Tales of Things

Kristina's experiences of Cumbernauld

Kristina is from LA which has a lot of similarities with Cumbernauld. She also did a postcards project at ECA finding different attitudes towards the town.

Created by: NationalMuseumsScotland on 31 Oct 2011, 5:02 p.m.

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First Impressions of Cumbernauld

Ross had an opinion about Cumbernauld before he visited it. Growing up in Livingston he had experiences of living in a New Town.

Ross goes on to talk about the planning and architecture of the town. Cumbernauld was also built at a time when Nuclear power was thought to be the energy saviour and that there would be plenty of power and so the houses were built with little insulation, which the houses are really suffering from today.

Created by: NationalMuseumsScotland on 31 Oct 2011, 5:21 p.m.

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Growing up in Cumbernauld

Diane Watters from RCHAMS tells us about her experiences of growing up in Cumbernauld. Her family moved to Kildrum (one of the first areas to be built)in 1964. Cumbernauld had a good community spirit and felt very safe with Catholics and Protestants living next to each other.

Created by: NationalMuseumsScotland on 31 Oct 2011, 5:35 p.m.

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Aspirational Town

Growing up in Cumbernauld Diane didn't have any perceptions of class and felt that everyone was equal with the same opportunities no matter what their parents did.

Created by: NationalMuseumsScotland on 31 Oct 2011, 5:44 p.m.

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William Adam House

The Cumbernauld Development Corporation used to have their offices in Cumbernauld House which was a large classical house built by William Adam which is now derelict.

Diane thinks that due to the critical reception of the architecture, it meant that a lot of local people started to have negative views of the town.

Created by: NationalMuseumsScotland on 31 Oct 2011, 6:02 p.m.

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Protecting Cumbernauld

Historic Scotland has listed a few buildings in Cumbernauld but the actual plan of the town with its paths and roads is not protected and it is this which makes it unique.

Created by: NationalMuseumsScotland on 31 Oct 2011, 6:11 p.m.

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