Low Parks Museum

The Low Parks Museum stands in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, on the site of the former Hamilton Palace. It occupies two historic buildings closely tied to the Hamilton Dukes: Portland House, built in 1696, and the Palace Riding School, constructed in 1837. Portland House began as a private home before becoming a coaching inn, estate offices and finally a museum. The Riding School once served the palace stables and later housed the Cameronians regimental collection. Both buildings are category A listed for their national significance. The museum traces South Lanarkshire’s history through regional industries and events. Its Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) collection includes over 1,000 medals and seven Victoria Crosses, alongside regimental flags such as the Bluidy Banner from the Battle of Bothwell Bridge. Displays cover coal mining, which boomed in 1874 with 22 collieries in Hamilton Parish, and the Blantyre Mining Disaster of 1877 that killed 207 miners. Other exhibits explore early agriculture with the Clydesdale Horse, weaving traditions and the lace-making industry introduced in 1752. Visitors find rooms filled with artefacts from Hamilton Palace, including a large floor-to-ceiling mirror and photographs of the demolished residence. A 4,000-year-old Bronze Age skeleton found at Ferniegair adds a prehistoric touch. Temporary exhibitions have featured robots, artwork by autistic artists and costumed performances recreating life in the ducal household. The museum links the two historic buildings with modern galleries, offering a view of South Lanarkshire’s past through local stories and national heritage.