Free social events at North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre
Monthly drop-in social events.
1.30-3pm, FREE
A short informal talk, tour or film, with a chance to reminisce, socialise and find out more about our local heritage. Come every month or just pop in for the subjects that interest you.
Refreshments provided.
Wed 25th March – Behind The Scenes Archive Tour
Dive into North Lanarkshire’s history as we tour the archive together and discover what we hold in our collections and how it is conserved. Whether you’re a history buff or just curious, this event offers a unique peek behind the scenes.
Wed 29th April – Scottish Wildlife through Żan’s Lens
Come and discover the wilderness on your doorstep. A talk delivered by a multi-award-winning wildlife photographer Żan Threlfall. Zan was born in Poland, but her heart is firmly rooted in Scotland where she seeks out and photographs a multitude of wildlife hidden all around us.
Wed 27th May – Discover Our Local Studies Resources
Celebrate Local History Week with a short talk exploring North Lanarkshire’s heritage collections and discover how our local studies resources can help you explore your past.
Wed 24th June – Paddle Steamer Waverley: Britain’s Maritime Legend
A talk by guest speaker Iain Quinn about the famous paddle steamer as she celebrates 80 years since her launch. Iain’s book “50 Years in Preservation” will be available to purchase on the day priced £20. All proceeds going to the support the Waverley. Please note this will be cash only.
Wed 26th August – The Steel Town Cricketers
Imagine Motherwell in 1871 as smoke belched from chimneys and noxious fumes polluted the air and think …. Cricket! Bands played and ladies in fine dresses perambulated around the boundary on the day of the grand promenade, as six local teams fought for supremacy. Presented by guest speakers Steve Young & Graham Robertson. Their publication “150 -Odd Years of Motherwell Cricket Club” will be available to purchase on the day priced £8.
Wed 26th August – The Steel Town Cricketers
Imagine Motherwell in 1871 as smoke belched from chimneys and noxious fumes polluted the air and think …. Cricket! Bands played and ladies in fine dresses perambulated around the boundary on the day of the grand promenade, as six local teams fought for supremacy. Presented by guest speakers Steve Young & Graham Robertson. Their publication “150 -Odd Years of Motherwell Cricket Club” will be available to purchase on the day priced £8.
Wed 30th September – The ‘Steam Collier’: Early Mining by Machine
In the mid-1800s inventors started to experiment with ways to replace coal miners with machines. This talk will tell the story of an early failure, the Coatbridge-built Gartsherrie Coal Cutter and will touch on one of the biggest successes, the Motherwell mining engineering firm Anderson Boyes and Co. Related collection items from our local studies will also be on display.
Wed 28th October – From Warsaw to Wishaw
Guest speaker Gerry Carr explores the chain of events leading to Composer Chopin’s fascinating visit to the grand houses of central Scotland. Featuring Some of the music that Chopin played in Scotland will be used tell the story.
Wed 25th November – Technopolis Remembered
Come along and find out about Technopolis, the Heritage Centre’s lost museum experience. Journey back to the past, maybe relive some old memories with a documentary film made to celebrate 30 years of North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre.
Saturday Social Film Screenings
Various Saturdays at 1.30pm
Refreshments provided
FREE
Sat 2nd May – Bothwellhaugh Village Life
A chance to view Drowned Village an account of the last few years in the Lanarkshire mining village of Bothwellhaugh. (54 mins) The documentary includes footage filmed by villager Joe Griffiths and oral history of former residents and is screened with the kind permission of Joe’s son Alistair Griffiths. Photos and maps of the village will also be available to browse.
Sat 6th June – Dalziel House
The story of Motherwell’s stately home” by Motherwell Heritage Society (43 mins) This documentary film tells the story of Dalzell house highlighting its rich heritage and significance as a local landmark. There will also be an opportunity to browse photos from the Local Studies Hamilton of Dalziel collection.
Sat 5th September – Big Mill Directed by Laurence Henson
Screening of Big Mill, a 1962 documentary film on the new hot strip mill at Ravenscraig Steel Works. (25 mins)
Photos of Ravenscraig Steelworks from our Local Studies collection will also be available to view.
Sat 3rd October – Fantasmagoria- Enrico Cocozza
Fantasmagoria is a fictional story of a Dracula-type character who terrorises the Coltness Estate in Wishaw. Filmed by Enrico Cocozza the story was a Prize-Winning Film at the 1949 Scottish Amateur Film Festival. (32 mins)
Saturday Socials for Families
1.30-3.30pm
Monthly FREE activities for families (all ages welcome)
Refreshments provided
FREE
Sat 28th March – Back Garden Wildlife
Join us for an afternoon of wildlife themed activities, including crafts, a nature hunt and mystery boxes. The highlight of the day will be a workshop with local wildlife photographer Zaneta Threlfall in which we explore the wildlife on our doorstep, featuring camera footage of wildlife from around the Heritage Centre’s back garden.
Activities will run throughout the afternoon, and Zaneta will be joining us at 2.30-3.30pm.
Sat 25th April – Animal Animation Taster Session
Bring your favourite toy animal to life through stop motion animation.
Bring along your own toy from home and a mobile device to record your animation.
30 min drop-in sessions will run throughout the afternoon from 12.30-3.30pm, last session at 3pm.
No previous experience with animation or filmmaking is required.
Sat 26th September- Family Climate Change Challenge
As part of the Lanarkshire Climate Action Festival, we are running a Green Energy Challenge; Find out why we created so much pollution during the Victorian era and try some simple experiments to generate solar and wind power.
Sat 21st November – Explore your Archive Day
Take part in a family friendly tour of the North Lanarkshire Archive to learn more about what records are held our care and how we look after them. Whether you’re a history buff or just curious, this event offers a unique peek behind the scenes.