Ballikinrain
Ballikinrain is an independent residential school in Stirling, central Scotland. It is run by CrossReach, a social care outreach arm of the Church of Scotland.[1] The school is housed in the 19th-century Ballikinrain Castle, situated in the Parish of Killearn, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south-east of Balfron and 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west of Fintry.
History
Ballikinrain Castle was built in 1868 for Sir Archibald Orr-Ewing, (1818–1893) a Conservative Party politician. Orr-Ewing was Member of Parliament (MP) for Dunbartonshire from 1868 to 1892,[2] and was created a baronet on 8 March 1886.
He commissioned David Bryce (1803–1876) to design a new house in the Scottish Baronial style, for his 4,500-acre (1,800 ha) estate. The location is alongside the Ballinkinrain Burn, which rises to the south, on the Earl's Seat (578 metres (1,896 ft)), and runs for about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) across Ballikinrain Muir and through the estate, making in its descent a number of cascades, to the Endrick Water.
The castle was burned-out in June 1913, the blaze being attributed to suffragettes,[3] causing £100,000 of damage. It was rebuilt in 1916.[4]
In the early 20th century Ballikinrain Castle hosted Glasgow Poor Children's Fresh-Air Fortnight accommodating about 60 poor children. For a short time it was a hotel. Later, on the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, St. Hilda's School for Girls, a boarding school based at Liberton near Edinburgh, took up temporary residence at Ballikinrain Castle. After the war St Hilda's remained at Ballinkinrain, owing to the difficulty of securing a satisfactory renovation of the buildings at Liberton, which had been used by the army.[5] The building is protected as a category B listed building.[6]
Between 1950-1965 there was a tourist caravan and camping site, complete with site shop and outside swimming pool, within the grounds. The pool was fed by Campsie spring water.[7]
Ballikinrain School
The school had a roll of 35 boys in 2009, aged between 8 and 14, and including boarders and day pupils. Ballikinrain provides for boys with "significant social, emotional and behavioural difficulties".[1]
References
- ^ a b "Ballikinrain School". Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education. 20 May 2009.
- ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 582. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
- ^ Picture in Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum
- ^ "Ballikinrain Castle". CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ Rennie, Robin Carruthers; Gordon, T. Crouther (1966). The County of Stirling. Third Statistical Account of Scotland. Collins.
- ^ "Ballikinrain Castle". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/341465
External links
- "Ballikinrain Include Me In Services". CrossReach. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- "Ballikinrain School (Residential, Education, Day Services, Family Support)". CrossReach Childrens Services. Retrieved 8 August 2011.