Synopsis

The workshop of the world ?

Scotland's industrial past stems from long before the Industrial Revolution. Small scale localised industry existed prior to the Neolithic period. The coming of the 18th Century saw the transformation from a largely agrarian economy to more established industries, enabled by technological advances, demand and improved communications. The Act of Union in 1707 prompted an increase in trade, and the dawn of the great agricultural improvers. Importing raw materials such as sugar, jute and especially tobacco and cotton became a Scottish specialism, creating significant wealth.

The Scottish Central belt came into particular prominence in the latter part of 18th Century, with the arrival of the Carron Ironworks in 1759 being of particular importance, exploiting coal and iron ore reserves on a large industrial scale. This drove the formation of ancillary industries and created communication networks for the transport of raw materials and finished products for export. Canals were developed across the Central belt and in the Great Glen. Mining for coal and the blackband ironstone which the Scottish iron industry thrived upon really took off after Neilson invented the hotblast in 1828 - the raw materials of engineering were readily available and for a while at least, cheap. Steam power replaced water power which had steadily advanced technologically, but simply could not keep pace with demand.

Engineering innovation reached a noisy crescendo in the 19th Century, as the Scots' reputation for excellence was built in the shipyards and locomotive works of the Clyde in particular. Other industries flourished too - specialist textile manufactures continued - carpets and shawls, with paint and chemical manufacturers sitting alongside ironfounders, rubber manufacturers and light engineering such as the Singers factory in Clydebank. Exports from workshops such as the North British Locomotive Company can still be found in operation across the world. Prefabricated buildings made in the Central Belt are still in use in India, South America and Australia - Scots built was synonomous with engineering quality.

The heavy industries declined in the twentieth century. Much was swept away as a reminder of what once was to make way for the new high technology manufacturing of the electronics industry, housing estates etc. The scale and impact on the landscape of our industrial heritage was such that it cannot easily be wiped away, however. The infrastructure of bridges, lighthouses, aqueducts and railway lines are still integral parts of our economy, and others such as the canals have seen a rebirth as we start to embrace our industrial past with a new understanding.

We have lost much, and continue to do so. Generational changes mean we are losing first hand knowledge of many important industries, and the skills loss has been devastating in industrial terms. Conserving industrial monuments is technically and financially difficult - but we have a number of superb industrial sites at Wanlockhead, New Lanark, Newtongrange, with some excellent smaller museums. Much can be found in the countryside and the cities of Scotland with the aid of a good guidebook, a map and a good pair of shoes ! Limekilns, furnaces, watermills and numerous lades, railway lines and abandoned sites form the backbone of our industrial heritage in Scotland, and are still worthy of exploration.

The SIHS exists to raise awareness of our industrial heritage and provide a focus for those with an interest across a very wide spectrum indeed - a spectrum which reflects our past achievements, and remaining legacy - join us !

David S Mitchell
Chairman

Scottish Industrial Heritage Society