Rediscovering Airdrie aims to use the town’s rich architectural and social heritage as a springboard for physical, social, and economic renewal.

This summer, the Rediscovering Airdrie team held community events, including stargazing at Airdrie Cross, reminiscence sessions at the library, and creative workshops at the Town Hall.

More than 500 residents shared their views on the town’s future in a survey, helping to guide the project’s next steps.

To celebrate Airdrie’s heritage, nine heritage plaques are being installed across key sites:

• Sir John Wilson Town Hall (1912): A grand civic building funded by MP Sir John Wilson, symbolising the town’s historic wealth and status.
• Former Airdrie Savings Bank (1925): Featuring “Thrift,” a poem by local poet A.G. Rose, celebrating virtue and prudence.
• New Cross Airdrie (1795): Once part of the Glasgow-Edinburgh toll road, its wide layout allowed horse-drawn coaches to turn.
• The Townhouse (1825): A multipurpose building that housed a jail, police office, and Scotland’s first free library.
• Mavisbank Park (1891): The site of football’s first-ever penalty kick, taken during a match for the Airdrie Charity Cup.
• Former Post Office (1905): An early 20th-century civic building known for its elegant design and civic coats of arms.
• Former Airdrie Public Library (1894): Built with funding from Andrew Carnegie, this library also housed a museum and observatory.
• Former Wellwynd Church of Scotland (1847): Now home to Scotland’s first Women’s Business Centre, fostering local entrepreneurship.
• Airdrie Public Observatory (1896): Scotland’s only public observatory within a library, offering a unique connection to the stars.

Councillor Jim Logue, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, said: “Rediscovering Airdrie celebrates the unique history of our town while creating opportunities for culture, creativity, and enterprise.

“It’s about honouring our heritage and building a brighter future for Airdrie; these new plaques are a wonderful way of doing just that.”

Residents are encouraged to suggest other buildings or stories that deserve recognition by contacting rediscoveringairdrie@northlan.gov.uk.

Funded by Historic Environment Scotland, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and North Lanarkshire Council, the project brings together locals and visitors to celebrate the town’s past and shape its future.

Further plaques are planned, and a full funding application is scheduled for early 2025.