forth and Clyde Canal.
Mentioned earlier, Falkirk Old Parish Church, founded as early as the 7th century, is in the centre of Falkirk. Although the structure was largely rebuilt in the 19th century, its 18th-century steeple was retained. The earliest parts of the current building date to around 1450, although some medieval carved stones are preserved within the church, including effigies of nobles. Also known as Falkirk Trinity Church, it is an active congregation of the Church of Scotland.
Falkirk High School was founded in 1886. Other schools include St. Mungo's High School, Graeme High School, Comely Park Primary School, Hallglen Primary School, and Westquarter Primary School.
Falkirk hosts a variety of clubs, classes, and activities for children, adults, and visitors, including archery, gymnastics, swimming, and others, including hiking and walking paths in the Falkirk area. Multi-sports camps in the area for children provide opportunities for basketball, football, tennis, and dancing.
Falkirk has three men's football teams: Falkirk Football Club, Stenhousemuir Football Club, and East Stirlingshire Football Club. Two women's football clubs in Falkirk are Central Girls Football Academy and Falkirk Ladies.
Scotland's first Co-ed Roller Derby League is in Falkirk. Area clubs include the Skelpie's men's team, the Central Belters women's team, and the Belter Skelpers Co-ed team.
The Falkirk Rugby Club goes back to 1906. However, it was disbanded at the start of World War I, and rugby didn't resurface in town until 1972 when a team from Grangemouth moved to Falkirk.
The Falkirk GHG Hockey Club was formed from the merger of Graeme High School Former Pupils Hockey Club and Grangemouth Hockey Club in 1999. It now has four men's teams.
The Falkirk Company of Archers was established in 1971.
This category focuses on Falkirk, Scotland.
Recommended Resources
Affiliated with the Scottish Episcopal Church, the congregation is in the western reaches of the Diocese of Edinburgh, and seeks to serve Episcopalians, Anglicans, and people of all faiths or none in Falkirk and the surrounding communities. The congregation conducts weekly services, which are featured here, and is also involved in several ecological and social justice issues. Church and hall hire policies are discussed, and an archive of recent sermons is provided.
https://www.christchurchfalkirksec.org.uk/
The fully licensed Thai restaurant, located in Falkirk, Scotland, offers dine-in and carry-out. Opened in 2016, it offers a balance of spicy, sour, salty, and sweet Thai flavours. Its location, a map, hours of operation, and a gallery of photographs are set forth, along with an introduction to the chef, its menus, online table reservations, and online ordering, a telephone number, email address, and an online enquiry form, are set forth, and vouchers may be purchased online.
https://www.erawanthaiuk.com/
Falkirk Council is a local government authority that provides services to residents, businesses, and visitors in Falkirk, Scotland. Its website allows residents to conveniently request and receive assistance in areas such as bin collection, road maintenance, school-related matters, council tax, housing, and others. The site also features job and career opportunities, employee information, licensing data, school information, tourism and visitor attractions, and contacts.
https://www.falkirk.gov.uk/
FHS is a non-denominational six-year comprehensive school in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland. Founded in 1886, it is located about one mile from the centre of Falkirk and serves a wide catchment area with eight associated primary schools: Bainsford, Bantaskin, Carmuirs, Comely Park, Easter Carmuirs, Langlees, Limerigg, and Siammannan primary schools. An introduction to the school is provided, including school dates, term schedules, subject areas, and family resources.
https://www.falkirk.falkirk.sch.uk/
The Society was formed in 1981 to provide a forum for people with an interest in the history of the Falkirk, Scotland, area, previously known as East Stirlingshire. It also covers the town of Bo'ness and surrounding villages that were formerly in West Lothian. A search box can be used to discover any articles on the site that apply to a viewer's area of interest. There are articles on buildings, burial places, castles, churches, houses, industries, schools, and early museums.
https://falkirklocalhistory.club/
The family-owned business has been in operation for more than thirty years. It currently supplies garden sheds, summerhouses, garages, decking, and fencing materials to the public and trade in the Central Region of Scotland. The Falkirk, Scotland, company also installs garden sheds, summerhouses, garden fences, and decking. Its products are exhibited in an online gallery of photographs, and its address, telephone number, email address, and an enquiry form are provided.
https://falkirksheds.com/
A congregation of the Church of Scotland, Falkirk Trinity Church meets at its facilities, known as The Faw Kirk, in the heart of Falkirk's town centre. The congregation's Sunday worship services are at 10:30 am, and midweek worship services are held on Wednesday mornings at 11:30 am. Services are also streamed on the church's video channel. The church also hosts a dog-friendly cafe called "Cafe in the Kirk" on Wednesdays, serving lunches, and supports a number of community projects.
https://falkirktrinity.org.uk/
The Helix was a land transformation project to improve connections between the sixteen communities in Falkirk Council, Scotland. Its most visible feature is the equine sculptures known as The Kelpies, a pair of monumental steel horse heads that form the eastern gateway of the Forth and Clyde Canal. Operated by the Falkirk Council, The Helix also includes a visitor centre, the Helix Lagoon, a place for children to play, ancient orchards, and paths. Private and group tours are available.
https://www.thehelix.co.uk/
An independent car garage in Larbert, Stirlingshire offering car repairs, servicing and MOT tests. Our services are available for cars, electric vehicles and small commercial vehicles.
https://lawsonautotech.co.uk/
