population

date of map

1310 3011

1855 1908

65.38 %

£154,717

333 ha

2743

8.23 dwellings/ha

loanheadLoanhead is a former mining and papermaking town located 5miles south east of Edinburgh. It also had a market from the late 17th century. The town began as a tiny vil-lage in the 1600’s, in 1685 it began coal mining and the first paper mill was constructed in 1742. By 1750 a second mill had been constructed however the limestone industry took over in the 18th century. The arrival of the railway and the coal industry continuing to grow brought and increased population and the town was granted burgh status in 1884. Unfortunately in the early 20th century the industries began to decline with the shale mines closing in 1909 and the lime works in 1912. This trend continued into the mid to late 1900’s with the paper mill closing in 1955 and coal mining ceasing in 1988. This was a major blow to Loanhead as the Bilston Glen coal mine employed 2300 men. Nevertheless the town continues to grow but now this is primarily because of large retail parks. Loanhead has managed to retain some local shops but many of its residents now commute to work particularly to Edinburgh.

£

industrial

4882 6290

1938 2008

1920 1700’s paper mills main industry 1955paper mill closed 2008dominated by ikea + retail parks tradition of children’s day began10 000

59

population

date of map

2470 2572

1857 1896

79.36%

£127,650

127 ha

1668

13.1 dwellings/ha

mauchlineMauchline, located 11miles north east of Ayr, was granted a burgh of Barony in 1510. The village has a history of trade with several industries prominent in the town including, clock making, box works, curling stone production and it was once the centre for sandstone quarrying. The initial trade for the town was clock making how-ever this died out in the 17th century. Sandstone quarrying in the town dates back to the 18th century with peak production being carried out in the 19th century when it provided employment for over 200 men. The introduction of bricks provided a cheap alternative after 1918 and lead to a decline in demand for sandstone with the last quarry closing in 1950. The production of box-work was carried out from the 1820’s until 1933, these were highly collectable and a trade mark for Mauchline dubbed ‘Mauchline ware’. Mauchline is also renowned for being the home of Robert Burns who lived on the outskirts of the town. The town boasts a monument to Burns located on the north edge of the town.

£

industrial

4161 4020

1967 2008

1848 1788 main entrance to the cross 1968colliery closed 2008known as the home of robert burnsrailway opened10 000

61

population

date of map

12233 13716

1863 1898

77.54%

£208,426

119 ha

1986

16.68 dwellings/ha

neilstonPrior to the arrival of industry Neilston was a small village consisting of a series of thatched roof, single storey houses. In 1780 cotton became the primary industry and within the next 30 years six cotton mills were opened, these combined, employed 1000 people, mainly women. The growth of the cotton industry lead to a need for housing and small settlements arose close to the factories. However it wasn’t until 1900 that the first large housing development arrived when one of the larger mills provided 400 homes for its workers. Neilston experienced a massive population increase with people coming from Glasgow to gain work; this peaked at 16009 in 1950. Prior 1920 the town was divided into two with the mills on one side and the old village on the other, from 1920-40 the council built several developments which joined the two sides of the town. Although the industry has declined this century, Neilston maintains a population of 5450 and is now re-establishing as a commuter town helped by a popular rail service.

£

industrial

16009 5410

1938 2008

1700’s 1163 church is focus of community 1903railway opened 2008growing as a commuter townbecame a centre for cottonpeak 16009

10 000

63

population

date of map

2759 5367

1860 1897

75.26%

£139,719

151ha

1435

9.5 dwellings/ha

new cumnockIn 1650 the Parish of Cumnock was split in two giving rise to old and new Cumnock. A new church was built to serve the new settlement and this was to be the heart of the village. New Cumnock grew as a small parish until the 19th century and the arrival of the coal industry. This was the life blood of the community and can be seen in the rising population from just over 1000 in 1800 to 6705 in 1951. 1950 saw the Knockshinnoch mining disaster in which 129 men were trapped in an underground mine, 13 of whom lost their lives. The town expanded in the twentieth century with modern housing estates that had very little relation to the centre. Margaret Thatcher’s ‘Plan for Coal’ delivered the death knell for the town in the 1980’s as the coal industry in the UK was destroyed. The town has not recovered and the population has sunk to 3040. However, the town has kept its railway and road connections to larger settlements could see it develop for commuters.

