Parkhill House is surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds with specimen trees which are now part of a public park. The last occupants of the grand mansion were the Gray-Buchanan sisters – May, Nellie and Annie. They were renowned in the area for their charitable works, kindness and participation in local organisations such as the Girl Guides and children’s nurseries. After Miss Mary Gray Buchanan died on 4 October 1972 her trustees, according to her instructions, sold the estate to Stirling County Council. The price agreed was relatively low as the future use of the grounds was to be as public parkland. The Council had no use for the mansion which would have been expensive to maintain and so before long it was sold to a private developer who had a lot of work done on it. Before any resident was able to move in the local vandals got access and left the building in a dire state. Ralph Ogston, a restaurateur, then bought the house for conversion into a restaurant and meeting rooms. This became a quality wedding venue and the home of the Polmont Folk Club.
The park was inherited by Falkirk District Council and the paths were upgraded and the public welcomed in. In 1992 permission was given to convert Parkhill House into luxury flats and new wings were built to the west. The façade facing the public park remained largely unaltered and still provides a magnificent backdrop to the park. A children’s play area was installed at the eastern edge of the park in the 1990s.
National Grid Reference
NS 929 788
Falkirk Local History Society 