An important part of our industrial and social heritage, these vital facilities were once familiar sights in Scottish towns but nowadays they have all but disappeared.

Biggar Gas Works [3] provides a rare insight into the once essential process of producing gas from coal. As Scotland’s only surviving gas works, it enables visitors to see the actual plant and machinery and view steam-driven equipment in action.

The site, which dates back to 1839 is remarkably complete, with the retorts, condenser, purifier, exhauster house, gas meter, holders and gasman’s cottage still in place. The latter is now a visitor centre with an artefacts display.

This Monday, 28th May, a special ‘Steam Day’ at the gas works will provide visitors with a opportunity to experience how the gas works operated before being closed down in 1973 following the arrival in Biggar of natural gas.

The impressive boiler which powered the gas works will be up and running and driving parts of steam-driven machines associated with gas production and distribution. And a video presentation will also depict how gas was produced.

The first Industrial Steam Day of the summer is on Monday 28th May from 12.30pm until 4.30pm. Other Steam Days will take place on 16 July, 11th and 12th August, 17th, 23th, and 24th September 2007.

• Biggar Gas Works, which is typical of a small town coal gas works, is run in conjunction with Historic Scotland, National Museums of Scotland and the Biggar Museum Trust.
• It is situated in Biggar, in Gas Works Road, off the A702 Edinburgh to Abington Road. Tel. 01899 221050. Open daily 2.00pm – 5.00pm, June to September, with last admission 4.30pm.