To celebrate its centenary the BBC have recently made over 30,000 clips of archive footage from around the UK available on ‘BBC Rewind’ – https://bbcrewind.co.uk
Unsurprisingly all of the new towns in Scotland feature in the archive (although there’s no Stonehouse unfortunately).
This short blog simply provides a list of the links to all of these clips – towns listed in chronological order from designation, clips in chronological order too:
East Kilbride
A Quick Look Round: Opinions on East Kilbride New Town
East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland
Tuesday, 1 November 1966
Alex MacIntosh asks people their opinion of the new town of East Kilbride. Vox Pops with residents of East Kilbride – what they like and don’t like about the New Town
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/6283c88a4b0a9500235529c0
A Quick Look Round: Toothpaste Research
Lanarkshire, Scotland
Monday, 14 November 1966
Scientists at the National Engineering Laboratory (NEL) in East Kilbride investigate the degree of abrasiveness of toothpaste. Ints gvs at the NEL in East Kilbride, a government-funded public research laboratory. Interview with Dr Kenneth Wright, explains experiment, named Dentifrice Abrasivity, into the effectiveness of toothpaste, with the aim to set a recognised standard under the British Standard Institute. Gvs lab technician dealing with experiment equipment: a radioactive tooth is placed in machine which replicates brushing teeth strokes; tooth then placed against a Geiger counter to measure wear on tooth.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/618cf288e158480022e85e78
Reporting Scotland: New Town Development Corporations
East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland
Tuesday, 11 July 1989
Maurice Smith reports on the government’s announcement today that it is winding up Scotland’s new town development corporations and privatising many of their functions, and the reaction to the announcement.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/62b09b7c56c08c0024228662
Reporting Scotland: New Town Tenants
South Lanarkshire, Scotland
Wednesday, 13 June 1990
Leslie Anderson reports on council tenants, who wish to retain their district councils as landlords after the new towns are wound up. Various shots of shoppers in shopping centre ; various exterior shots of different types of houses/flats in East Kilbride ; exterior shots of new houses being built in town.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/62b172b956c08c002422bfdd
Reporting Scotland: New Town Property Being Privatised
South Lanarkshire, Scotland
Thursday, 18 November 1993
Ian Kellagher reports on East Kilbride New Town property, which is being privatised as part of a government programme. Exterior shots of town of East Kilbride, with shots of Princes Shopping Mall.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/62b196db56c08c002422ffc0
Glenrothes
Newsreel: New Church Dedicated in Glenrothes
St. Margaret’s, Glenrothes, Scotland
Tuesday, 18 May 1954
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland officiated the opening ceremony for St. Margaret’s in Glenrothes, the first new town in Scotland and the first community of its kind to have a permanent church.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/6284bb284b0a9500235737fc
Newsreel: Work on New Mines in Scotland
Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland
Wednesday, 5 June 1957
Today the National Coal Board published its report for 1956, with work on more than 30 new large mines in progress. Interior and exterior shots of new NCB super pit at Rothes coal mine colliery near Glenrothes under construction. Shots of Glenrothes New Town – new houses, and people shopping in town centre.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/623de14f521bcd0020cb1d80
News: Work on New Mines in Scotland
Fife, Scotland
Wednesday, 5 June 1957
A report from Balgonie Colliery in Fife, on expansion of the Scottish coal mining industry, and the construction of the first ‘superpit’ in Scotland at Rothes. interior and exterior views of NCB Balgonie Colliery near Kirkaldy; superpit at Rothes coal mine colliery near Glenrothes in Fife under construction, near completion ahead of opening; miners wearing safety helmets, winding gear, coal hoppers for NCB wagons, railhead; Glenrothes new town centre; coal seam , miners shoveling coal by hand; interviews underground at coal face with Balgonie Colliery miners- including Jim Hutchison; views at at unidentified open cast coal mine pit, large diggers grabbing coal; platform rig off the coats in Firth of Fort
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/628548114b0a95002359fbe6
A Quick Look Round: Microscopes for Glenrothes School
Fife, Scotland
Friday, 5 November 1965
Glenwood secondary school in Glenrothes has just bought 12 new microscopes for its science classes. However, the expense of these instruments is being called into question.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/618cf283e158480022e83f1c
Casebook Scotland: Workwise: Gie’s A Job
Glasgow; Dundee; Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland
Friday, 27 January 1989
The economic recession, new technologies and competition in manufacturing from all over the world has created a large level of unemployment in Scotland. With job prospects scarce, what opportunities are available for young people?
