Venue

A small local museum, within Colzium House, illustrating the history of the house and the estate and also providing information / displays on the history of the Kilsyth area and the famous Battle of Kilsyth.

Colzium House is not normally open to the public, unless by prior appointment.

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.

Low Parks Museum is housed in beautiful and historically significant buildings which were once part of the Duke of Hamilton’s estate. The 18th century Assembly Room, with its original plasterwork and musicians’ gallery, forms a striking centrepiece to the buildings. Displays tell the story of the communities of South Lanarkshire and how they were shaped by the development of industry and housing. There is also a display on the history of the Cameronians regiment, which was raised in South Lanarkshire and, unitl its disbandment in 1968, held a proud place as Scotland’s only rifle regiment.

The heritage centre is within the town library. Displays focus on the area’s strong 17th century covenanting heritage and the rise and fall of local heavy industries in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Social History

These collections are wide ranging in most aspects of social history: