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Latest comment: 1 year ago1 comment1 person in discussion
There's a mention of Alexander Marjoribanks and Balbardie House in "A Bit of old Bathgate" by John Stirling ( https://gtoal.com/bathgate/ ). I just mention it here for interest, I don't think it's worth working in to the main page:
Alexander Marjoribanks.
To the right, some three or four hundred yards distant,
stands the beautiful ancestral home of the Marjoribanks',
designed by the Bros. Adams, famous world wide known
architects. Early in the 18th century the estate of Bathgate
passed from the House of Hopetoun to that of Marjoribanks.
To Alexander Marjoribanks the people of Bathgate
owe a deep debt of gratitude. He insisted on contesting
the will of John Newlands against his heirs, who wanted
the will set aside, and he gave a guarantee that he would
bear the expense of the litigation. The case was fought in
the Court of Session, and decided in favour of the town.
It is said that the amount of money left was over $60,000,
but after expenses had been paid there was only $15,000,
which went towards the building of the present Academy,
the $15,000 being only the interest on the principal for ten
years.
Mr Marjoribanks was a very generous gentleman, was
known as "the good old laird," was a good friend to Bathgate,
was elected the first Provost of the town, and deserves
to be ever held in grateful memory. His grandson is at
present the minister of Stenton, Prestonkirk parish, who is
in possession of his grandfather's pruning knife, a relic of
bygone days. The family are also in possession of numerous
oil paintings and Biblical engravings which at one time
adorned the walls of Balbardie House. It is a great pity that
the estate passed out of possession of the Marjoribanks. 70.124.38.160 (talk) 19:32, 19 June 2023 (UTC)Reply
