Falkirk Town Heritage Trail
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Falkirk Town Heritage Trail Discover Falkirk’s Story Follow one of our heritage trails and immerse yourself in stories from the past. Whether you are a local or a visitor, explore the history of Falkirk town centre. Discover the stories behind over 30 historical sites in the town. Choose from two trails and walk around the west or east end of the town centre. This is only a snapshot of Falkirk’s history. While walking, look out for other interesting buildings and architectural features. Trail One 1 Hour and 30 Minutes Starting at the Old Market Place, this trail explores the west end of the town including many of Falkirk’s former public buildings. Trail Two 45 Minutes Starting at the Old Parish Church, this trail explores the east end of the town including the iconic town Steeple and the unusual Tattie Kirk. Falkirk High Street circa 1900 Falkirk High St, Falkirk. Group of road causewayers, Kirk Wynd and Manor St, Kirk Wynd, Falkirk. Unknown Circa 1890 High St, Falkirk. Unknown Circa 1903 Falkirk. A C Brown, 1902-1913 Unknown, Circa 1910 A Short History of Falkirk Falkirk stands in an ‘the speckled church’. Over During the 18th century, iron goods and Falkirk as an important position at the the years this has translated Falkirk’s economy shifted industrial centre began to heart of central Scotland. into Scots as FAWKIRK away from agriculture decline. This position has ensured and then into the modern to industry. The town The town’s history is echoed its central role in Scottish FALKIRK. became a busy industrial in its surviving historic history from the Roman manufacturing centre, The town has given its name buildings, architecture and period till today. The town and many iron foundries to two local battles, the First local folklore. The town is has a fascinating history opened, including the Battle of Falkirk on 22nd July like a history book in stone and has undergone many famous Carron Iron Works. 1298 between the armies of - all you need is the key to changes. From becoming During the 20th century, William Wallace and Edward read it. a burgh in 1600, to the there was less demand for I of England; and the Battle beating heart of Scotland’s of Falkirk Muir on 17th industrial revolution. January 1746 between the To explore more of Falkirk’s history visit The name ‘Falkirk’ Jacobite army, led by Bonnie falkirktownheritagetrail.co.uk or download the originates from the Gaelic Prince Charlie and the Falkirk Town Heritage Trail app via the app store. EGGLESBRECH, meaning Government Redcoats. Trail 1 The Old Market Place 1 Woo’ er Street 2 Manor Street 3 Bank Street 4 Co -op Department Store 5 Old Post Ofce 6 The Grammar School, Park Street 7 Princes Street 8 25-29 Upper Newmarket Street 9 St Andrews Church 10 The Old Town Hall 11 Christian Institute 12 Statues on Newmarket Street 13 The Burgh Buildings 14 Lint Riggs and Masonic Temple 15 Aitken’ s Brewery 16 Falkirk Public Library 17 St Francis Xavier ’s Church 18 The Old Sherif Court 19 The West Church 20 West Bridge Street 21 Site of Barr ’s Works 22 Drawing of original Cross Well. 19th Century The Old Market Place The Old Market Place used The Cross Well used to 1 to be called ‘The Cross’ stand in front of the Steeple because the town’s Mercat but now sits in the fower Cross stood here from 1600 bed. The cylindrical stone until 1715. This was a symbol structure topped by a lion of the town’s status and was with a shield dates from the site of markets, public 1817. Locals celebrated proclamations, punishments the opening of the original and executions. The last well by the Livingstons in public hanging took place 1681. The Earl of Callendar here in 1828. toasted “the wives and bairns o’ Fa’kirk”, the frst record of the locals nickname ‘Bairns’. Wooer Street in 1979 Woo’er Street The narrow Woo’er or Tolbooth Street is just of Weaver Street links Manor Woo’er Street and behind 2 Street with the High Street. the Steeple. Some say it is This street once contained Britain’s shortest street, many small workshops. but not according to the They produced items Guinness Book of Records. using the by-products It is 58 feet long (17.7m). of Fleshmarket Close including glue, bone meal, and leather. The smell was said to have been almost unbearable and it would have been very noisy. Staf holding a snake at Kynoch’ s Pet Shop on Manor Street in the 1950s. Courtesy of Falkirk Herald Manor Street Until the late 1800s, Manor During Victorian times 3 Street was known as Back Back Row was grim and Row. In early Scottish towns narrow. Its buildings were this