Historic Kinneil House in Bo’ness will come alive with the sound of music this weekend.
Stirlingshire singing group The Gargoyles of Gargunnock will be performing at the imposing venue, as part of a free open day.
Visitors can step inside the mansion – and enjoy the music – from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 27. The event has been organised by the charities The Friends of Kinneil and Historic Environment Scotland.
Maria Ford from The Friends said: “The Gargoyles specialise in renaissance and medieval music and seem a perfect fit for the House, which dates back to the 15th century and boasts some of the best renaissance wall paintings in Scotland.”
She added: “The group appeared at Kinneil last year and were a real hit with visitors. We’re hoping for similar success this weekend. Entry to the House, and to enjoy the music, will be free of charge. The last admission to the building will be 3.30 p.m. on Saturday – so don’t be late. It will be worth coming along!”
Helen Rowell from the Gargoyles of Gargunnock said: “Kinneil is a wonderful old building and we’re delighted to be singing in the House on August 27.”
The Gargoyles formed in 2004 as an amateur acapella folk group.
Helen – with her fellow group members Zoe Fouracre and Elizabeth Wilkinson – says the Gargoyles are “wandering minstrels”. The ladies – who don period outfits for performances – are based in the picturesque village of Gargunnock, around four miles from Stirling.
Helen said: “We became medieval singers by accident when we agreed to perform at the Border Reivers Festival in Hawick five years ago and then discovered it was a period dress event! Since then we have sung to thousands of people at many festivals and events throughout Scotland.”
She added: “We sing songs from 13th to 17th centuries – about love and war, drinking and lust, religion and nature. “We have sung in venues from palaces to battlefields, from old folks’ homes to community centres, from pubs to chapels and from kirks to beer tents. We research and make our own outfits and have a range from the early through late medieval and renaissance periods.”
The Gargoyles of Gargunnock are pictured above. From left, Helen Rowell, Zoe Fouracre and Liz Wilkinson.
To find out more about Kinneil House open days, please visit www.kinneil.org.uk
You can also get updates via social media at www.twitter.com/kinneil and www.facebook.com/kinneil
To find out more about the Gargoyles of Gargunnock, visit: www.spanglefish.com/thegargoyles/
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Kinneil House and Estate are 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.
The John Muir Way also runs through the site. For satellite navigation devices, use the postcode EH51 0PR. Images of Kinneil House and Estate are available on request. Email: publicity@kinneil.org.uk
Kinneil 
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