Bo'ness: The Fair Town - William Fyfe Hendrie

This collection of over 200 old photographs provides a fascinating insight into the places and the people that have made Bo’ness such a unique town in Scotland. Famed from its days as Scotland’s second largest seaport, the book examines and delves into not only its seafaring past, but other industries such as coal mining, oil and salt production which thrived on the south shore of the River Forth. To many people, however, Bo’ness will always be Scotland’s ‘Fair Town’ and great detail and attention has been paid by the author to the event which has transformed a mere march into Great Britain’s largest and most successful children’s festival. Other aspects of the town’s varied history examined include the connection with James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine, the founding of Britain’s first local version of the welfare state in Bo’ness, and on a anecdotal note, stories of witches and ghosts, including what is reputedly Scotland’s most haunted home. This book illustrates beautifully the character of the town and will be enjoyed by everyone who knows Bo’ness whether they be visitors, newcomers or real ‘Bo’nessians’.