signifed the secondary overcrowded and insanitary street, parallel to the and the area was notorious main thoroughfare. Some for regular outbreaks of the evidence suggests that it dreaded cholera and typhus. may predate the High Street To help the inhabitants the as Falkirk’s principal road, Free Church appointed a linking the route from Kerse missionary to work among to the Parish Church. them! The Salvation Army Hall on Bank Street when it was still in use. Courtesy of Falkirk Herald Bank Street One of the oldest road Wetherspoon’s ‘Carron alignments in Falkirk, Bank Works’ was originally a 4 Street marked the northern church, built in 1843. In town boundary in the 18th 1915 it was converted into century. It was named after the Picture House Cinema, Falkirk Union Bank, which which screened Falkirk’s stood here from 1803 till frst ‘talkie’ flm in 1927. 1816. In 1852 Falkirk’s court Some buildings have been house stood on this street. demolished including the Rumour is that a tunnel ran Salvation Army Hall, built from the court house to the in 1910 and Violet Grove steeple. Cottage. Art Deco frontage of Falkirk and District Co-operative Stores on Kirk Wynd in the 1940s. Courtesy of Falkirk Herald Co-op Department Store When it was frst built in The building is one of many 5 1934, the then designed by local architect Co-op Department Store James G. Callendar in dominated the street. the 1930s. Its Art Deco The previous buildings style, infuenced by clean on this site were two- simple lines and ancient storeys high, so the new Egypt stands out in a three-storey ‘super store’ predominantly Victorian would have been a novelty. streetscape. Originally run by Falkirk Co- operative Society, it would have been a new shopping experience, with Falkirk’s frst customer lift. Falkirk Old Post Ofce on Vicar Street, circa 1910. Old Post Ofce Falkirk’s frst purpose built Built in the Gothic Revival Post Ofce was built in 1893. style, it has medieval 6 At the time Falkirk was a inspired features. Some of prosperous industrial town these refect symbols of and the building was very the postal services. This important. Today’s instant includes a crown which communication makes is still used in the Royal it easy to overlook the Mail logo today. A modern impact the early post ofce extension was added in the system had on speeding up 1970s. The building was the communication. Job Centre before becoming the Business Hub in 2013. Old Grammar School in the 1920s before Princes Street was built. Courtesy of Falkirk Herald The Grammar School, 7 Park Street By the early 19th century, When it opened in May the parish school in 1846, the pupils walked in the Pleasance was procession from the old overcrowded. A new school school. The building was a was needed for students high school for over half a over 13 years old. The new century, then housed the Grammar School was built County Mining Institute in Park Street, despite (part of Falkirk Technical opposition. Some thought it College). On the opposite was “an out-of-the-way, low side of Park Street is the and unwholesome place”. former School of Arts and Sciences, which opened in 1878. The Regal Cinema on Princes Street, circa 1936. Princes Street In the 1930s a new street A new street meant new was built, to prevent buildings. The mock ‘Tudor 8 congestion from the new House’ looked back to Bus Station. In 1933, the the past. Other buildings Prince of Wales, later in the new Art Deco style Edward VIII, opened Princes showed that the town was Street. Built over the former up to date! Pride of place playground of Park Street was the ‘super cinema’ School, it linked Newmarket now Sportsters Bar. The Street to the east end of cinema started life as the the town. Grand Theatre and became Falkirk’s leading cinema; the Regal, ABC and lastly the Canon. National Bank of Scotland Building, post 1900. 25-29 Upper 9 Newmarket Street This unusually shaped 30 years, business had building was built between increased so they needed 1862-3 for the National new premises. The Bank Bank of Scotland (now demolished the buildings Royal Bank of Scotland). on the corner of Upper It was designed by David Newmarket Street and MacGibbon, the bank’s Vicar Street and built the principal architect, in the current building as their Scots Baronial style. new branch. St Andrew, the symbol (logo) of the bank, The Falkirk branch of is carved above the original the National Bank had bank entrance. previously been located on the High Street. After St Andrews Church. Copyright Vass Media. St Andrews Church The Free Church of Scotland With seating for 900 and opened this church in 1896.