Page 17 - 364377 LP243022 BB Magazine 32pp A4 (July 2022)

The White House photographed in 1970.
In that year, the Town Clerk of Linlithgow, Ian Cameron, wrote to the National Trust asking if they would be prepared to restore and preserve the interesting, historic structure. They replied saying that it might fit nicely into their “Little Houses” scheme which had already restored some significant domestic dwellings across Scotland - notably in Culross and in some East Neuk fishing villages in Fife.
Rowanbank, a 17th century building in Culross, restored by the National Trust.
However, things moved slowly, and by the time the Trust was ready to act, the building had been privately purchased from the building’s owner, Mr Brock. The new owner, Mr Jim Shanks, declared his intention to demolish the building and to build
a modern bungalow on the site.
Despite concern being raised
by West Lothian planners and notwithstanding opposition from the newly established Linlithgow Civic Trust, plans to flatten the building went ahead. A detailed survey was commissioned, and it reported that the walls were sound and the building was eminently restorable. The report declared that the unique window layout, and the pantiled roof should be retained in the restoration.
An offer to buy and restore the edifice from a Mr S. Henderson was received but it was rejected and the demolition went ahead. West Lothian Planning Department, led by Mr Moodie,
and the Scottish Development Department raised no objection and the Category C listed building duly disappeared. Another part of the town’s historical fabric had vanished.
Below: The building which replaced White House.
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The Linlithgowshire Gazette pointed out the threat to the building.
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