The names of The Shangie, Laigh Possil, Kenmure Row and Mavis Valley linger dimly in the memories of the people who grew up in the north and west of Glasgow – virtually nothing remains of the cottages themselves.

A new museum exhibition at Lambhill Stables entitled Coal, Cottages and Canals aimas to bring these memories to life, and celebrate the life and work of the forgotten mining communities along the Forth and Clyde Canal between Glasgow and Bishopbriggs.

The exhibition is part of a two year community history project, supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, and may be the last opportunity to preserve the memories of people who either lived or whose family members lived in these cottages.

A team of local volunteers has been carrying out community archaeology, photographic surveys, oral history recordings and census data research, gathering clues from the past in order to paint a vivid picture of Glasgow’s changing landscape that future generations can appreciate and enjoy. In this way, Coal, Cottages and Canals aims to contribute to the transformation of the Forth and Clyde Canal from a disused relic of Scotland’s industrial past to the vibrant green space that exists today.

The volunteers have been supported in creating their exhibition by the Open Museum, the community outreach team of Glasgow Museums. The display features a selection of objects discovered in the area, alongside artefacts donated by locals relating to the themes of the exhibition.