Sumerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life
- Website: Click here to visit
- Phone Number: (01236) 638460
- Fax: (01236) 638454
- Email: Click here to email
- Category: Attractions » Tourist Attractions
- Address:
Heritage Way, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire. ML5 1QD
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Summerlee, the Scottish Museum of Industrial Life, in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, is a VisitScotland '4 Star' visitor attraction and 'Best Working Attraction' award-winner.
It closed in 2006 for a two-year £10m redevelopment to its main exhibition hall, a project supported by £4.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The museum reopened at the end of September 2008.
Summerlee's 22 acres are based around the site of the 19th Century Summerlee Ironworks, a fore-runner in the use of the innovative hot-blast iron smelting process that led Coatbridge to fame and fortune as Scotland's 'Iron Burgh'.
The works closed in the 1930s and the buildings demolished. The site was then used for light industry until the early 1980s. Prior to the opening of the park in 1987, the site of the original ironworks was excavated and it can now be viewed from a special viewpod and walkway.The other main features of Summerlee are:
A huge under-cover exhibition hall, the subject of the Heritage Lottery Fund supported redevelopment project. The new hall has stunning interactive exhibits, 'hands on' science experiments for children and working machinery to view, including the huge winding engine from the former Cardowan Colliery.
Re-created addit mine and miners' cottages. Guides take small groups down the mine, which is entered by a sloping track rather than a shaft. The mine shows miners' cramped underground working conditions and the cottages show the domestic side of their family lives from the 1840s to the 1960s.
An electric tramway offering rides on restored modern and Edwardian tramcars. A modest price gives all-day rides (Discounted for children).
Playpark for tots to teens. Segregated play areas allow fun for all ages on slides, swings, scramble nets and a rope slide.
Tram tickets are sold from the shop and should be purchased prior to boarding.
A community meeting room is available for hire
Admission free.
Open seven days (closed 25 & 26 Dec and 1 & 2 Jan).
Opening hours: 10am to 5pm. Close at 4pm Nov to March.
