The Gasworks Museum

The Gasworks were built in 1839 by a joint stock company and are one of oldest and best preserved gasworks in Scotland. The coal necessary for gas making arrived by train and was brought from the station to the works by horse and cart. At the works, the coal was baked and crude gas given off. This crude gas was cleaned and refined before it was ready for consumer use.

As well as the gas, the works also has several by-products. Coke went to the local bakers, to greenhouses and to the big houses for central heating. Tar went to Scottish Tar Distilleries in Falkirk. Ammonia was allowed to seep away, although larger gasworks could use it for bleaches and fertilisers. When the purifiers were cleaned, children with whooping cough were brought to the works to breathe the sulphur! The works closed in 1973 but remain open to the public as a unique and important punctuation to our energy history in Scotland.

Biggar Gasworks is open afternoons June - September, 2p.m.- 4.30p.m. and has demonstrations - Steam Days - about 6 times a year.

Most gasworks in Scotland were demolished in the early 1970s at the onset of North Sea Gas: however Biggar Gasworks is unique, left standing as it was and jointly managed by the Museum Trust and Historic Scotland.

In addition to the usual daily afternoon openings, the Gasworks has "steam up" days when old fashioned machinery operates.

 SEASON 2007

Season from 1st June (plus Easter) until end of September. Opening hours 2.00 until 5.00 (last entry 4.30).

Steam days for 2007 are :-

28th. May.

16th. July.

11/12th. August.

17th. September.

23/24th. September. 

Steam days opening hours    12.00 until 4.30.