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Grangemouth
Map of Grangemouth from 1945
Grangemouth  Grangemouth shown within Scotland
Population	17,366 [1]
OS grid reference	NS935815
- Edinburgh	33.89 kilometers (21 mi)
Council area	Falkirk
Lieutenancy area	Stirling and Falkirk
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	GRANGEMOUTH
Postcode district	FK3
Dialling code	01324
Police	Central Scotland
Fire	Central Scotland
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Scottish Parliament	Falkirk East
List of places: UK • Scotland •

Grangemouth

Grangemouth was founded by Sir Lawrence Dundas in 1769 and was built in conjunction with the eastern end of the Forth and Clyde Canal. Its original name was Sealock referencing its proximity to where the canal flowed into the Forth. It became prominent due to the canal traffic that passed through. High tariffs at the port of Leith caused much traffic to come to Grangemouth instead. The re-opened canal no longer passes through the old part of Grangemouth, but joins the tidal River Carron, which has been deepened to allow access to the River Forth for canal traffic. The town's current name refers to its position at the mouth of the Grange Burn (or stream) which flows into the River Forth at this point.

During World War II, Inchyra Road was used as a runway; Canadian and Polish citizens were based there. Immediately prior to the outbreak of WWII the runway was an integral part of the Central Scotland Airport.

The Soap Works building which was used to manufacture soap and glycerine, and owned by the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society was established in 1897. This was the largest works of its kind in Scotland and employed a considerable number of local people.

The soap works, a local landmark at the end of Wood Street opposite the Old Bus Garage, was demolished in November 2005 to make way for a new Whyte and Mackay blending and bottling plant. The town has new shopping facilities being built in response to its increasing popularity as a commuter town for Edinburgh.

Grangemouth Port is one of the main ports in the UK with the largest container terminal in Scotland, with 9 million tonnes of cargo handled through the dock facilities each year.^[3] There are links to the inter-modal freight facilities elsewhere in the town which use the town's motorway connections. The town is virtually equidistant between the two largest cities in Scotland - Glasgow and Edinburgh - which has led to a number of motels and hotels being set up to satisfy the demand for convenient but lower-cost tourist and business accommodation servicing these popular destinations.

Grangemouth has an Air Training Corps Squadron, 1333 (Grangemouth) Squadron (located at the TA Centre in Central Avenue), an Army Cadet Detachment (also in Central Avenue) and a Sea and Marine cadet corps (at Grangemouth Docks).

There is one general health practice, and a few dentist's surgeries. The nearest hospital is Falkirk District (NHS Forth Valley)

Abbotgrange Parish Church (New union between Kerse and Dundas Parish Churches);

Kirk of the Holy Rood;

Zetland Parish Church

Catholic:

Christ the King;

Sacred Heart

Episcopal:

St Mary's

Education

Bowhouse Primary School

Beancross Primary School

Moray Primary School

Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School

Grangemouth High School

Sports

The town has many football teams, including Mahratta AFC and Bowhouse F.C., and is home to Grangemouth Stags Rugby Football Club.

Grangemouth has an international-standard sports stadium and sports centre. Grangemouth Stadium was built for the citizens of Grangemouth, partly-funded by BP. The stadium has been extended to host a 150-metre running track, physio room, and weight-lifting. The stadium is used as the National Indoor Sports Stadium and for the Football Referees' Fitness Test for Stirlingshire. A number of parks exist in the town which are used for sports and recreational activities - Inchyra Park, which is situated close to the stadium, a small park in the Bowhouse area which is situated at the point where the Grange Burn flows into the town, and Zetland park which is situated in the centre of the town next to Grangemouth sports complex,. Grangemouth Golf Club is actually located in the neighbouring village of Polmont.

Famous residents

Willie Buchan - ex Celtic and Blackpool footballer

Kaye Adams - television presenter

Alan Davie - artist

Steve Frew - Commonwealth Games gold medal winner, gymnastics

Robin Guthrie, Will Heggie and Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins

Stuart Kennedy - ex-Aberdeen and Scotland footballer

Isla St Clair - former television presenter

Sir David Tweedie - chairman of the International Accounting Standards Committee

George Young - ex-Rangers and Scotland football captain

Brian Hurren - keyboardist for Scottish Celtic rock band, Runrig

Further reading

Grangemouth Refinery - information about the Grangemouth INEOS oil refinery

Grangemouth Middle Schools - information about the Grangemouth middle schools

Grangemouth Pilots' Association - information about the (now defunct) GPA