Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life

Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life
Museum building
Map
LocationSummerlee Heritage Park, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire
Coordinates55°51′59″N 4°01′51″W / 55.86639°N 4.03083°W / 55.86639; -4.03083
Area22 acres (8.9 ha)
Built1836 (industrial site)
Original useSummerlee Iron Works
Restored1988 (museum opening)
Current useSite museum
Visitors180,000 annually
Governing bodyNorth Lanarkshire Council
OwnerIndustrial Museums Scotland
WebsiteGo Industrial Sumerlee Museum
Official nameSummerlee Iron Works, furnaces, furnace bank and associated works
TypeIndustrial: iron and steel; kiln, furnace, oven
Designated06/02/1995
Reference no.SM6164
Official nameMonkland Canal, Gartsherrie Branch, Summerlee
TypeIndustrial: inland water
Designated16/12/2013
Reference no.SM11340

Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life is an industrial and social history museum in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is situated on the site of the Victorian Summerlee Iron Works and the former Hydrocon Crane factory. The main Hydrocon factory building became the museum’s exhibition hall but it has been substantially changed and adapted since. The museum aims to show Lanarkshire's contribution to engineering, mining, steel working, weaving and farming, and also show the lives of the people of the area. It includes interactive displays and a temporary exhibition space. Entry is free of charge.

The museum also incorporates several railway steam locomotives, preserved railway carriages from a 1960s-era Glasgow Blue Train and has a short working heritage tram line.

The museum covers 22 acres and includes two scheduled monuments, Summerlee Iron Works and the Monkland Canal, a large play area, mine and miners' row, outdoor exhibits, a cafe, changing place, gift shop and sweet shop.