Museums, archives and heritage in Lanarkshire

Lanarkshire, inland county in SW. of Scotland; is bounded N. by Dumbartonshire and Stirlingshire, E. by Linlithgowshire, Edinburghshire, and Peeblesshire, S. by Dumfriesshire, and W. by Ayrshire and Renfrewshire; greatest length, NW. and SE., 52 miles; greatest breadth, NE. and SW., 34 miles; area, 564,284 acres, population 904,412. Lanarkshire is often called Clydesdale, occupying, as it does, the valley of the Clyde, which traverses the county from SE. to NW., and receives numerous tributary streams, including the Douglas, Avon, and Calder. The surface rises towards the S., where the Lowther or Lead Hills reach an alt. of 2403 ft. The Upper Ward is chiefly hill or moorland, affording excellent pasture for sheep; the Middle Ward contains the orchards for which Clydesdale has long been famous; and in the Lower Ward are some rich alluvial lands along the Clyde; but all over the county a considerable proportion of the soil is moist, marshy, and barren. Dairy-farming is prosecuted with success. The minerals are very valuable; coal and iron are wrought to such an extent that Lanarkshire is one of the principal seats of the iron trade; lead is mined in the Upper Ward. The county comprises 40 parishes and 4 parts, the parliamentary and municipal burgh of Glasgow, the parliamentary burghs of Airdrie, Hamilton, and Lanark (part of the Falkirk Burghs), and the parliamentary burgh of Rutherglen (part of the Kilmarnock Burghs).

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Note: see the separate entry for Glasgow.

Bothwell Castle

Uddingston Road

Bothwell G71 8TD

01698 816894

goo.gl/1dlJvf

Bothwell is Scotland’s largest and finest 13th century castle. Part of the original circular keep survives.

Bothwell Parish Church

48 Main Street

Bothwell G71 8EX

www.bothwellparishchurch.org.uk

Bothwell Parish Church is the oldest Collegiate Church in Scotland in which worship is still held. It is one of the most ancient, historic, beautiful and worshipful church buildings in Scotland.

Brownsbank Cottage

c/o Biggar Museum Trust, Moat Park

Biggar ML12 6DT

01899 221050

www.brownsbank.org.uk/cottage2.htm

Few people would question the key role of Christopher Murray Grieve (‘Hugh MacDiarmid’) in the Scottish Literary Renaissance of the 1920s. His rebelliously controversial statements about Scottish culture and identity gave a dynamic new perspective on the nation’s arts, politics, education and philosophy. His cottage, as it is now, retains many of its original artefacts: portraits, wallie dugs, memorabilia.

Colzium Museum

Colzium House, Colzium-Lennox Estate

Kilsyth G65 0PY

01236 735077

goo.gl/Kgr9BC

Colzium House Museum is situated within the historic mansion house for the Colzium Lennox estate. The house was once the seat of the Edmonstone family but became the property of the Burgh of Kilsyth after the Second World War.

David Livingstone Centre

165 Station Road

Blantyre G72 9BT

01698 823140

www.nts.org.uk/Property/David-Livingstone-Centre

Scotland’s most famous explorer and missionary was born here in 1813, in a single-roomed house in Shuttle Row – today a Grade A listed tenement. It is now part of the museum that tells the story of Livingstone’s explorations in Africa and is home to a wide range of his personal belongings and travel aids. The museum also gives a fascinating insight into the harsh conditions endured by industrial workers in the 19th century.

Douglas Heritage Museum

Bells Wynd

Douglas ML11 0QH

01555 851 243

www.douglasheritagemuseum.co.uk

TThe Museum was originally a chapel named after St Sophia. It is believed Mary Queen of Scot’s spent the night here, and to show her gratitude she gifted the village with the oldest working clock in Scotland in 1565.

