We were very fortunate to be shown around Mrs McAlpine's lovely

garden recently when we visited the former site of the important

Barbauchlaw Place.  'The Place', as it is called locally, was situated

immediately north of the Manse and it was the area's manor

house.

"Early in the eighteenth century the head of the house held judicial

sway over the county, acting as Sheriff in the Sheriffdoms of

Linlithgow and Bathgate" Past and Present 1906