Visit to Town Hall Heritage Centre and Exhibition, Tuesday 11th March

Sixteen members of  the Society visited Kirkintilloch Town Hall at 2.pm on the 11th March 2025 for a guided tour of the Cultural and Heritage exhibitions on display for the Local History Month programme organised by East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust.

After being welcomed by curator Jennifer Binnie, the group was guided into the ground floor of the centre which has been refurbished into a multipurpose facility for conferences, business meetings, and various theatrical and musical events. As many of us will have remembered it was also where we were invited to attend by Public Health Scotland for immunisation against Covid and flu. The second floor was of particular interest as it is here that most of the exhibits were on display from the timeline of Kirkintilloch in history with particular emphasis on the importance of its transport connections( the Forth and Clyde Canal and railways) and industrial ( weaving, boat building and foundries) past. Exhibits based on local notable personalities ( Bain, Cowan and Clugston) were greatly appreciated as there was acknowledgment of the contributions made  to these exhibits by members of the Society. a good feeling reinforced by the display of 'bits and pieces' photographs provided by local historians.

A most interesting afternoon was rounded off over a cup of tea and an opportunity to reflect on the various exhibits and to thank the staff for their input and hospitality. 

Photo by Ivan and Ruth Ruddock

Public talk for Local History Month, Wednesday 19th March at 2pm in the Park Centre: Developing Lenzie by Design: Alexander Thomson, Robert Turnbull and their lasting impact.

As part of Local History Month 2025, the Kirkintilloch and District Society of Antiquaries will host a public lecture in the Park Centre, 45 Kerr Street, Kirkintilloch, G66 1LF on Wednesday 19th March at 2pm on ‘Alexander “Greek” Thomson’ by Dominic d’Angelo, Chair of the Alexander Thomson Society. Dominic will discuss the work of Alexander 'Greek’ Thomson with particular reference to his early coastal villas at Cove and Kilcreggan, and his late designs and posthumous work used in developing Dullatur and Lenzie carried out by his last partner, Robert Turnbull, and architect successor, the (unrelated) David Thomson.

Dominic d’Angelo was for many years Secretary of The Alexander Thomson Society and became Chair in 2023. He currently produces weekly free-to-view articles on aspects of Alexander Thomson’s life and work at https://greekthomson.substack.com. 

 

Warwick Croft, 10 Heriot Road, Lenzie. 

(http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1844546) 

Heritage Centre and Exhibition at the Town Hall, Tuesday 11th March, 2pm

We have arranged a visit to the Heritage Centre and Exhibition at Kirkintilloch Town Hall in Union Street on Tuesday 11th March at 2pm. We need to confirm the expected numbers in advance, so if you would like to attend, please drop an email to kdsantiquaries@gmail.com giving the names of everyone who will be coming by noon on Monday 10th March.

Assemble at 1.55pm in the foyer of the Centre where we will be met by Jenifer Binnie, principal curator, who will give the group a guided tour of the various cultural, heritage and industrial exhibitions on display. The tour will last about 60 minutes at the end of which it is hoped that there will be additional time to consider the displays including that of Edward Smith and Don Martin.