History fans invited to free Kinneil event

kinneilhousefromborrowstounnessanddistrict1 Historic Kinneil House in Bo’ness will come under the spotlight at a free conference this Sunday, November 19, 2017

The “Experts Day” will take place at the nearby Hippodrome Cinema in Bo’ness town centre. Members of the public are being invited to attend.

The event has been organised by Historic Environment Scotland and The Friends of Kinneil.

A spokesman for the organisers said: “Archaeologists and historians have been working together, delving into documents and surveying Kinneil House. Together they can shed more light on the building than ever before and paint a picture of how it was in its heyday. We’re encouraging anyone interested in Kinneil to come along to this free event and to hear from our guest speakers.”

Doors open at the Hippodrome at 10 a.m. on Sunday. To book a free ticket, visit www.kinneil.org.uk/expertsday or call 01506 823714. The ticket includes a snack lunch and further presentations in Bo’ness Library on Sunday afternoon.

The speakers will include:

Tom Addyman, discussing the archaeology of Kinneil House;
Arkady Hodge, on documentary history;
Michael Pearce, on inventories/reconstructing the interior;
Geoff Bailey, discussing the designed landscape and setting; and
Adrian Maldonado, talking about the Kinneil Cross (on display within the House).

To find out more about the speakers and the event visit www.kinneil.org.uk/expertsday

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Built next to the Antonine Wall, Kinneil House was the chief seat of the powerful and wealthy Hamilton family. Subject to extensions and refurbishments over 300 years, it reflected the Hamiltons’ high status both inside and out. The building is open on selected days throughout the year and boasts some of the best renaissance wall paintings in Scotland.

The house has a good claim to being the birthplace of the improved steam engine. The pioneering Scots engineer James Watt developed his first engine in a small workshop beside the mansion in the 1700s.

The grounds also feature remains of the Roman Antonine Wall, now part of a World Heritage Site. There is also a small museum, which is open throughout the year.

The Friends of Kinneil is a registered charity
Charity Registration Number : SC038368