SIX open days will take place at Kinneil House in Kinneil Estate, Bo’ness, in 2013.
The historic mansion – which boasts some of the best renaissance wall paintings in Scotland – will throw open its doors for a series of free guided tours in the coming year.
The events have been organised by the charity The Friends of Kinneil in association with Historic Scotland, which cares for the property.
Visitors will get the chance to see inside the building, which dates back to the 15th century, on:
- Saturday, March 16, 2013 (morning only);
- Saturday, April 20, 2013;
- Sunday, April 21, 2013;
- Saturday, June 22, 2013;
- Sunday, August 25, 2013 (for the Kinneil Heritage Event); and
- Sunday, October 27, 2013.
Tours will take place from noon to 4 p.m. each day, with the exception of March 16, 2013 (when the House will be open in the morning only, from 10 a.m. to noon) and on October 27 (open from noon to 3 p.m.) Last admission is always 30 minutes before closing.
At all other times, visitors can tour the grounds of the House and the surrounding Kinneil Estate. Kinneil Museum, located next to the House, is also open throughout the year (usually Monday to Saturday from 12.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.) Additional opening hours are being arranged to tie in with the House open days.
The first event on March 16, 2013, has been organised to co-incide with a five-day Silent Film Festival, taking place at the nearby Hippodrome Cinema – Scotland’s first purpose-built cinema.
A spokesman for The Friends of Kinneil said: “Open days at Kinneil are always busy and we’d encourage people to come along early to ensure they get plenty of time to look around the impressive Kinneil House.
“Our first event ties in with the Silent Film Festival, being held at the nearby Hippodrome Cinema.
“We’ve organised a special morning opening at Kinneil House – allowing visitors to tour the House and surrounding Kinneil Estate and then go to the wonderful Hippodrome later in the day to see fantastic silent movies.
“We hope the combination will pull lots of people to the Bo’ness area.”
He added: “Kinneil House is a just short drive from the cinema. You can also enjoy a fantastic coastal walk between the venues. It takes around 30 to 40 minutes to walk – and you’re rewarded with fantastic scenery on the way.”
To find out more, and get updates, please visit www.kinneil.org.uk – or stay in touch using social media: www.facebook.com/kinneil or www.twitter.com/kinneil
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Friends of Kinneil was set up in 2006 to promote Kinneil Estate and Foreshore in Bo’ness. The charity organises Kinneil House open days and other events for members and visitors. To find out more, visit http://www.kinneil.org.uk/friends.
2. Falkirk Community Trust manages Kinneil Museum and the surrounding Kinneil Estate on behalf of Falkirk Council. It also operates the Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness town centre and runs the Hippodrome Festival of Silent Cinema (running this year from Wednesday, March 13 to Sunday, March 17, 2013). Find out more www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org – or go direct to the Festival page: www.hippfest.co.uk
3.Historic Scotland, which cares for Kinneil House, is an executive agency of the Scottish Government charged with safeguarding the nation’s historic environment. The agency is fully accountable to Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament. For more information visit http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk. Follow Historic Scotland on Twitter: @welovehistory and Facebook: www.facebook.com/visithistoricscotland
4. Images of Kinneil House and Estate are available on request. Email: publicity@kinneil.org.uk or download directly from http://bit.ly/kinneilpics
5. Kinneil Estate is on the western edge of Bo’ness in central Scotland, just off the A904 and A993 and is part of the Frontiers of The Roman Empire World Heritage Site. For satellite navigation devices, use the postcode EH51 0PR.
Kinneil 