Motherwell Heritage Centre

Housed in a stunning modern building at the top of Hamilton Road, just opposite the station, Motherwell Heritage Centre features Technopolis, an award-winning interactive experience on the area’s past from the Romans to the great days of heavy industry. The heyday of the area’s traditional industries such as mining, railways and steel production are brought to life through the foundry and street scenes, while the domestic life and living conditions are re-created through talking figures and interactive interpretation.

A ground-floor gallery shows a variety of exhibitions, both from the council’s own collections and from those on national and UK tours.

The centre is also home to the local studies and family history research room which is open to visitors who wish to research their local or personal history through various reference media. Microfilm, microfiche readers and PCs are available for use.

There is also a fifth-floor viewing tower – a distinctive feature of the local landscape – from which visitors can see right up and down the Clyde Valley, over to the Campsie Fells and even to Ben Lomond, if the weather permits!

Craft activities and events for families are run over most weekends and school holidays. Look out for our special bank holiday ‘fun days’ too ! Please contact the centre for up-to-date information or check out the Events page of our website.

Applied Art

This collection includes civic material, a small amount of Cleland Pottery, glass and silverware relating to local groups and societies.

Fine Art

This small collection comprises small-scale prints and paintings by modern and contemporary Scottish artists such as Bet Low, Jim Pattison and George Wylie. The collection also includes work by local artists Roy and Dan Ferguson. There is also a small collection of civic painting featuring former Provosts and other dignitaries.

Numismatics

The collection comprises a small number of miscellaneous coins from the Victorian and Edwardian periods.

Social History

This collection relates to the communities involved with iron and steel, coal and mineral extraction, engineering and associated industries. It covers the following main areas:

• Domestic life - housing, food, medicine, hobbies and pastimes
• Community life - local and cultural traditions, organisations, law and order, education, entertainment and sport and the two World Wars
• Personal life - certificates and documents, male and female costume, souvenirs and memorials
• Working life - manufacturing transport and distribution.