Borrowstouness - the Burgh Town on the Ness - has a long and illustrious history.

The area has been occupied since before Roman times, and by the early 18th century was one of Scotland's leading ports - some say Scotland's leading port. Coal was exported to the Netherlands and timber imported from Scandinavia, and the town was also a prosperous centre for ship building, fishing and whaling.

Here is a very brief time-line for the town:

142-161 AD The Romans build, occupy and finally abandon the Antonine Wall, stretching from the West Coast to the Forth just east of Bo'ness.

1400 One of the most influential families in Scottish history, the Hamilton's established the medieval village of Kinneil (across Gil Burn at the rear of Kinneil House). Throughout the next 3 centuries this village's decline and the growth of the port activity at 'The Ness' would lead to the creation of Bo'ness.

A full history can be obtained from Tony Hamilton by emailing tonyhamilton1@btinternet.com

1314 The Battle of Kinneil Muir.

1601 Bo'ness is recognised as a port.

1668 Bo'ness receives its charter as a Royal Burgh.

1769 James Watt begins research into his steam engine in a small cottage behind Kinneil House.

1858 Kinneil Band formed

1911 The Hippodrome, Scotland's first purpose-built cinema, opens.

1954 Barony Players Theatre Group founded

1979 The Scottish Railway Preservation Society sets up its base at Bo'ness.

Now it's your turn!

That's the briefest of brief summaries, and hardly covers the most important dates. 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? To add to the time-line, all you have to do is click on the edit button.

Or perhaps you'd like to start your own article about another aspect of Bo'ness history? A history of Kinneil House perhaps, something on the battle of Kinneil Muir, or a piece on Birkhill Clay Mines? You can do that, too.

There must also be a wealth of wonderful photographs of old Bo'ness - maybe even some video of more recent events - and those are more than welcome here.

Post it all here, and let's see if we can really chronicle the history of Bo'ness in a way we can all share!