Until the late 18th century, the Scottish economy was based on agriculture. The industrial revolution at the end of that century brought light industries like pottery, weaving and textiles, followed later by heavy industries such as ship building, steel and chemical processing. Glasgow was the 2nd city of the empire up to the outbreak of WW1. Both World Wars brought recession and boom. The prosperous 1950s, followed by the discovery of North Sea oil, brought another boom, cut short by the 1973 oil crisis and years of adjustment after 1980. This story continues…
Biggar Gas Works
- Address: Gas Works Road, Biggar, Lanarkshire ML12 6BZ
- Tel: 01899 221070
- E-mail: –
- Website: www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/biggar-gasworks-museum
Bonawe Iron Furnace
- Address: Taynuilt, Argyll PA15 1JQ
- Tel: 01866 822432
- E-mail: –
- Website: www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/bonawe-historic-iron-furnace
Fairfield Heritage Centre
- Address: 1048 Govan Road, Govan, Glasgow G51 4XS
- Tel: 0141 445 5866
- E-mail: amorris@govanworkspace.co.uk
- Website: www.fairfieldgovan.co.uk
Robert Smail’s Printing Works
- Address: 7/9 High Street, Innerleithen EH44 6HA
- Tel: 01896 830206
- E-mail: smails@nts.org.uk
- Website: www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/robert-smails
Strachur Smiddy Museum
- Address: Strachur, Clachan, Cairndow PA27 8DG
- Tel: (Contact form online)
- E-mail: (Contact form online)
- Website: www.strachursmiddy.org.uk
Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life
- Address: Heritage Way, Coatbridge ML5 1QD
- Tel: 01236 638460
- E-mail: museums@culturenl.co.uk
- Website: https://culturenl.co.uk/museums/visiting-us/summerlee
The Smiddy Museum
- Address: St Margaret’s Hope, South Ronaldsay KW17 2SN
- Tel: 01856 731841
- E-mail: srbclerk@gmail.com
- Website: www.orkney.com/listings/the-smiddy-museum
[Photo by Yannick Pulver on Unsplash]