Group looks to the future

Friends of Kinneil Blue Sky thinking

Members of the Management Committee of The Friends of Kinneil recently took part in a “Blue Sky” evening to begin to develop a longer term strategy and vision for consideration by the charity.

The committee selected key areas to explore and then identified where in the general approach that each item should be placed. The results of this evening are set out below with a key relating to the immediacy or otherwise of the item. This item is designed to first inform the outcome of this event and secondly to encourage further individual/collective thought about further items to add and practical routes to achieve what has been set out.

Ideas were brought forward on the basis of no restrictions on budget or indeed approval from building/land owners to do particular pieces of work – and should be seen as starting point for discussions about the future of Kinneil Estate. It was, after all, a blue sky thinking event.

What’s your view?

Email: info@kinneil.org.uk with your aspirations and big ideas for the estate.

KEY : (A) – Short Term (B) – Medium Term (C) – (Longer Term)

PALACE SECTION OF KINNEIL HOUSE

A	Protecting wall paintings (1^st floor)	Blinds or Curtains Restoration/replication/digimedia representation
A	Handrail and step warnings
A	Top Floor Displays	Revitalise the displays and create a more interesting visitor experience
A/B	Interpretation	Stands or other forms of information holder
B	Upgrade Systems/infrastructure	Heating/Lighting/Toilet facilities
B	Kitchen Display	Recreate or otherwise interpret original kitchen
B	Ghost Projection	Create special effect
C	Restore/re-open mid section
C	Use existing dormant rooms

ANTONINE WALL

A	Strategic Park status	Achieved but need to be sustained
A/B	Walking Trail	Incl Roman Mile
A/B	Roman Bo’ness	Roman Week, Leaflets, Book
A/B	Hadrian’s Wall link	And other frontiers/town twinning
A/B	Wider Bo’ness link	EG Bridgeness Slab, Carriden House
A/B	Visiting Scholars and others	Talks, Time Team, etc
B	Excavations	Incl DIY sandpit archaeology
C	Bust of Antonine
C	Mini Fortlet/relevant child based facilities	Child friendly Roman exploration
C	Roman Centre	In the House? Providing Interpretation
C	Wall Section	Rebuild a section for interpretation

PARK AND ESTATE

A	Rubbish/Improve general housekeeping
A	Plant life and general maintenance	Shrubs, gates, fencing, paths
A	Establish a use for No6 Cottage	Perhaps a base for activity or Friends of Kinneil
A	Ghost Walk	Develop information and create a walk
A	Bluebell Wood	Identify and develop wood
A	Bulb planting
A/B	Self Guided Digitours	Ipods, downloads, etc
A/B	Church and Church Yard	Improve area, make more visitor friendly
A/B	Hill Climb Infrastructure	Establish what is required and develop
A/B	Upgrade Signs and Paths	Include Information, locators and maps
A/B	Sport/Recreation and social facilities	Re-establish scope for wider use
ABC	Child friendly activities/Vandalism	Create activities to create positive value
B	Extend gravel drive to House entrance
B	Create Nature Trails	Incl signs, wildlife information, etc
B	Ranger Service
B	Trainee/Task Force Projects
B	Showcase Events	Concerts for example
B	Fair Day related events
B	Repair park walls
B	Tree survey	Incl fallen timber
B/C	Flood Lighting for front of the House
B/C	CCTV	Protect and improve park safety
B/C	Develop Crawyett area
B/C	Lost Village	Research and inform about Kinneil settlement
B/C	Restore House gardens	Or adapt to create specialist gardens
B/C	Picnic areas	Establish with infrastructure
B/C	Woodland and Ponds	Upgrade, improve and protect
B/C	AMAZING IDEA	Carve out draw for visitors – eg, Rose, Herb, Walled and/or Sensory Gardens
C	Sculptures

JAMES WATT COTTAGE

A	JW Letters	Locate and secure (even copies)
A	SRPS Link
A/B	JW Life History
A/B	JW Paintings/prints	Locate in house/museum
B/C	Costumed Interpreters
B/C	Museums/Science Centres link	Industrial revolution, how JW opened up the world, Horsepower, link with John Roebuck
B/C	Blueprint for other House people	John Roebuck, Dugald Stewart, James Hamilton, Duchess Anne, etc
C	Rebuild/re-create JW Cottage	Establish strong visitor attraction
C	Children’s Interpretation Centre	Science and Industry, link with local sites
C	Working model of steam engine

EXTERNAL MARKETING

A	Logo	Kinneil and/or Heritage
A	Idiosyncratic stories	“Love Kinneil”
A	Visitor Guides	Incl Kinneil
A	House Impact	Capitalise on the visual impact
A	End of the Wall role	Establish firm place for WHS
A/B	“Estate that changed the World”	Develop concept/strapline
A/B	Extend Interest	Journalists, schools, etc
A/B	Internal marketing	Recruit and support “Champions”
A/B	Photography Competitions	Photographer holiday breaks, Film location
A/B	Wider Liaison	Within and outwith Bo’ness
A/B	Vintage vehicles	Incl Steam
ABC	Link with other sites	Learn and use best practice
C	“Falkirk Wheel” Impact	Establish International reputation
C	Child Focus	Create child friendly role/facilities

FRIENDS OF KINNEIL

A	Appreciate Members	Activate Members – better involvement Newsletter, Website, Surveys Annual cycle of Member Events
A	“THE” Local Heritage Society	Link with like minded groups and establish central role
A/B	Target Schools	Educational events, etc
ABC	POW Image and practice	Positive, Open and Welcoming
B/C	Premises/Worker	Possible result of growth and ambition

TOWER SECTION OF KINNEIL HOUSE

ABC	Corporate Sponsors	Develop long/medium term sponsors
B	Natural Features	Emphasise and develop
B/C	Time Line	Various time lines can be developed but start with what we have
B/C	Overflow Options (visitors)	Nursery, Orchard
C	Restore/construct Tower Section	Flexible accommodation that can meet a variety of uses and needs – For Example : Restaurant/shop/entrance (ground) Roman Historical Centre (First) Bo’ness Historical Centre (Second) General Historical/Gallery Space (Third) Function/Conference Space (Top)
C	Restaurant	Café style by day, upmarket restaurant by night
C	Parking Management	Identify parking, traffic needs and options
C	Lifts and access
C	Evening Use	EG Concerts
C	Outdoor Café/Restaurant area

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