California, Falkirk

Shieldhill is a village within the Falkirk council area in Central Scotland. The village is 2.0 miles (3.2 km) south-east of Falkirk, 2.4 miles (3.9 km) south-west of Polmont and 0.5 miles (0.8 km) north of the village of California. Shieldhill is divided into a few main parts: " The California end" and the old " scheme end " to the west, and the newer Bovis and the original old miners rows which have existed in some way for approximately 150 years. The main road through Shieldhill is the B8028 road between California and Glen Village and the B810 road from Reddingmuirhead. At the time of the 2001 census, Shieldhill had a population of 2,656 residents.

The Polmont rail accident, also known as the Polmont rail disaster, occurred on 30 July 1984 to the west of Polmont, near Falkirk, in Scotland. A westbound push-pull express train travelling from Edinburgh to Glasgow struck a cow which had gained access to the track through a damaged fence from a field near Polmont railway station, causing all six carriages and the locomotive of the train to derail. 13 people were killed and 61 others were injured, 17 of them seriously. The accident led to a debate about the safety of push-pull trains on British Rail.

Reddingmuirhead is a village located in Stirlingshire, Falkirk council area, Central Scotland. A few hundred yards uphill from the village of Redding, it is between Shieldhill and Brightons. The village contains a large Co-operative Society building, the shops of which provide most everyday requirements, one small general store, and one licensed grocer who also looks after the post office, and a large secondary school Braes High. It was notable in recent times due to the success of its local Sunday football team, Blairlodge AFC, which competed in the Falkirk and District League.Reddingmuirhead is also the location of the Polmont Young Offenders Institution.

The Battle of Falkirk (Scottish Gaelic: Blàr na h-Eaglaise Brice), on 22 July 1298, was one of the major battles in the First War of Scottish Independence. Led by King Edward I of England, the English army defeated the Scots, led by William Wallace. Shortly after the battle Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland.

Wallacestone is a village in the area of Falkirk, central Scotland. It lies 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south-west of Polmont, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south-east of Falkirk and 1.0 mile (1.6 km) north-east of California. The population of Wallacestone was recorded as 746 residents at the time of the 2001 census.

Westquarter is a village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Polmont and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) south-east of the town of Falkirk. Westquarter can be accessed from the north via the A803 road and from the south via the B805 road. At the 2001 census the village of Westquarter was recorded as having a resident population of 1,105. In 1876 George McRoberts who already manufactured detonators (for mining) at Westquarter, was joined by Alfred Nobel to build the Nobel Explosives Factory in Westquarter.

The Redding pit disaster was a coal mining disaster in September 1923 when an inrush of water trapped 66 miners underground at a mine shaft in the Central Belt of Scotland, with 40 fatalities.

His Majesty's Young Offenders Institution Polmont is the largest young offender's institution in Scotland. HMP Polmont first opened as a Borstal in 1911 in the buildings of the former Blairlodge Academy. The Academy had been forced to close in 1908 due to financial difficulties and a subsequent outbreak of an infectious disease, and the Prison Commissioners bought the site in 1911.It is designed to hold up to 760 inmates between the ages of 16 and 21, although there have been several reports and complaints about the presence of inmates younger than 16. Living conditions have also been criticised, including an alleged insufficency of food and the outdated practice of slopping out.Notable inmates include murderer Luke Mitchell, and Chris Cunningham, star of BBC Scotland's The Scheme. More recently, the prison is home to Aaron Campbell, convicted of carrying out one instance of child abduction, rape and murder when he was 16.

Callendar House is a mansion set within the grounds of Callendar Park in Falkirk, central Scotland. During the 19th century, it was redesigned and extended in the style of a French Renaissance château fused with elements of Scottish baronial architecture. However, the core of the building is a 14th-century tower house.During its 600-year history, Callendar House has played host to many prominent historical figures, including Mary, Queen of Scots, Oliver Cromwell, Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Victoria. The current building is by far the most substantial historical building in the area, with a 300 ft (91 m) frontage. It is protected as a category A listed building, and the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens.

Laurieston is a village in the Falkirk council area in Central Scotland. It is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east Falkirk, 1.6 miles (2.6 km) south-west of Grangemouth and 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west of Polmont. Laurieston is located on the A803 road between Falkirk and Polmont. At the time of the 2001 census, Laurieston had a population of 2,752 residents, down from 3,000 in 1991 and 3,300 in 1971.The course of the Antonine Wall runs through the village with the largest fort on the wall located at Mumrills.

Graeme High School is a non-denominational public secondary school located in Falkirk, Scotland. The school is operated by Falkirk Council on behalf of the Education Department of the Scottish Government. The catchment area, from which the school's pupil population is drawn, comprises Hallglen, Laurieston, St. Margaret's, Victoria and Westquarter primary schools, located in the east of Falkirk itself and in the nearby Lower Braes villages.

Avonbridge railway station was a station on the Slamannan Railway. The line connected mines and villages in the Central Scotland.