This cache is one of three in a short series at Deanburn Glen, Bo'Ness. The series consists of one Letterbox Hybrid and two Traditional caches. The other two caches in the series are:
- Little Bridges No. 2158 - Deanburn Glen (GC95ERR)
- Deanburn Glen South (GC95ETM)
Dean House
At the north end of Deanburn Glen is a cleared area of grass adjacent to the road - this is the former site of Dean House, or 'The Dean', demolished in he 1950s. Dean House was for most of its life, closely tied with the ownership of the Kinneil Estate and most commonly occupied by the estate's manager. It is sometimes referred to in historical records as the 'factor's house'. The house was later leased by Dr John Roebuck founder of the famous Carron Iron Works. Later it was home to Mr Wilson, an iron master, who opened his foundry at Kinneil in 1843. He was an enlightened employer who built houses for his workers including the 'rows' at nearby Snab Hill in Bo'Ness. The Dean was often described as the 'outer offices' of the estate and included a stable as well as the barn, suggesting that it was run as a home farm. Gardens were laid out to the south, and after the Wilson family left, it was developed into a large Victorian villa in the Scottish Baronial style.
Dean House Before Demolition
The Dower House
Before it became known as the estate manager's house, The Dean was actually The Dower House of the Kinneil Estate. On an English, Scottish or Welsh estate a dower house is usually a moderately large house available for use by the widow of the previous owner of the estate. The widow, often known as the 'dowager', usually moves into the dower house from the larger family house on the death of her husband.
The dower house might also be occupied by an elder son after his marriage, or simply rented to a tenant. The British royal family maintains a dower house in London as well as one in the country. Well-known royal dower-houses in London have included Clarence House, Marlborough House, and (for a time during the 18th century) Buckingham Palace (then known as "Buckingham House").
Approach Info
The cache is in a round copse of trees on a rise between areas of housing. The easiest way to get to it is via a short path into the interior of the trees, near N 56° 0.387' W 3° 37.194'. A waypoint has added for the path entrance to the copse. The cache is an area of housing with nearby street parking, but please park considerately for local residents.