Last month, with a friend, I was exploring an area of the river Avon south of Boness. Having looked closely at the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1854 I was aware a house that had disappeared by the next edition of the map. It had the intriguing name of Falcon House . The supporting notes for compiling the 1854 map describe Falcon House as “A small, low, thatched house divided into two dwellings. One storey high and occupied by labourers. The property of Mr Flemming, Rousland”:
Falcon House on maps [in chronological order]:
1737, John Adair map:
1750, General Roy map:
1818, William Reid map:
1850, Johnston’s map:
The last tenants of Falcon House appear on the 1841 census:
The only other archival reference relating to Falcon House, at least that I have been able to find, is this:
Given that Falcon House [Falconhouse] is marked on Scotland’s oldest maps it is reasonable to conclude that at one time it must have once been a place of some importance. It is not clear whether it had always been part of the Kinneil estate. There seems to be no record of why it was so named. If you can provide any more information please do get in touch.