£

industrial

6705 3040

1957 2008

1800’s 1700’s small rural parish 1900’s late 20th C closure of industry 2008rundown +neglected coal industry + population growth10 000

65

population

date of map

2021 2928

1856 1896

76.66 %

£182,831

173 ha

1891

10.9 dwellings/ha

west kilbrideWest Kilbride, North Ayrshire is located on the west coast of Scotland overlooking Arran. During the 18th century it developed as a weaving village however today it is probably better known for its growing of Ayshire potatoes. It has 4 castles, built over several centuries, which remain standing today, Law castle, Portencross castle, Hunterston castle and Crosbie castle. With the arrival of the railway in 1878 provid-ing a link to Glasgow, West Kilbride became a dormitory settlement. From the late 1990’s West Kilbride dubbed itself ‘Scotland’s craft and design town’. The town has retained its train station and has good road links via the A78 and B781. It has become a popular retirement place with a 18 hole golf course nearby. West Kilbride has maintained steady growth from the1950’s with a current population of 4,670.

£

industrial

4241 4670

1938 2008

1700’s 1600 4 castles in the town 1878railway opened 2006named UK’s capital of enterpriseprimarily a weaving village10 000

67

top threeemploymenttypes

railway station

within thirtymiles of largesettlement

% growth1954 -2006

% +/- averagehouse price[s.a.£150,257]

% in employment[s.a. 44.67]

economy social housing connections growth% owneroccupied[s.a. 62.59]

education:% with aquailification[s.a. 66.77]

health: % good general health[s.a. 89.85]

33.71 46.35 84.14 32.3 43.33 - 48.35

auch

inle

ck

65.63 1147.32 87.4867.56 57.03

ban

knock

39.74 56.01 84.66 - 17.91 12 48.49

cum

nock

41.42 58.06 90.5 - 16.91

dal

ry

4 41.23

p

p

top threeemploymenttypes

railway station

within thirtymiles of largesettlement

% growth1954 -2006

% +/- averagehouse price[s.a.£150,257]

% in employment[s.a. 44.67]

economy social housing connections growth% owneroccupied[s.a. 62.59]

education:% with aquailification[s.a. 66.77]

health: % good general health[s.a. 89.85]

33.71 46.35 84.14 32.3 43.33 - 48.35

auch

inle

ck

65.63 1147.32 87.4867.56 57.03

ban

knock

39.74 56.01 84.66 - 17.91 12 48.49

cum

nock

41.42 58.06 90.5 - 16.91

dal

ry

4 41.23

p

p

industrial

69

top threeemploymenttypes

railway station

within thirtymiles of largesettlement

% growth1954 -2006

% +/- averagehouse price[s.a.£150,257]

% in employment[s.a. 44.67]

economy social housing connections growth% owneroccupied[s.a. 62.59]

education:% with aquailification[s.a. 66.77]

health: % good general health[s.a. 89.85]

40.43 72.81 86.07 41.23 - 4.15

43.69 67.56 89.44 17 52.66 63.57

kilbir

nie

kin

card

ine

29

28.84 248.14 91.559.92 57.32loan

hea

d

39 65.80 82.15 70.8 - 66.61 19

lesm

ahag

ow

p

p

p

p

top threeemploymenttypes

railway station

within thirtymiles of largesettlement

% growth1954 -2006

% +/- averagehouse price[s.a.£150,257]

