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==History== ===Roman history=== [[File:Romanwallinscotl00macduoft raw 0409.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Right-hand panel of the [[Bridgeness Slab]] showing a [[suovetaurilia]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Macdonald |first=Sir George |year=1934 |title=The Roman wall in Scotland |place=Oxford |publisher=The Clarendon Press |pages=362–365 |edition=2d ed., rev., enl., and in great part rewritten |url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3760345;view=2up;seq=508;size=150 |access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref>]] Bo'ness has important historical links to the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] period and marks the eastern extent of the [[Antonine Wall]] (at [[Carriden House|Carriden]] in the north-east of Bo'ness) which stretched from Bo'ness to [[Old Kilpatrick]] on the west coast of Scotland. 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 still be seen at [[Kinneil House|Kinneil]] to the west of Bo'ness.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/policyandguidance/world_heritage_scotland/antoninewall.htm |publisher=Historic Scotland |title=Looking after our heritage – The Antonine Wall}}</ref> Roman artefacts, some with inscriptions, have been found in the eastern part of the town at Carriden. A Roman fort called ''Veluniate,'' long since lost to history, once stood on the site now occupied by the grounds of [[Carriden House]]. Indeed, it is said that stones from the fort were used in the building of the [[mansion]] house. Several artefacts have been uncovered over the years by the local farming community, including the [[Bridgeness Slab]] with many of them now on display in the [[National Museum of Scotland]] or at the [[Hunterian Museum]] in Glasgow.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stone window fragments, Carriden|date=15 December 2014 |url= https://vimeo.com/114540798|access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref> A replica was unveiled by Bo'ness Community Council and [[Falkirk]] Council on 7 September 2012 in Kinningars Park. A video about its history and manufacture is available online.<ref>{{cite web |title=Roman film now online |url= https://kinneil.wordpress.com/2015/04/15/roman-film-now-online/ |website=Kinneil Estate, Bo'ness |date=15 April 2015 |access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref> Other Roman sites have been identified at Muirhouses (known locally as 'The Murrays') and Kinglass on the south-east side of the town. {{clear}} ===Commerce and industrial=== [[File:Bo%27ness_Town_centre.jpg|thumb|180px|Bo'ness Town Centre, looking towards Hope St]] The town was a recognised port from the 16th century. Coal was shipped from Bo'ness to supply [[Edinburgh Castle]] in 1548.<ref>[[James Balfour Paul]], ''Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland'', vol. 9 (Edinburgh, 1911), p. 145.</ref> A harbour was authorised by an [[Act of Parliament]] in 1707. The harbour, built in stages in the 18th century, was extended and complemented by a dry dock in 1881 (works designed by [[civil engineer]]s [[Thomas Meik]] and [[Patrick Meik]]).<ref>Old Bo'ness by Alex F. Young, {{ISBN|978-1-84033-482-1}}</ref> 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 currently exist for the regeneration of the docks area including reopening the port as a [[marina]] though these are on hold indefinitely.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.falkirkonline.net/Community/Boness/regeneration_proposals.aspx |title=Bo'ness Regeneration Proposals |access-date=2009-08-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070906023406/http://www.falkirkonline.net/Community/Boness/regeneration_proposals.aspx |archive-date=6 September 2007 }}</ref> Shipowning and maritime businesses in the town is evidenced by the ownership of {{SS|Kinneil||2}}, a ship owned by the Lovart Company of Bo’ness, that later sank in a collision off Denmark.<ref>{{cite web|title=SS Telefon (+1908) |url= http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?175522 |website=WreckSite |access-date=26 April 2021}}</ref> Bo'ness was granted the right of exports and customs dues in 1672 and the office was transferred from Blackness.<ref name="CustomsHouse">{{Historic Environment Scotland |num=LB22400 |desc=14–20 (even nos) Union Street and 3–11 (odd nos) Register Street, FormerCustom House |access-date=26 April 2021}}</ref> A large [[Custom house|Customs House]] for the harbour was completed in 1880 on Union Street and still stands today as private dwellings.<ref name="CustomsHouse"/> 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 evaporation pond|salt making]], evaporating [[seawater]] over coal fires. The ruins of several fisheries (fish storage houses) along the shoreline evidences long gone commercial fishing activity. The town was also home to several sizable [[pottery|potteries]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Jardine |first=Robert |title=Bo'ness Pottery |url= http://bonesspottery.com|access-date=2007-12-23|archive-date=17 May 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080517025602/http://www.bonesspottery.com/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> one product being the black 'wally dugs'<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wemyssware.