Falkirk Council

Falkirk Council Archives holds a variety of sources which can be used to learn about the history of the area and the local people.

The archives have great potential under the new Curriculum for Excellence as they can provide pupils with the opportunity to explore the past with an emphasis on what is relevant to them.

We are trying to make the archives as accessible as possible for teachers to use in class and have provided digital copies of various documents and source lists below.

Please also use our on-line catalogue, the Collections Browser| to search for other relevant photographs and documents.

Local history and research skills

• Guide for teachers (PDF, 44KB)

Topic 1 – Health & Housing, 1830-1930

• Source list (PDF, 64KB)
• Using archives - Housing (PDF, 308KB)
• Using archives - Poverty (PDF, 1.4MB)

Topic 2 – The Redding Pit Disaster

• Source list (PDF, 41KB)
• Using archives - The Redding Pit Disaster (PDF, 106KB)

Topic 3 – The Second World War

• Source list (PDF, 46KB)

The following documents are taken from the log books of some of the schools in the Falkirk area. The school log books contain descriptions of events which occurred at each school during the war. Entries include a wide range of information about school life, from air raid drills to planting vegetables in the school grounds.

As this is an on-going project, not all schools are currently listed but more documents will be added over time. Select the name of your school to see the relevant extracts:

• Airth School (PDF, 1.9MB)
• Bainsford Primary School (PDF, 2.3MB)
• Banknock School (PDF, 4.4MB)
• Blackbraes School/California School (PDF, 900KB)
• Bo'ness Public School (PDF, 852KB)
• Bonnybridge Public School (PDF, 4.3MB)
• Bothekennar Primary School (PDF, 3.4MB)
• Camelon School (PDF, 5.2MB)
• Castlecary Primary School (PDF, 3.3MB)
• Denny Public School (PDF, 4.1MB)
• Denny Public School Infant Department (PDF, 2.1MB)
• Dennyloanhead School (PDF, 4.9MB)
• Slamannan Public School (PDF, 8.1MB)
• Wallacestone Public School (PDF, 11.5MB)

An index with all page references to school log books can be found here (PDF, 60KB)|.

Topic 4 – Canals

• Source list (PDF, 68KB)
• Using archives - Transport (PDF, 2.4MB)

Topic 5 - Agriculture

• Source list (PDF, 1.3MB)
• Using archives - Agriculture (PDF, 699KB)

Visiting the Archives

We welcome visits from school pupils researching a specific topic, but we can only accommodate up to 5 pupils with an accompanying adult, during our opening hours. The search room is a public area and there may be other researchers using the search room at the same time as a school visit.  Please contact us at least four weeks in advance if you would like to bring school groups into the archives (01324 503779).

When you visit the Archives you will be asked to fill in a form with your name and address (or school address) for each item you want to see.  You are not allowed to eat (including sweets and chewing gum) or drink and you must use a pencil to take notes. This is so that you do not accidentally damage the original items.

We hope you enjoy your visit and that it helps with your project.

Our learning team can provide workshops and other activities to support the curriculum. Please contact Nikki Stevens, Education Officer, (nikki.stevens@falkirk.gov.uk|) or Marie Bergstrom, Senior Learning Assistant (marie.bergstrom@falkirk.gov.uk|) for further information.