Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Thomas Meik & Son, 1878-1881 (rebuilt). Small tidal harbour and wet dock. Straight rubble W pier and L-plan concrete E pier enclosing rectangular harbour. Disused lock entrance at S end of E pier leading to concrete-walled dock.

Statement of Special Interest

As early as 1550 Bo'ness Harbour was undergoing improvements for continental trade which resulted in it becoming one of the top Scottish ports trading with Holland and The Baltic. An Act of Parliament in 1707 authorised the erection of a new harbour, with a new east pier added in 1733 and extended 1787. Travelling through Bo'ness in 1769, Pennant wrote "There is a good quay, much frequented by shipping; for considerable quantities of coal are sent from hence to London; and their are besides some Greenland ships belonging to the town". This year saw the revival of whale fishing. Difficult times for Bo'ness Harbour followed when in 1790 the Forth & Clyde Canal opened and 1810 saw Grangemouth promoted to separate port. The New Statistical Account notes details of the harbour with the east pier at 368' long extended by a further 180', and the west pier at some 568' long, with a harbour depth at spring tides of 20'. By 1843 the seaport was in decline, but the subsequent extension of the W pier of 1876 built using slag block construction which may be unique, followed by construction of the inner dock and installation of hydraulic machinery (the scheme being complete by 1881) led to a revival in trade. At this time the major exports were pit props, bunker coal, coal and coke. Trade was buoyant until about 1900 when a slow decline, exacerbated by closure to commercial shipping during WWII, led finally to closure in 1959. During WWI a flotilla of destroyers was based at Bo'ness and the harbour became a temporary naval base during WWII.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.