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/61a90b774f5af30022acf21b
Cumbernauld
Newsreel: New Town of Cumbernauld – Glasgow Expansion
Cumbernauld, Scotland
Wednesday, 7 March 1956
This video has no sound
The new town of Cumbernauld is planned to deal with housing shortages in Glasgow, providing homes for 50,000 people about 12 miles north-east of Glasgow.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/6284bb2a4b0a95002357384e
Newsreel: Cumbernauld Wins Architecture Prize
Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
Monday, 8 May 1967
This video has no sound
Cumbernauld is a Scottish New Town and has been awarded an international prize for community architecture by the American Institute of Architecture.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/6283c8914b0a95002355535b
A Quick Look Round: Cumbernauld New Town Public Art
Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
Monday, 2 May 1966
Evelyn Elliot interviews artist Brian Miller about his new abstract statue in Cumbernauld New Town.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/6283c89a4b0a950023559ecd
Reporting Scotland: Cumbernauld Development
North Lanarkshire, Scotland
Thursday, 10 December 1987
Report on three new developments announced for Cumbernauld New Town. Exterior shots of Hinari factory and OKI factory ; houses being built on new estate ; shot of sample of Cumbernauld tartan.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/62baff6fa857010023c1afcb
Livingston
Checkpoint: Livingston New Town Development
Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Friday, 5 March 1965
Report by Bruce McKenzie on the building of the new town of Livingston. Workmen on building site; interviews with public complaining about how long it’s taking to finish building houses; exterior shots of finished houses.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/6283c8894b0a9500235529a5
A Quick Look Round: Livingston New Town Landscape Planner
Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Thursday, 8 April 1965
Evelyn Elliot interviews Marian Paynter, landscape planner for the new town of Livingston.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/6283c8844b0a950023550c6b
Panorama: Unemployment in Scotland
Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Monday, 29 March 1971
Report by Nicholas Harman on unemployment in Central Scotland, focusing in particular on the New Town of Livingston.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/6295dc76439ff1002365482f
Living In Scotland: Starting Work: Production Line
West Lothian, Scotland
Monday, 21 July 1975
A programme about young people at work. Women at work on the production line at Ethicon Ltd, preparing surgical sutures for use in operating theatres.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/62793735a2e47f0023a4c391
Reporting Scotland: Disco Management Course at Livingston School
West Lothian, Scotland
Saturday, 1 November 1980
The sound quality of this video is poor
Tom Ferrie reports from the music classroom at Deans Community High School, where pupils are taught a course on the subject of disco management. Interview with Graham Whitelaw (music teacher); Pupils using disco equipment and turnatbles; Vox pops pupils.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/62bafb10a857010023c1a0ae
Reporting Scotland: Livingston’s Basketball Team
Livingston, Scotland
Friday, 12 November 1982
Report on the Livingston basketball team, they are sponsored by Murray International Metals and are currently the most successful team in Scotland. Scottish Basketball League. Interview with Lewis Young, Charlie Williamson and Bill Miller.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/620a1f78c2a2f100225550e8
Reporting Scotland: Silicon Glen Jobs
Livingston, West Lothian; Dalgetty Bay, Fife, Scotland
Thursday, 24 January 1985
A report into the electronic and microchip industry in Scotland- the so called ‘Silicon Glen’, which employs around 43,000 Scots.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/61a5189e054b370022890757
Reporting Scotland: Scottish Life Science Industries
Scotland
Thursday, 15 October 2009
It is an industry that aims to help us live longer and better. Life Sciences is one of Scotland’s most promising sectors. With 30,000 people employed in it, it is hoped it will help drive our economy in the future. Interview with Dr. John March and Simon Best. Report by Hayley Millar.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/618d2a45e158480022ed1cfd
Irvine
Scotland at Six: Fire Eaters
Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland
Thursday, 11 July 1963
Circus and fairground style performers Harry McCart and Bob Black perform fire-eating, lying on broken glass, sword swallowing and lying on a bed of nails.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/618beb0fb1ecda0023dd9b3c
Checkpoint: Irvine
Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland
1965 (exact date unknown)
This video has intermittent sound
Profile of Irvine on the Ayrshire coast. Shots of Irvine town centre; Irvine harbour and beach; people shopping in town; Royal Ordnance Factory site being turned into industrial estate; interiors of various different factories in the area; new houses being built.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/6283c8914b0a950023555347
A Quick Look Round: Embroidery
Ayrshire, Scotland
Wednesday, 27 January 1965
Jameson Clark interviews Mrs. Flanagan at her home in Irvine on her embroidery artworks.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/618beb19b1ecda0023ddba7f
Tomorrow’s Scotland: Hunterston Iron Ore Terminal
Hunterston, North Ayrshire, Scotland
Tuesday, 30 March 1976
Andrew Neil reports from Hunterston Peninsula on the Firth of Clyde, where construction is progressing on a new deep sea iron or terminal. With plans to develop an integrated steel processing plant at the site, hopes are high for future employment in the area around Irvine. Aerial shots of artificial island and jetty under construction; Hunterston A and B nuclear power stations.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/62cbe9dfc7abce002185f433
Geography for Secondary 1: Irvine Science-Based Companies
Ayrshire, Scotland
Tuesday, 31 October 1978
Irvine new town is the home to two science-based industries. A report on Flow Laboratories and Beecham Pharmaceuticals plants.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/619e86e5a877540022eab306
Reporting Scotland: Free School Meals Launch
Ayrshire, Scotland
Monday, 5 January 2015
Children in primaries one to three tucked into a free lunch when they returned to school today. All children in the first three years at state primary schools are now entitled to a free meal in the dinner hall every day. The scheme, estimated to cost £95m, will be funded by the Scottish Government and was launched at First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s former school – Dreghorn Primary School in Irvine.
https://discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/61fd1c9b066f66002214de3a
You can find out more about each of the new towns in Scotland by clicking on the ‘New Towns in Scotland’ link on the menu at the top of the page (there is drop down menu with a page for each new town) or by clicking on this link – https://newtownsscotland.eca.ed.ac.uk/new-towns-in-scotland/
Our project is now complete but you are still welcome to get in touch with Dr Alistair Fair via https://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/profile/dr-alistair-fair If you have any questions about the project or media requests.
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