Edit What do you know about Coatbridge?
| Coatbridge is a town in North Lanarkshire approximately 9 miles east of Glasgow. At the 2001 Census it had a population of 41,170 making it the 23rd largest town or city in Scotland. Settlement of the area which is now Coatbridge stretches back to the stone age with flint tools of stone age man being found on the shores of Woodend Loch. Lochend Loch once boasted of a fine example of a crannog - an Iron Age dwelling house made from wood and thatch, on an artificial island. This was designed as a protection against robbers and wolves. The crannog was joined to the shore by a narrow causeway hidden under the surface of the water. People continued to live in Crannogs up until about AD 1450. The area around Coatbridge was described in the 1799 Statistical Account as an "immense garden" and "orchard". It was not until the 1830s that the character of the district began to change from a rural landscape of small hamlets and farmhouses to a crowded industrial town. The numerous foundries gave the town its nickname of the Iron Burgh. In the 19th century, fuelled by the local discovery of ironstone, Coatbridge became a major centre for the iron and steel industry. The town expanded quickly and the new industries assisted the massive impact Glasgow made on the world of shipbuilding. However, with the decline of shipbuilding on the Clyde in the mid 1900s the demand for iron and steel dropped. This led the iron and coal industries to collapse which led to poverty and deprivation which in turn led to drastic population fall from approximately 90,000 at the end of the 19th century to today's level. Coatbridge is sometimes referred to as ‘Little Ireland’ due to the large numbers of Irish who emigrated to the town in the late 19th and early 20th century. Large St. Patrick's Day celebrations have been held in the town in recent years and there are a high number of Catholic churches and schools in the area. Nowadays Coatbridge is a modern town that has been regenerated by Government and European Union grants. It is seen as something of a transport hub to which all major destinations in Scotland can be reached; it is adjacent to the M8 and M73 motorways, and the M74 motorway is a short drive away. The town is also very well served by passenger trains and has six railway stations on the four train lines that cross the town (see Transport Links section below). Coatbridge is home to Scotland's First College. Today Coatbridge College meets the needs of the people who live in North Lanarkshire, particularly Coatbridge and Airdrie. With more than 100 years of history, Coatbridge is the oldest College in Scotlandr. In 1991, ‘Scotland’s First College’ entered its second century in a community that has seen vast changes in its structure and industries since the College’s doors were first opened. Property prices in Coatbridge have undergone rapid growth in recent years, reflecting the town's newfound popularity. In 2004-2005, house prices rose by 36%, the largest such increase in Scotland Coatbridge is the home of "Scotland's Noisiest Museum", Summerlee Heritage Park which contains an insight into what life was like in Coatbridge during the heady days of being at the forefront of the world's iron and steel industry. Drumpellier Country Park provides a good day out for a family or for a relaxing walk among woodland and loch-side surroundings, while the adjacent golf course acts as a temptation for the more energetic. T his course is a municipal course while the nearby Drumpellier Golf Course is a private members' club. Other large parks are Dunbeth, West End and Whifflet Public Parks. The Time Capsule is a multi-purpose leisure centre containing a swimming pool, an adventure pool set in a prehistoric environment, an ice skating facility, and a sports complex with gym halls and other facilities. All of these facilities, as well as the recently opened Showcase leisure park which contains a 12-screen cinema, a 10-pin bowling complex and numerous restaurants, have contributed to the continued regeneration of the once ailing Coatbridge. The local football team is Albion Rovers F.C.. More local local residents support Celtic and Rangers, but Rovers have a committed core of fans. Speedway racing was staged at Albion Rovers' stadium, Cliftonhill Park. The stadium hosted the Coatbridge Monarchs from 1968 to 1969, after which the speedway licence was sold to Wembley. Speedway returned to Cliftonhill in 1973. Coatbridge Tigers stayed until mid 1977 when they were turned out to make way for a greyhound track. Coatbridge is also home to The Deep Fried Film Festival an annual international festival which has been running since 2006. The festival attracts international recognition in the media industry |
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