It has been some time since I went for a walk. My last (short) foray was only about 6 or 7 miles, since then my friend Alan and I have been waiting for an opportunity to get together and get a real walk back under our belts again. Previously we had walked in the lovely landscapes of Pitlochry and Callander, both in Perthshire, we have wandered in the countryside of Fife, but nothing really exciting. We have something planned but it's finding a time when we can both spend a full day walking. Also, we needed to get back into a shape other than round.
So the exercises began. The ‘stepping’ up and down the stairs, the walking to and from the town centre rather than the car and the twisting turning, and sit-ups began in earnest.
A plan of mine was to get a bit of exercise by walking out and about around the local area. As you will have seen from my first entry I had a walk and a look around the Kinneil Estate and the ancient Rom
an Antonine wall. These little ‘build-up’ walks aren’t much, but they help.
First a bit of information about the town, Bo’ ness town first came to prominence as a harbour and then developed into a trading port on the River Forth in days of the sailing ship.
It has been the home to many industries over the centuries such as shipping, coal mining, salt making (well it has to come from somewhere), ship building, and pottery and iron manufacturing. If you look about the streets of Bo’ ness and beyond you will see many drain covers marked with the words ‘Bo’ ness Iron Co’. The current and only iron-works has been in action on its current site since the 1820s.
The old town developed from three main streets, North Street, South Street and the narrow Scotland’s Close, (a Close is a narrow road or passage-way running between buildings) with Waggon (an old spelling and not my typing error) Road following the course taken by wagons transporting coal from the mines to the wharf. The history of mining dates back 900 years to the monastery at Carriden, one of the regions of the area. The last mine closed in the 1980s.
As you enter the town from the west side two things dominate your view, the ‘candle-snuffer’ tower on the former offices of the local newspaper and one of the local pubs, The Anchor Tavern, with its ‘fish-scale’ slated roof.
It may not have the glamour of Edinburgh or Glasgow, or even the near-by Linlithgow (famous birth place of Mary Queen of Scots), but it does have its own special appeal.
Scotland’s Close is a charming little alley way. Standing at the former offices of the local newspaper, to the right are a number of old builds and a renovated building called Dymock’s Building, to the left a there is a renovated 18th century warehouse next to the town library.
Dymock’s Building was built around about 1650 and is one of the oldest in Bo’ ness. It is a former merchant’s house and was restored by the National Trust for Scotland. It is a somewhat unusual colour, orange, but this is not some new fad, it is actually a throw back to the Jacobite colours of the early and middle 1700s. Over the last few years it has been converted into eight apartments.
One of the prominent features of the town centre is the Jubilee Fountain which was given to the ‘towns-folk’ in order to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. It is located on the old Cross Well, this well was one of the original main water supplies for Bo’ ness town.
Another prominent feature is the first purpose built cinema in Scotland, designed by Matthew Steele. It is a fabulous art deco building dating back to 1912. This was used for many years until falling into disrepair, closing for some time and then re-opening to much pomp and celebration after loving restoration work. It has an old, charming feel about it and shows the latest movie extravaganzas as well as cinematic classics, such as Whisky Galore and Gone with the Wind. 
In South Street a sandwich shop currently occupies the old Tollbooth, which was built in 1750. Tolls were not popular but had to be paid by hauliers and carriers who had to pay to use the roads. These tolls were abandoned in 1878.
Another feature of South Street is another Matthew Steele designed building, which dates from 1907. Only the upper floors have been renovated to look as originally designed.
As I say these little ‘build-up’ walks aren’t much, but every little helps. My next entry should be a bit more interesting, but I hope you have enjoyed my ‘little wander’.
So the exercises began. The ‘stepping’ up and down the stairs, the walking to and from the town centre rather than the car and the twisting turning, and sit-ups began in earnest.
A plan of mine was to get a bit of exercise by walking out and about around the local area. As you will have seen from my first entry I had a walk and a look around the Kinneil Estate and the ancient Rom
an Antonine wall. These little ‘build-up’ walks aren’t much, but they help.First a bit of information about the town, Bo’ ness town first came to prominence as a harbour and then developed into a trading port on the River Forth in days of the sailing ship.
It has been the home to many industries over the centuries such as shipping, coal mining, salt making (well it has to come from somewhere), ship building, and pottery and iron manufacturing. If you look about the streets of Bo’ ness and beyond you will see many drain covers marked with the words ‘Bo’ ness Iron Co’. The current and only iron-works has been in action on its current site since the 1820s.
The old town developed from three main streets, North Street, South Street and the narrow Scotland’s Close, (a Close is a narrow road or passage-way running between buildings) with Waggon (an old spelling and not my typing error) Road following the course taken by wagons transporting coal from the mines to the wharf. The history of mining dates back 900 years to the monastery at Carriden, one of the regions of the area. The last mine closed in the 1980s.
As you enter the town from the west side two things dominate your view, the ‘candle-snuffer’ tower on the former offices of the local newspaper and one of the local pubs, The Anchor Tavern, with its ‘fish-scale’ slated roof.
It may not have the glamour of Edinburgh or Glasgow, or even the near-by Linlithgow (famous birth place of Mary Queen of Scots), but it does have its own special appeal.
Scotland’s Close is a charming little alley way. Standing at the former offices of the local newspaper, to the right are a number of old builds and a renovated building called Dymock’s Building, to the left a there is a renovated 18th century warehouse next to the town library.Dymock’s Building was built around about 1650 and is one of the oldest in Bo’ ness. It is a former merchant’s house and was restored by the National Trust for Scotland. It is a somewhat unusual colour, orange, but this is not some new fad, it is actually a throw back to the Jacobite colours of the early and middle 1700s. Over the last few years it has been converted into eight apartments.
One of the prominent features of the town centre is the Jubilee Fountain which was given to the ‘towns-folk’ in order to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. It is located on the old Cross Well, this well was one of the original main water supplies for Bo’ ness town.
Another prominent feature is the first purpose built cinema in Scotland, designed by Matthew Steele. It is a fabulous art deco building dating back to 1912. This was used for many years until falling into disrepair, closing for some time and then re-opening to much pomp and celebration after loving restoration work. It has an old, charming feel about it and shows the latest movie extravaganzas as well as cinematic classics, such as Whisky Galore and Gone with the Wind. 
In South Street a sandwich shop currently occupies the old Tollbooth, which was built in 1750. Tolls were not popular but had to be paid by hauliers and carriers who had to pay to use the roads. These tolls were abandoned in 1878.
Another feature of South Street is another Matthew Steele designed building, which dates from 1907. Only the upper floors have been renovated to look as originally designed.
As I say these little ‘build-up’ walks aren’t much, but every little helps. My next entry should be a bit more interesting, but I hope you have enjoyed my ‘little wander’.
Sounds wonderful. Glad you're getting out and about. Would love to have you show me round your "toon"... :~)
ReplyDeleteLook forward to reading the next instalment.
Hugs
Carol xx