'Workshop of the World - Motherwell's Proud Industrial Past' is the uncompromising title of Motherwell Heritage Centre's current exhibition. With a run extended to Saturday 25 February, it celebrates over 100 years of the area’s industrial history through a variety of objects, photographs, paintings and film footage, including the story of local mining, steel and engineering firms.
Sean Curran, curator, said: "The displays illustrate the diverse nature of the products manufactured locally. These included coal-cutting and mining machinery, bridges, buildings, boilers, tubes and railway wagons. Local firms exported their wares across the world, with many of them still in use today. Several of the artefacts on show relate to the individuals who worked within the local industries, testifying to the skills of the local workforce".
"Historically important firms including Anderson Boyes, Motherwell Bridge and Colvilles are represented. Other local firms on display include the structural engineers Alexander Findlay & Co, and Marshall, Fleming & Co. Ltd, who produced a wide range of steam powered cranes".
"We are also showing a rare model of an Anderson tunnelling machine, large-scale colour diagrams of the former Ravenscraig Steelworks, and even some unusual samples of North Sea oil".
Sean concluded: "Due to the current upgrading of the Motherwell Heritage Centre into a combined Archive and Local Studies facility, the gallery space is currently restricted in size. In spite of the building works, we still aim to reflect the outstanding contribution the Motherwell area has made to Scotland's industrial history".
The exhibition is open Wednesdays to Saturdays, from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free. For further details contact the heritage centre on (01698) 274590.
Illustration: Furnaces at the former Ravenscraig steel plant , Motherwell, in the 1960s.