Bo'ness

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Bo'ness (Borrowstounness)
gaelic_name= Ceann Fhail
scots_name= Bo'ness (Burghstounness)
population= 13,961 [cite web|publisher=Scotland's Census Results Online|title =Comparative Population Profile: Bo'ness Locality | url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=bo'ness&mainLevel=Locality | date = 2001-04-29| accessdate =2008-08-31 ] (2001 census)
est. 14,340 [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data] (2006)
os_grid_reference= NS998816
map_type=Scotland
latitude=56.01681
longitude=-3.60891
unitary_scotland= Falkirk
lieutenancy_scotland= West Lothian
constituency_westminster= Linlithgow and East Falkirk
constituency_scottish_parliament= Falkirk East Central Scotland
post_town= BO'NESS
postcode_district = EH51
postcode_area= EH
dial_code= 01506

Bo'ness, properly Borrowstounness, is a town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland, lying on a hillside on the south bank of the Firth of Forth. Prior to 1975 it was in the former county of West Lothian: the postal address, however, is still BO'NESS, West Lothian. Formerly a centre of heavy industry and a major port, it is now primarily a commuter town.Fact|date=September 2008

History

In the Roman period, it lay at the eastern end of the Antonine Wall. The end of the wall probably lay in modern Carriden, the eastern part of the town, where Roman inscriptions have been found. It appears that the fort there was named "Veluniate". Other Roman sites have been identified at Muirhouses (pronounced "Murrays") and Kinglass on the south-east side of the town. Kinneil, in the western part of Bo'ness, was mentioned by Bede, who wrote that it was named "Pennfahel" ("Wall's end") in Pictish and "Penneltun" in Old English . It was also Pengwawl in old Welsh. The Antonine Wall was named as an extension to the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site by UNESCO in July 2007. A Roman fortlet can be seen at Kinneil Estate.Fact|date=September 2008

The town was a recognised port from the 16th century; a harbour was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1707. The harbour, constructed progressively during the 18th century, was extended and complemented by a dry dock in 1881 (works designed by civil engineers Thomas Meik and Patrick Meik). The commercial port (heavily used for the transport of coal and pit props) eventually closed in 1959, badly affected by silting and the gradual downturn of the Scottish coal mining industry. Plans exist to reopen the port.Fact|date=September 2008

Bo'ness was a site for coal mining from medieval times. Clay mining was carried out on a smaller scale. The shore was the site of industrial salt making, evaporating sea water over coal fires. The town was home to several sizable potteries [cite web|last=Jardine|first=Robert|title =Bo'ness Pottery| url =http://bonesspottery.com/default.aspx | accessdate = 2007-12-23 ] , one product being the black "wally dogs" which sat in pairs over many fireplaces.

Metalworking is still carried out, and the Bo'ness Iron Company's drain covers are to be found in many far flung places.Fact|date=September 2008

Present

Bo'ness is now a commuter town,with many of its residents travelling to work in Edinburgh or Glasgow. The other main source of employment are the petrochemical facilities located in nearby Grangemouth.Fact|date=September 2008

Present-day attractions in the town include the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway and the Birkhill Fireclay Mine. Kinneil House, built by the powerful Hamilton family in the 15th century, lies on the west edge of the town. In the grounds are a cottage where James Watt worked on his experimental steam engine and the steam cylinder of a Newcomen engine. The remains of an engine house are located in Kinningars Park, off Harbour Road. Fact|date=September 2008

Bo'ness has a single secondary school, Bo'ness Academy, and five primary schools, from west to east, Deanburn (previously burnt to the ground, then rebuilt), Kinneil, Bo'ness Public School, St Mary's, and the Grange School. There are a number of churches, including [http://www.bokonline.org.uk/ Bo'ness Old Kirk] , Carriden, [http://www.standonline.org.uk St Andrew's Parish Church] , [http://www.craigmailen.org/ Craigmailen UFC] , [http://www.stcstm.org/ St. Catharine's Episcopal Church] , Bo'ness Apostolic Church, [http://www.bonessbaptistchurch.org Bo'ness Baptist Church] , [http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/boness The Bo'ness Salvation Army] and St. Mary's RC, a modernist design of 1962 by Gillespie, Kidd & Coia.Fact|date=September 2008

Future

Bo'ness is set for major regeneration with the announcement in November 2004 of a £150m investment by Dutch company ING to transform the harbour, docks and foreshore with a marina, shopping and housing development. The town centre is also set for a 're-vamp' through the [http://www.linlithgowtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=959&ArticleID=805165 THI] (Townscape Heritage Initiative) with a £5m investment funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Falkirk Council, Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley together with [http://www.linlithgowtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=959&ArticleID=875188 Euro] funding. The plans have also been given a boost through independent research by the National Economic Foundation which showed Bo'ness in third place in a "top 10" of towns which had managed to retain their individual character. [cite web|publisher=Linlithgow Gazette|title =Tops for shops| url =http://www.linlithgowtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=959&ArticleID=1052461 | date = 2005-06-10| accessdate = 2007-12-23 ] Only Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire and Peebles in the Scottish Borders were ahead of Bo'ness in the table. The Hippodrome Cinema, Bo'ness in the town centre is undergoing renovation and refurbishment and is due to open in mid/late 2008.

port

Football

Bo'ness is home to the junior football club Bo'ness United, and also to Bo'ness United Ladies. With Youth Teams Like Bo'ness United under 16's

Rugby

Bo'ness Academy now has a rugby team.For the 2008/2009 season they will be in partnership with Grangemouth rugby club , so they are eligible for competitions and cups.

qualifying round Bell Cup:Linlithgow Academy U.18 1st XV 35 - 5 Bo'ness Academy/Grangemouth U.16

Boness Academy 25 - 5 Larbert High

Boness Academy 35 - 10 Denny High

ee also

*List of places in Falkirk district

References

External links

* [http://www.s1boness.com/ Bo'ness community site]
* [http://www.bo-ness.org.uk Bo'ness web site]
* [http://www.bo-ness.org.uk/html/news/ForeshoreInitiative.htm Proposals by ING to transform harbor area]
* [http://www.kinneil.org.uk Website on the historical Kinneil Estate, at the western edge of Bo'ness]
* [http://www.bonesspottery.com Bo'ness Pottery - The Pottery Industry of Borrowstounness 1766 - 1958]