Blackridge

   BLACKRIDGE, lately a quoad sacra parish, chiefly in the parish of Torphichen, county of Linlithgow, 3 miles (N.) from Bathgate; containing 900 inhabitants, of whom 94 are in the village. This parish included portions of the civil parishes of Torphichen, Shotts, Bathgate, Slamannan, and New Monkland; the village is situated at the west end of the first-named parish, near the river Avon, and the inhabitants are employed in agriculture, and in the mines and quarries in the neighbourhood. The church was erected by subscription, in 1838, and is a neat structure, containing 400 sittings; the minister derives a stipend of about £60, from the seat-rents and collections. The parochial school is well attended; the master has a salary of £29, the proceeds of bequests, and 100 merks, together nearly £35; and the fees average about £11. A parochial library has been established.