Step Back in Time to the Victorian Era

Situated in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, the Gladstone Court Musuem is a real treat for children and adults alike. The replicated street gives visitors insight into what life in Biggar would have been like around the beginning of the 20th century. It contains a bank, a milliner, a printer, a chemist, an ironmonger, a watchmaker, a dressmaker, a bootmaker and a photographer’s shop – places which would have all played a big role in the lives of most people at the time. Children are also in for a special treat since there is a replicated schoolroom that will certainly help them to gain some appreciation for the modern conveniences and high level of education that they enjoy now. The village library has also been recreated at the museum, as has the old manual Biggar Telephone Exchange. The entire museum has been recreated in exquisite detail, complete with Victorian postboxes, cleeks, implements, posters, shop signs and handbills. It really does feel as though you’ve simply stepped backwards into a different time period. Many feel that the Gladstone Court Museum is the perfect place to take children because it brings history to life by giving them a living experience of what life would have been like in Victorian times.

The Gladstone Court Museum is situated on North Back Road in Biggar and is open from about 11:00 to 16:30, Monday to Saturday. It is good to note, however, that the museum is usually open only at certain times of the year, namely from March 25 – 28 and from May 1 to mid October. During this time it is also open on Sundays from 14:00 to 16:30. Parking is free and there are full facilities for disabled persons. Visitors are generally supplied with informational brochures on arrival and the average tour lasts approximately one hour. There is also a great little gift shop if you’re looking for a memento to take home.