| Code | NA9 |
| Place Entry | Howden House, Livingston |
| Notes | The earliest recording of the house is in the 16th century, when it was mentioned as Over Howden. The estate on which Howden House stands belonged to the Douglas family, a branch of the Douglasses of Pumpherston. In the 17th century it was passed to the Bryce family. During the 18th century the house was acquired, in turn, by two successful Edinburgh lawyers, Mr Inglis and then Mr Wilson. The current building was completed in 1795 with harled walls and a grey slate roof. In the 19th century the house was the home of Agnes Young, daughter of James Young, the shale oil pioneer. She continued to live there until her death in 1931 when it was then sold to Sir Adrian Baillie of Polkemmet. His mother Lady Baillie lived there until she died in 1946. Just after midnight on Tuesday 25 June 1940 a bomb fell on the coach house and stables - now Howden Park Centre. Mrs Maria Fleming and her granddaughter Margaret, aged 10 were killed. These were the first civilians to be killed on the Scottish mainland and the only WWII deaths by bombing in West Lothian.
In 1946 Howden House was bought by the Ministry of Agriculture and used as an agricultural machinery testing station. In 1965, as the first houses in Livingston were built and occupied, the House was bought by Livingston Development Corporation with assistance from the Carnegie UK Trust to create a centre for community activities. The House was never fully used as a community centre, and when it passed to West Lothian Council on the wind-up of the Development Corporation it was subsequently sold. As of 2012 Howden House was being developed into flats by a private firm. |
| Place Name | Howden House, Livingston |
| Notes | The earliest recording of the house is in the 16th century, when it was mentioned as Over Howden. The estate on which Howden House stands belonged to the Douglas family, a branch of the Douglasses of Pumpherston. In the 17th century it was passed to the Bryce family. During the 18th century the house was acquired, in turn, by two successful Edinburgh lawyers, Mr Inglis and then Mr Wilson. The current building was completed in 1795 with harled walls and a grey slate roof. In the 19th century the house was the home of Agnes Young, daughter of James Young, the shale oil pioneer. She continued to live there until her death in 1931 when it was then sold to Sir Adrian Baillie of Polkemmet. His mother Lady Baillie lived there until she died in 1946. Just after midnight on Tuesday 25 June 1940 a bomb fell on the coach house and stables - now Howden Park Centre. Mrs Maria Fleming and her granddaughter Margaret, aged 10 were killed. These were the first civilians to be killed on the Scottish mainland and the only WWII deaths by bombing in West Lothian.
In 1946 Howden House was bought by the Ministry of Agriculture and used as an agricultural machinery testing station. In 1965, as the first houses in Livingston were built and occupied, the House was bought by Livingston Development Corporation with assistance from the Carnegie UK Trust to create a centre for community activities. The House was never fully used as a community centre, and when it passed to West Lothian Council on the wind-up of the Development Corporation it was subsequently sold. As of 2012 Howden House was being developed into flats by a private firm. |
| Source | Hendrie, William F. "Livingston in Old Picture Postcards" European Library (1987) |
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