Denis continues, “After the highly successful exhibition, ‘Bustles, Britannia, & Big Ideas’ in 2007 which was hugely popular, attracting over 3,000 visitors, and included many outreach events including seminars, talks and a music hall concert at Clydebank Town Hall, we were aware of the demand from the public for a legacy project and it was decided that one of these legacies would take the form of the publication of a major local history book on life in the Victorian era across West Dunbartonshire and the results speak for themselves.”
Over the last 12 months working with Friends of Clydebank WDC Culture Section has secured external funding for the publication of ‘Life in the Victorian Era’ (Clydebank, Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven).
(The Friends of Clydebank Museum is a charity established with the aim of supporting Clydebank Museum).
In November 2007 the Friends of Clydebank Museum were awarded funding in full of £8,130 from Awards for All Scotland towards legacy resources including the publication of ‘Life in the Victorian Era. This award was match funding to the tune of £2,000 from WDC Culture Section budgets.and £500 from the Friends of Clydebank Museum.
The funding enabled the publication of a local history book telling a pictorial story of life in West Dunbartonshire during the reign of Queen Victoria. The book includes over 100 photographs which enrich our understanding of local history in the area.
In January 2008 a project team was established involving representatives from the Friends of Clydebank Museum, WDC Culture Section and Libraries Section, along with community representatives. Adverts were placed in local papers, and posters promoted in WDC branch libraries to solicit Victorian photographs of the local area and people. These invaluable and unique images have been included in the publication and have been added to the council’s local studies collection.
‘Life in the Victorian Era’ provides a series of thematic insights into life in the area during the reign of Queen Victoria. This era witnessed significant social changes and the impact of industrialisation on the villages and towns of the authority. Themes within the publication focus on: Victorian Social Conditions, Crime and Punishment, Trade and Empire, Victorian Leisure and Entertainment, and the Victorian Family
‘Life in the Victorian Era’ (Clydebank, Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven) will go on sale to the public on the 1st October 2008 priced £7.99. and is available to the public with all details on our website on how to buy a copy on www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk
