Kinneil House

The lands of Kinneil with Larbert and Auldcathy were given to Walter Fitz Gilbert, an ancestor of the Hamilton family, by Robert the Bruce in 1323. A charter of 1474 mentions the castle of "Kynneil called Craig Lyown", lands to be reclaimed from the sea, and saltpans which added to the estate income. The Castle of Lyon may have been near the sea at Snab Brae, and is remembered by the name of Castleloan housing estate. There was a deer park at Kinneil from an early date, and in November 1503 James IV sent a man to bring deer nets from Kinneil to Falkland Palace. James IV came to Kinniel in July 1508 to see Lord Hamilton's horses. Parts of an older castle, which replaced the castle at the…

Historically it was thought that there may have been a Roman Fort near Kinneil House. Sir George Macdonald speculated about a fortlet near the house. In July 1961 two sites in Bo’ness were excavated. This followed on from previous excavations carried out in 1960 which were sponsored by the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments, Ministry of Public Building and Works. The first site was located in a field near Kinneil House. The excavation revealed laid firestone blocks which once formed part of the wall base. These were partially destroyed with only one kerbstone still remaining. In the 1970s a Roman fortlet was located and two timber buildings. A short section of the Antonine rampart has been…