Matthew Steele Court

The housing complex at 43-51 Corbiehall is known locally as the “Coffin Block” due to the shape of the doorways.

It was designed in 1932 by Matt Steele for Bo’ness Town Council and comprises of two large 3-storey L-plan blocks with canted corners flanking a 2-storey rectangular-plan piend-roofed block on higher ground. This mass is exaggerated by the use of a painted cement render, regularly placed windows, and slightly projecting vertically aligned chimney-headed entrance bays. These latter consist of moulded piers rising through the eaves as battered stacks.

Below the ground floor window sills the base is of red and white brick. The rear block has brick door margins extending to the first floor banded sill course and a vertically emphasised shaped stair window above. These have been described as early Modern Movement with Voyseyesque influences and an Austrian Secession bias. Whatever the name tag they are visually attractive and have just been completely renovated by Falkirk Council.

One of the new flats will be open for limited periods over the weekend, phone for details.