A Brief History of Banknock
5 MayBanknock, along with adjacent Longcroft and Haggs, developed as a coal-mining community, although the name is older, deriving from the Gaelic Baile nan Cnoc (township of the hillock).
Coal was transported from the pits - including Cannerton Pit, the bing from which was a local landmark - along a wagon way to the Forth & Clyde Canal. The route of the wagon way is still traceable. Later, a station was built to allow coal to be transported on the Kilsyth to Bonnybridge railway from 1882.
There was other industry. Brickworks were set up on the Cannerton site when the pit closed, and there was a foundry at the Coneypark end of the village. Its owners, the Dobson family, lived in what is now the Glenskirlie House Hotel.
Bankier Whisky was also distilled here until the distillery closed in 1928. The building remained until 1981. The railway station and the Kilsyth to Bonnybridge line closed in 1935.
Now it's your turn!
That's the briefest of brief summaries and it's full of gaps. But this is where you come in. There's lots of interest in local history and lots of local knowledge out there - so why not share it here?
Perhaps you'd like to start a timeline of key dates, or an article about your favourite aspect of Banknock history? There must also be a wealth of wonderful photographs of Banknock, Longcroft and Haggs in years gone by - maybe even some video of more recent events - and those are more than welcome here. Remember, history doesn't need to be in black and white! It's good to bring back memories of just a few years ago, too.
Post it all here, and let's see if we can really chronicle the history of Banknock in a way we can all share!
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