Gladstone Court Victorian Street Museum

Moat Park, Kirkstyle

Biggar ML12 6DT

01899 221050

www.biggarmuseumtrust.co.uk/home/gladstone-court

Gladstone Court Museum began as a private venture in 1964, and opened its doors to the public in 1968. Here you can visit ‘real’ Victorian streets and visit the various small shops and business premises.

Greenhill Covenanter’s House

Burn Braes

Biggar ML12 6DT

01899 221497

www.biggar-net.co.uk

This 17th century house was rescued from its original location at Wiston about 13km away. On visiting Greenhill you return to the troubled century of the signing of the National Covenant and of the ‘Killing Times’, when people were hunted down for worshipping in open fields, rather than attending state controlled churches.

Hunter House Museum

Maxwelltown Road, Calderwood

East Kilbride G74 3LW

01355 261 261

www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk

Hunter House in East Kilbride is a museum with a difference. The building itself was the birthplace of William and John Hunter, the famous medical pioneers, and now houses interacative displays telling the story of their lives and their medical discoveries.

John Hastie Museum

Threestanes Road

Strathaven ML10 6DX

01357 521257

www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk

John Hastie Museum in Strathaven is small, but very popular, local history museum on the edge of picturesque Strathaven Park. Founded originally in 1889 by local grocer, John Hastie, to benefit the people of the town, the museum tells the story of local life and industry, with displays featuring the Covenanters and textile weaving, as well as changing temporary exhibitions.

Kilsyth’s Heritage

Kilsyth Library, Burngreen

Kilsyth G65 0HT

01236 823147

www.northlan.gov.uk

Situated on the upper level of Kilsyth Library, this small display of local heritage offers a chance to gain an insight into the history of the Burgh of Kilsyth. Of particular note to researchers is the map and photographic archive.

Lanark Museum

8 Westport

Lanark ML11 9HD

01555 666680

www.lanarkmuseum.org

Lanark Museum houses a collection of items which illustrate the ancient and varied history of the town. Lanark is one of Scotland’s oldest burghs, and from the time of King William the Lion was a favoured hunting area of the Kings of Scotland.

Lanarkshire Family History Society

c/o Local History Room, Motherwell Heritage Centre, High Road

Motherwell ML1 3HU

www.lanarkshirefhs.org.uk

We’re here to help people research their family history primarily in Lanarkshire’s parishes, in addition we also hold information on other areas of Scotland.

Low Parks Museum

129 Muir Street

Hamilton ML3 6BJ

01698 328232

www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk

Low Parks Museum is housed in beautiful and historically significant buildings which were once part of the Duke of Hamiton’s estate. The 18th century Assembly Room, with its original plasterwork and musician’s gallery, forms a striking centrepiece to the buildings.

Moat Park Heritage Centre

Moat Park, Kirkstyle

Biggar ML12 6DT

01899 221050

goo.gl/HZ2ouI

Geology displays explain how the Clyde and Tweed valleys were formed millions of years ago, and splendid models portray early dwellings, mottes, castles and bastle houses, all accompanied by archaeological exhibits. Among many other colourful characters from history you will encounter an Iron Age family and one of the invading Roman soldiers from around 1900 years ago.

Museum of Lead Mining

Wanlockhead, By Biggar

Lanarkshire ML12 6UT

01659 74387

www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk

Welcome to Scotland’s Museum of Lead Mining, situated in the Lowther Hills at Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village. We offer guided tours down a former working lead mine.

North Lanarkshire Council Archives

NLC Archives and Records Centre, Records Manager, Learning and Leisure Services, 10 Kelvin Road

Cumbernauld G67 2BA

01236 638980

goo.gl/CXezWe

Explore the historical records of North Lanarkshire.

North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre

High Road

Motherwell ML1 3HU

www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15875

Our six-level tower is a permanent exhibition space where you will be able to explore the history of the Motherwell area from pre-history to the present. Visitors who wish to research their local or family history can do so in our friendly local history room on the first floor.