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.

Ballikinrain Castle

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. A three year restoration was completed 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

Ballikinrain School is a non-denominational independent school run by Crossreach, a social care agency which is part of the Church of Scotland. The school provides care and education services for young people aged six to 16 years who are experiencing social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. In January 2013, the roll was 33. 23 young people were resident and ten were attending on a daily basis. The young people were placed there by 12 local authorities.[8]

The school had a roll of 35 boys in 2009, aged between 8 and 14, and including boarders and day pupils.

References
  1. "Ballikinrain School". Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education. 20 May 2009. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  2. 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.
  3. Picture in Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum
  4. Historic Environment Scotland. "Ballikinrain Castle (214175)". Canmore. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  5. Rennie, Robin Carruthers; Gordon, T. Crouther (1966). The County of Stirling. Third Statistical Account of Scotland. Collins.
  6. Historic Environment Scotland. "BALLIKINRAIN CASTLE (CHURCH OF SCOTLAND RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL)  (Category B Listed Building) (LB10423)". Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  7. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/341465
  8. "Care inspectorate report" (PDF). Education Scotland. Scottish Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2014.

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