HISTORIC Kinneil House in Bo’ness – which boasts some of the best Renaissance wall paintings in Scotland – is open for free tours on Saturday, June 22.
The event has been organised by the charity The Friends of Kinneil in association with Historic Scotland.
Visitors can see inside the A-listed mansion, which dates back to the late 15th century, from noon to 4 p.m. The last admission is 3.30 p.m.
The House was once home to the powerful Hamilton family. Its stunning decor was recently used to inspire restoration work at Stirling Castle.
A spokesperson for The Friends of Kinneil said: “Visitors can tour around the exterior of Kinneil House and visit the stunning grounds throughout the year. However, they can only see inside the building during special free open days.
“We hope lots of people will come along to our event on June 22. Guides from The Friends of Kinneil will be on hand to show people round and answer questions.”
The House is situated in Kinneil Estate, a public park on the western edge of Bo’ness. The park includes the remains of a Roman fortlet (part of the Antonine Wall); a cottage once used by inventor James Watt; and the ruins of a medieval church. There’s also a small museum (open all year – including June 22). The museum boasts an audio visual show, a small shop area, selling gifts and refreshments as well as a disabled toilet and baby-changing facilities.
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
* Please note: Kinneil Plant Sale, run by Falkirk Council, will be held in the Estate on June 22 and 23. The sale is open to the public – and the estate may be especially busy. Drivers should take care when parking.
Above: The interior of Kinneil House. See more pictures here.
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 on behalf of Falkirk Council. Find out more at http://www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org/heritage
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. Find maps at http://www.kinneil.org.uk/map
6. In addition to the open day on June 22, there will be further open days on
- Sunday, August 25, 2013; and
- Sunday, October 27, 2013.
Full details are available at www.kinneil.org.uk
Kinneil 