Binniehill Cottage

SMR 2339 / NS 8556 7231

Binniehill Cottage was built in 1849 for George Waddell, the son of George Waddell of Balquhatstone.  He was in receipt of large sums of money for the mineral rights – coal and ironstone – of Binniehill.  The cottage is a single storey stone building with a central doorway, the lintel of which bears the inscription “GW 18 49 MM”.  His wife was Mary Morrison.  The building is harled.  He died at the cottage on 1 February 1870 aged 67 years.

In the grounds in front of the cottage is an unusual stone bothy or washhouse.  Its west gable contains three pigeon holes arranged with one at the top and two below, each row with stone perching ledges.  The cube-shaped final above at the apex of the gable reflects the chimney stack on the opposite gable.  It has a chamfered cope.  The chimney would have served the copper of a washhouse.

Illus: The Washhouse/Doocot in 2025.

Bibliography

Ordnance Survey Name Book1858“BINNIEHILL COTTAGE                            
A cothouse one storey in height, slated and in good repair.   
Mr George Waddell, proprietor and occupant.”
 
Newspapers(Various) See list below
19381943Janet Anderson Brown, grocer, Binniehill Cottage
NEWSPAPERS
  • Stirling Observer 8 September 1853, 1:
    Game certificate – George Waddell, Binniehill Cottage.
  • Glasgow Herald 2 February 1870, 5:
    Deaths – At Binniehill Cottage, Slamannan, on the 1st inst., George Waddell, Esq., aged 67 years.
  • Falkirk Herald 29 July 1885, 1: At Binniehill Cottage, Slamannan, the residence of his sister, Andrew Morrison Waddell, pharmaceutical chemist, aged 38 years.
  • Glasgow Herald 12 January 1900, 1:
    At Binniehill Cottage. Slamannan. on the 5th inst., Mary M. Waddell. eldest daughter of the late George Waddell, of Binniehill.
  • Falkirk Herald 6 January 1904, 5:
    Fatal Gun Accident – A fatal gun accident occurred on Friday last to Alex. Brodie, 48 years of age, farmer, Binniehill Farm, Slamannan.  Mr Brodie had been visiting Mr Michael Scott at Binniehill Cottage, and leaving the house he slipped the door step and fell.  He was carrying with him a loaded gun, which struck the stone step when he fell, causing one of the barrels of the gun to go off, and the shot to enter his left arm a little below the shoulder joint.  When lifted up Mr Brodie was found to be unconscious.  Dr Young was sent for, and having dressed the arm, ordered his removal to Coatbridge Hospital.  He, however, never regained consciousness, and died ten minutes after his admission to the hospital.

G.B. Bailey, 2026