Coatbridge was named after an old bridge over the Gartsherrie Burn on the main road linking Glasgow and Edinburgh. The Monkland Canal also passes through the town and was key to the operation of Summerlee Iron Works.
Quick facts about Coatbridge:
Region: North Lanarkshire
Train Stations: Sunnyside and Coatbridge Central, Blairhill, Whifflet and Kirkwood
Best for: Historical, see and do, family friendly
Travelling to Coatbridge:
Various train stations, M8
Places in Coatbridge:
The main visitor attraction in Coatbridge is Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, an important memorial to the town and its residents historical past. The Time Capsule leisure centre offers an exciting day riding the flumes and the waves. There are also many restaurants and pubs in the town centre and Showcase cinema in Bargeddie.
History of Coatbridge
Once known as the 'Iron Burgh' because of its many ironworks, At the turn of the last century, Coatbridge was the eighth-largest town in Scotland. The town became known as 'the industrial heartland of Scotland' and the 'Iron Burgh. It was formed by the amalgamation of a number of local villages: Old Monkland and Kirkshaws, Coatbridge, Coatdyke, Dundyvan, Gartsherrie, Langloan and Whifflet.
The town of Coatbridge lies east of Glasgow, in North Lanarkshire and has strong links with Lanarkshire's industrial heritage. The present-day street layout of the town centre was largely influenced by the planning of the Baird family who owned one of the town's largest ironworks.
Coatbridge was part Gartsherrie, in the parish of Old Monkland. The population increased due to the iron trade and work in nearby coal mines, also the Dundyvan and Summerlee ironworks were large employers. Coatbridge is on the road from Airdrie to Glasgow and the Monkland canal runs through the town.
