Johnstone History Museum

About the museum

Johnstone is a planned town: its origin can be dated to 23 February 1782, when George Houstoun, the laird of the lands of Johnstone, sold the first plots of land from his estate. The power of the River Black Cart drove a fast-growing cotton and flax spinning industry, and the mills created a demand for engineering skills to maintain the water wheels and spinning machines.

Cotton spinning began to decline around 1850, after the cotton famine caused by the American Civil War and the arrival of steam power. The engineering firms that had grown up around the mills survived and prospered, making machine tools of all kinds, and foundries were built to support them. By the 1900s machines designed and built in Johnstone were sold all over the world.

The Johnstone History Museum is run entirely by volunteers of the Johnstone History Society, without public funds. Its exhibits trace the history of the town from its beginnings through the rise and fall of the textile industry to the engineering businesses, with photographs, maps and artefacts.

Highlights

• History of Johnstone from its founding in 1782
• Cotton and flax spinning on the River Black Cart
• Machine tools and engineering firms
• Photographs, maps and artefacts of local industry

Permanent exhibition

• History of Johnstone – Displays follow the town from its founding through the textile industry and the engineering businesses that followed, with photographs, maps and artefacts.

Founded

2008

Operated by

Johnstone History Society

Admission & discounts

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Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The museum is at the right-hand end of the Morrisons supermarket building on Napier Street, near the River Black Cart. From Glasgow Airport, take the M8 to junction 28A, follow the A737 towards Irvine and leave at the Johnstone B769 off-ramp. Turn left at the traffic lights towards Johnstone and then immediately left towards Morrisons.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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Plan your visit