Area Programmes

Situated above Airdrie Library, this C(s) listed building is a unique part of Airdrie’s built heritage.  Being one of only four such municipal Public Observatories in the United Kingdom, Airdrie is the smallest of the Public Observatories and it dates back to 1896. 

The Observatory is located above Airdrie Public Library and is a facility owned by North Lanarkshire Council and ran in partnership with Airdrie Astronomical Association. The original telescope was donated to Airdrie Library by local astronomer Doctor Reid.  

In 2009 the telescope was dismantled and removed from site to allow an overhaul and extensive refurbishment to be undertaken.  Additional works including installing a new Observatory dome and Library Roof were also undertaken at this time.

Observatory: no wheelchair access, up 4 flights of stairs

Image (c) www.scran.ac.uk

THESE TOURS ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED.

Albert Bartlett will open its doors for a 1 hour tour of the Factory to visitors who have booked in advance. Unfortunately visitors who have not booked a tour place in advance will not be admitted to the factory. The Tour includes a Presentation, the chance to see inside the factory (no wheelchair access in this area). A family business founded in 1948, Albert Bartlett invested £30 in an old water boiler and cast iron bath in order that he might set up a small beetroot boiling operation in Coatbridge.  Albert Bartlett is now the UK's leading grower and packer of potatoes.  In November 2003 they moved from their Watt Street home to a new state-of-the-art facility on Stirling Road.  The site packs over 4,000 tonnes of potatoes a week and has been accredited with various environmental awards. 

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL - ALL TOURS ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED 

As this is a working factory all visitors must book a tour place for Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September 2012 in advance only.

A maximum of 4 tour places can be booked per person and group bookings cannot be accepted for any tours.

The tour times available on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September 2012 are:

11.00 (1 group of 15)

12.00 (1 group of 15)

13.00 (1 group of 15)

14.00 (1 group of 15)

Visitors who have not booked a tour place in advance will not be admitted to the factory. 

As this is a working factory all visitors must book a tour place for Saturday 8th September and Sunday 9th September 2012 in advance only. Visitors who have not booked in advance will not be admitted to the factory.  The Presentation will include information on the company and brand, potato sampling will also be available at the end of the factory tour. 'Mr Potato men' will also be available to greet children.

Please note that the factory is suitable for children over the age of 9 and all children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.  For Health and Safety reasons all jewellery should be removed prior to entering. No one wearing flip flops or high heels will be permitted access to the factory. You will be supplied with a high-visibility jacket, hair net & hat before entering the factory.

Restricted wheelchair access is available. Please note that due to health & safety there will be:

• limited wheelchair access to the factory
• regrettably, no wheelchair access to the factory gantry
• regrettably, no wheelchair access to the lower gantry.
• however there is unrestricted wheelchair access to the Presentation situated in the Reception Area.

These tours are now fully booked but you could still win a pair of 'Golden Tickets' to see inside if you register your details at www.visitscotland.com/goldentickets 

Barrs Soft Drinks in Cumbernauld will open its doors on Saturday 8th September 2012 to those members of the public who have booked a tour place in advance.  Regrettably we will be unable to accommodate entry on the door.  ALL TOURS ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED. The site will not be open on Sunday 9th September 2012. 

The 1 hour tour includes Barr History Exhibition, Factory Gantry (regrettably there is no wheelchair access in this area) and the High Bay Warehouse (regrettably there is no wheelchair access in this area).

Barr Soft Drinks was started by Robert Barr in Falkirk in 1875.  A second Barr Soft Drinks business was established in Glasgow in 1887 by Robert Barr's son, Robert Fulton Barr. Robert Fulton Barr's brother Andrew Greig Barr (from whom the company gets its name) took over his business in 1892, and in 1901 both Barr Soft Drinks businesses – A.G.Barr Glasgow and Robert Barr Falkirk -  jointly launched their original recipe BARRS IRON BREW soft drink.  The phonetic spelling IRN-BRU which we know today was introduced in 1947 and since then the brand has gone on to become the much loved and popular soft drink that it is today.  The company has invested over £50m in the site's production, warehousing and distribution facilities in recent years.

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL - ALL TOURS ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED

As this is a working factory all visitors must book a tour place for Saturday 8th September 2012 in advance only.  

Visitors who have not booked a tour place in advance will not be admitted to the factory.  

Please note the factory is only suitable for children aged 10 years and over and all children under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult.

Restricted wheelchair access is available. Please note that due to health & safety there will be:

• limited wheelchair access to the factory
• regrettably, no wheelchair access to the factory gantry
• regrettably, no wheelchair access to the warehouse area
• however there is unrestricted wheelchair access to the Barr History Exhibition situated in the Reception Area.

Access for visitors with sight, hearing and other mobility difficulties is available.  However, such visitors must be accompanied by a helper due to Health & Safety. 

Unfortunately there are no facilities to accommodate guide dogs.

A rare chance to sit in a fire engine and take a tour of the station.  Community safety advice will be provided.

A rare change to sit in a fire engine and take a tour of the station.  Community safety advice will also be provided.

Tours of Fire Engines, Turn on the hoses (depending on age), Meet the Firemen and Fire Safety Talk. 

Please note: fire engines may be unavailable at times as this is a working station.

Fire Station will close both Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th between 13.00-14.00

This event is part of the Kelvin Valley Heritage Walks programme organised by Friends of the Kelvin Valley Park Group.

Heritage Walk around Colzium Estate and Banton Loch. Surfaced paths with some slopes.  Walk will last around one hour and be packed with interesting history.  This Event is linked with the Kilsyth Community Council Event in Colzium House which will be opened from 12.00-16.00.

Please note that all children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Image (c) www.scran.ac.uk 

Colzium House is a category B listed building which was built in 1783, and later enlarged in 1861.  Much of the original building was pulled down in the late 1940s, due to dry rot, but the Victorian frontage and wings survive to form the house seen today.  Colzium House forms part of the Colzium Estate which is open throughout the year.  Other attractions include Colzium House Museum, a restored Scottish ice-house (c.1680) and the Colzium Walled garden.

Activities available include local history museum, tearoom and tour of walled garden.

Regrettably there is no wheelchair access to the museum. 

Croy Historical Society was formed on 4th September 2000 by a group of villagers and former villagers with the aim of identifying, documenting, cataloguing and preserving all available material of local historical interest to Croy village and district.  The Society is based at the Heritage Room in Croy Community Centre.

Scottish Charity No. SC030769

www.croyhistorical.org.uk

Museum displays, local archives, map collection, research facilities and artist displays and activities.

This purpose built fire station houses 2 frontline fire appliances and a forward control unit.  56 firefighers and 3 civilian staff man this station, covering an area of 45sqkm.  A rare chance to sit in a fire engine and take a tour of the station.  Community safety advice will also be provided as well as tea and coffee.

Please note: fire engines may be unavailable at times as this is a working station.

Cumbernauld Fire Station's Open Day is on Saturday 8th September 2012.  The Station will have lots of attractions including displays, Specialist appliances, Preserved appliances, Trossachs search and rescue, Police, Ambulance, Flight simulator, Falconry, Bouncy Castle, Face painting and Airbrush tattos.

Opens Saturday 8th Septmeber for Guided tours of Chancel Garden.  Sunday Service 10.30am all welcome.