The "Baltic Wharf"
(Contributed by Jim Johnston, present owner)

The building was Matthew Steele designed and was built for office and residential use in 1899. The west end, No 58, has, as far as is known, always been occupied. A recent visitor in the cafe returning to the town on holiday, remembered visiting her grandmother who lived in the house for a time. She was able to describe the layout and furniture her grandmother had.

The Baltic Wharf, today, offers Cafe/Bistro facilities with Ice Cream Parlour, Restaurant and 6 rooms of accommodation. Click Here for details.

Until circa 1950, it is believed, two companies from Stewart, Luval, Denholm or Harrower occupied the building as offices. A number of recent guests at the cafe have remarked on the brass plaques at the front door which were "polished every day". (There must be some truth to these memories of the building as there is old photographs with the dock in full swing and the building covered with the usual black grime and these two plaques looking like headlights.) It is planned to restore the two brass plaques to their full glory.

Whoever the companies who occupied the building were, it was certainly the largest timber importing centre in the country from all round the Baltic area. "Baltic Wharf", was chosen for the name of the refurbished building to echo its original connections and use on the dock front.

The Bo'ness Iron Co. who still owned the building first occupied it as their offices around 1950.

It was jointly occupied for a time by Cochranes (Bo'ness) Ltd., a local engineering company. There were probably others at various times until ownership was taken over by Falkirk Council.

Falkird District Council let the building to the Bo'ness Heritage Society for a time and it has also housed a communications museum.

The building stood empty for 6 or 7 years before restoration began in May 1999, almost 100 years after it was built. Around 150 tons of demolition was taken out, with the rear west end wall being completely rebuilt and excavations to install foundations and a solum, before full restorations could begin. Local craftsmen were employed to save an important old building rather than watch it vandalised and eventually destroyed.

The building is Historic Scotland Listed, category 3 at present with there being plans to the possible upgrading to category 2. It's a well known example of Matthew Steeles work, according to many architects who came to take a look round during the restorations.