Monklands Memories - Airdrie & Coatbridge areas

Scotland's
Museum of Lead Mining

Situated in The Lowther Hills at Wanlockhead 
Scotland's Highest Village

http://www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk/

The Visitor Centre was once the Village Smiddy and the top image on the left shows the interior of the blacksmith's workshop when it was still in operation.

The second image shows the Smiddy in about 1980 before work was started to convert it into the Visitor Centre that you see here today.

Robert Burns had his horse shod here when it threw a shoe whilst he was on a visit to the area in his capacity as Exciseman.

Within the Visitor Centre we have a walk-through exhibition,  which tells the story of how lead ore or galena was won at the face and the processes it went through to become the lead products that we know today.  Here you will see the different equipment and pumps used by the miners to win the ore and keep the water levels down. 

Also on display are some of the most spectacular minerals found in the Lowther Hills, an area which is responsible for 1% of all known minerals in the World today. 

The Museum is unique in Scotland as it is the only former lead mine open to the public.

Directions from the M74
Your junction number from the M74 will be determined by the direction in which you are travelling.  If you are travelling northbound on the M74 then use junction 14.  If you are travelling southbound then leave at junction 13. The Museum is well signposted from both junctions. 

Directions from the A76
To reach it from the A76 Dumfries to Kilmarnock road, check out the map and you will see the junction for Wanlockhead (B797) is just outside the village of Mennock, two miles from Sanquhar.  This route will take you through the spectacular Mennock Pass, as it climbs up to the village.

Join the 'Friends' of the Museum of Scottish Lead Mining and support 
the continuation of this valuable resource.
For more information click here