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=31 |title=Wemyss Ware |access-date=2011-10-30}}</ref> which sat in pairs over many fireplaces. [[Metalworking]] is still carried out, and examples of the Bo'ness Iron Company's work are to be found in many places.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.creativeironworks.co.uk/index.php/homepage/show/home/home |title=Ballantines Castings Ltd |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120318193225/http://www.creativeironworks.co.uk/index.php/homepage/show/home/home |archive-date=18 March 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Kinneil Colliery was a large [[coal mine]] on the western edge of the town, that at its peak employed over 1,200 people.<ref name="CanmoreKinneilColliery">{{Canmore |num=75301 |desc=Bo'ness, Kinneil Colliery |access-date=26 April 2021|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> Production at the mine began in the late 19th century, expanded significantly after 1951 and was eventually merged with the [[Valleyfield, Fife|Valleyfield Colliery]] via a tunnel underneath the Forth, connecting the two collieries.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/scotland-blog/2014/apr/30/scotland-firthofforth-coal |title=Scotland's secret tunnel under the Forth, 50 years old and forgotten |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=26 April 2021}}</ref> The mine closed in 1982 due to ‘severe geological conditions’.<ref name="CanmoreKinneilColliery"/> Today the above ground site is a nature reserve open to the public.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.falkirk.gov.uk/places/parks-estates/kinneil-nature-reserve.aspx |title=Kinneil Local Nature Reserve |publisher=Falkirk Council |access-date=26 April 2021}}</ref> [[File:Borrowstounnessmap.png|thumb|left|A map of Borrowstounness from 1945]] When the town's commissioners bought the land for the [[Bo'ness Town Hall]] and park in the 1890s, the town's prosperity was on the rise. By its completion, the story was not so encouraging. Plans for the town hall and original library were approved however by the Dean of Guild Court on 14 October 1902. The building was officially opened on 14 September 1904.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=G-65AQAACAAJ |title=Souvenir Programme Opening of Bo'ness Town Hall and Carnegie Library |publisher=Bo'ness Burgh Council |date=14 September 1904}}</ref> As part of the ceremony, a memorial stone was laid beneath which was placed a glass jar containing a copy of The Scotsman The Glasgow Herald, Bo'ness Journal and Linlithgow Gazette, a list of councillors and a copy of the council minutes.<ref>{{cite book |last=Young |first=Alex F |title=Old Bo'ness |year=2009 |publisher=Stenlake Publishing |place=Catrine, Ayrshire |isbn=978-1840334821 |pages=41 |url= http://www.stenlake.co.uk/books/view_book.php?ref=601}}</ref> In the twentieth century Bo'ness was one of several Scottish ports involved in the [[shipbreaking]] industry. The shipbreaking yard was established by the Forth Ship Breaking Company (1902–20), which was then taken over by P&W Maclellan who continued operating until about 1970.<ref>[http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritish-Shipbreak.htm The Shipbreaking Industry by Frank C. Bowen, c 1930's].</ref> On a high spring tide the ship destined to be broken up would be manoeuvred to the far (north) side of the river and then steamed across with all speed to drive her as far as possible up the beach. A [[Forecastle|fo’c’stle]] crew would lower the ship's anchors as soon as she came to rest to stop her sliding back into the river. The bows would come almost up to Bridgeness Road.<ref>[http://www.fyca.org.uk/Cruising/CruisingGuide/cruisingP14.htm ''Bo'ness Waterfront''] {{Webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001013/http://www.fyca.org.uk/Cruising/CruisingGuide/cruisingP14.htm# |date=4 March 2016}} Forth Yacht Clubs Association</ref> Among many ships scrapped at the yard were the [[ocean liner]]s {{SS|Belgenland|1914|2}} and {{SS|Metagama||2}}, [[cargo ship]] {{SS|Empire Advocate||2}}, and warships {{HMS|Lagos|D44|6}}, {{HMS|Liverpool|C11|2}}, ''[[USS Ringgold (DD-89)|Newark]]'', {{HMS|Petard|G56|2}}, ''[[USS Meade (DD-274)|Ramsey]]'', {{HMS|Scorpion|D64|2}} and {{HMS|Wheatland||2}}. ''The Bo'ness Journal and Linlithgow Gazette'' was a newspaper published in the town. It is now ''The Linlithgow Journal and Gazette''.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.linlithgowgazette.co.uk/ |title=Home Page |publisher=Linlithgow Journal and Gazette |access-date=26 April 2021}}</ref> The newspaper officers were at 37–43 North Street which was built in 1884 and today is a category B listed building in the town.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland |num=LB22378 |desc= 37–43 (odd nos) North Street and 7–9 Scotland's Close |access-date=26 April 2021 |fewer-links=yes}}</ref>
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