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The First Tuesday after the Second Thursday (in June) is the Riding of the Marches As already explained elsewhere, the first recorded date for the Riding of the Marches is Easter 1541, chosen by Linlithgow’s first Provost, Henry Forest of Magdalenes. The logic behind this date is religion and the weather. The weather seems likely to have persuaded the Provost to wait long enough into spring to ensure a reasonable day but not too far into the year in order to repair winter storm damage. The religious element involved the blessing of the bounds by a priest. The Riding of the Marches continued to be celebrated on this date until 1767 when the Provost, Magistrates and Councillors decided without explanation to move the Whitsun Fair to the second Thursday in June. Marches Day would then be the following Tuesday. It has been so ever since. The tradition of each Trade Guild having its own inn or pub as its headquarters dates back to the origins of the Town itself. The Guild of Wrights were based in the Swan while the smiths and other metal workers met in the Golden Lion. This later changed its name to the Red Lion and is now the Bar Leo. So Platform 3 has the mantle of the base of The Ex-Tinguishers. The Ex-Tinguishers are a group of mainly ex-firemen from the retained station in Linlithgow. They got together initially in 2000 to build a float for The Marches. Their trophies are held in the pub and beneath the cabinet is a picture frame which contains examples of the last few years efforts in float building which have delighted the crowds not only at the Riding of the Marches in Linlithgow but at other local Gala Days as well at the Edinburgh Festival Cavalcade.
The links on the left panel (or in the table above) will guide you to photos and other information relevant to the chosen year. To return to this page just click on the "Ex-Tinguishers" link at the top. |
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