The main exhibition hall of Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life

Summerlee interprets the social and industrial history of Central Scotland, and in particular the Monklands area, formerly the ‘Iron Burgh’. Displays feature historic machinery in daily operation as well as reconstructed domestic environments. An electric tramway provides transport round the site, giving access to a restored section of the Monkland Canal, an operating boatshop, tram depot, steam cranes, railway locomotives, an archaeological excavation of 1830’s ironworks, and a coal mine.

The main exhibition hall provides a modern and environmentally sustainable setting for some of Scotland’s most important displays of social and industrial history. Included in the exhibition are the Ravenscraig site collection, a Gibb and Hogg engine, the Holytown shop banner from the Reform Act of 1832 and the Cardowan winding engine.

The hall is designed to allow visitors to explore the dawn and rise of the industrial era through the machinery, objects and documents on display. The many interactive elements throughout the hall enable visitors, of all ages and interests, to discover fascinating facts about their industrial heritage in new and exciting ways.

The working tram to take visitors down to the reconstructed mine and the miner’s cottages, which depict the living and working conditions of Lanarkshire miners and their families during the 19th and 20th centuries. The tram passes the sawmill and wood-shed, with its display on the use of timber down the ages.

Admission free.
Opening times:
Monday – Sunday from 10am to 5pm (4pm from November to March)
Open throughout the year apart from 25 & 26 December and 1 & 2 January

Our Collection



Archaeology

The bulk of the museum archaeological collection originates from the site of the former Summerlee Iron Works on which the museum is situated. Most items are industrial and arise from the early 19th century to mid 20th century.

Applied...

Read the full collections description

Keywords
Archaeology, Decorative & applied art, Fine art, Industry & commerce, Social history, Transport

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Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life

Heritage Way
Coatbridge
North Lanarkshire
ML5 1QD

Tel: 01236 638 460
Fax: 01236 638 454

Email:
museums@northlan.gov.uk

For more information visit:
http://nlcmuseums.bravehost.com/sum...

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The Industrial and associated Social History collections of North Lanarkshire Council are Recognised Collections of National Significance to Scotland

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