Two of the earliest known framed paintings of Kinneil House and Estate have been re-discovered and shown to the Friends of Kinneil at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) this month.
The two paintings are by the Victorian Edinburgh artist, William Woolard, who is known for his depictions of typical Scottish scenes including several interesting works showing the Falkirk and Bo’ness areas in the latter part of the 19th Century. There are already a number of his pictures in the Falkirk Council collection, and others regularly turn up at auction.
The first is a beautiful classic view of Kinneil House from the front avenue, as it would have looked around the 1880s. If any readers may be aware of any earlier formal artworks – other than a few known sketches, engravings and maps – showing the house, please do let us know! Notice the flag (possibly of the Duke of Hamilton) flying above the cupola on the rooftop.
The second is equally atmospheric and captures for posterity the now-vanished gate lodge and pillars (both demolished in the 20th Century) at the entrance to Kinneil Estate, at the front of the avenue. This picture is thought to have inspired another much later artist, who had seen it, to paint a similar scene, as reported in this previous post and audio clip on our web site from 2009! It can be seen how tall the pillars are, relative to the person cycling past them.
Both of the Woolard paintings belonged at one time to a dentist who practised in Bo’ness. Early in 2024, the Friends of Kinneil were very kindly contacted by his grandson, now living in the South of England, asking if the Friends would like to acquire them from the family, so that the pictures could remain in the local area.
The Friends are very grateful to well-known district archaeologist and historian, Geoff Bailey, who recognised their local heritage significance and generously stepped in, purchasing the paintings personally during a trip to the South in the summer, and bringing them back to the area. The pictures prompted great interest when he showed them and told their story to the Friends at their AGM. The future of the paintings will be considered carefully, together with the possibility of exhibiting them publicly.
Geoff Bailey’s authoritative history of Kinneil can be read here.
Kinneil 
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