% in employment[s.a. 44.67]

economy social housing connections growth% owneroccupied[s.a. 62.59]

education:% with aquailification[s.a. 66.77]

health: % good general health[s.a. 89.85]

40.43 72.81 86.07 41.23 - 4.15

43.69 67.56 89.44 17 52.66 63.57

kilbir

nie

kin

card

ine

29

28.84 248.14 91.559.92 57.32loan

hea

d

39 65.80 82.15 70.8 - 66.61 19

lesm

ahag

ow

p

p

p

p

industrial

71

top threeemploymenttypes

railway station

within thirtymiles of largesettlement

% growth1954 -2006

% +/- averagehouse price[s.a.£150,257]

% in employment[s.a. 44.67]

economy social housing connections growth% owneroccupied[s.a. 62.59]

education:% with aquailification[s.a. 66.77]

health: % good general health[s.a. 89.85]

43.43 69.19 89.4 70.76 - 3.39 17

mau

chline

48.28 86.04 91.08 - 66.21 39 68.71nei

lsto

n

32.95 81.06 84.51 7 49.46 54.67

new

cum

nock

10.11

2142.0 91.6560 77.08

wes

t kilbri

de

p

top threeemploymenttypes

railway station

within thirtymiles of largesettlement

% growth1954 -2006

% +/- averagehouse price[s.a.£150,257]

% in employment[s.a. 44.67]

economy social housing connections growth% owneroccupied[s.a. 62.59]

education:% with aquailification[s.a. 66.77]

health: % good general health[s.a. 89.85]

43.43 69.19 89.4 70.76 - 3.39 17

mau

chline

48.28 86.04 91.08 - 66.21 39 68.71nei

lsto

n

32.95 81.06 84.51 7 49.46 54.67

new

cum

nock

10.11

2142.0 91.6560 77.08

wes

t kilbri

de

p

industrial

73

performancetop employer [s] - manufacturing

4/12 have higher than average % of people in employment

6/12 have a higher than average % of people with qualifications

8/12 have better than average health6/12have higher than average house price4/12 have higher than average owner occupation5/12 have a railway 12/12 are within 30 miles of large settlements5/12 have increased in population from 1954 – 2006

structure and historyTowns such as Auchinleck and Darvel seem to have sim-ply developed along main roads. There was no traditional street pattern, such as the medieval high street visible in market towns. With the exception of Kincardine, which has only become industrial in the 20th century, there is very little evidence of monument buildings or market squares in the development of town centres.

Settlements, such as New Cumnock were formed when neighbouring villages merged together with the growth of industry. Again there seems to be very little planning involved in their structure.

Evidence of large industrial buildings can be seen across the historic figure grounds and often appear in inappropriate locations. Redevelopment of these towns is no doubt made more difficult by issues of contaminated brownfield land from the past.

Many experienced their main period of growth between 1900 and 1950. This could be attributed to the construction of government subsidised housing for workers. There has been some growth post 1950. This has mainly been down to the towns that have seen some change in role and become commuter settlements. All of these are within ten miles of larger settlements.

Industrial towns under-perform in a majority of socio-economic indicators. There is a clear connection between industrial decline and the current state of these towns. With re-industrialisation unlikely, they will have to at-tract new forms of employment and purpose to survive. There seems to be a correlation between employment and growth, both of which are low scoring characteristics of industrial towns.

Considerable investment would be required to regenerate these towns as they lack any sort of attraction to improve the demographic profile.

ConclusionIn general, industrial towns perform poorly across a number of socio-economic indicators. Many were devastated by the loss of industry and have struggled to re-invent themselves. Some have managed to become commuter towns. Others fight to overcome the effects of unemployment. With development continually focused on larger settlements the future for these towns is uncertain.

Failing on most levels, investment needs to focus on the wide variety of physical and social issues that face these towns today. They are in a difficult position with no obvious or immediate solution. Industrial towns are an example of the danger of relying on one source of employment and the devastating effects when this is lost.