The Falkirk area sits at the centre of Scotland and at the meeting place of history. The Antonine Wall built around AD146 is the largest relic of the Roman occupation of Scotland.
Falkirk was host to two major battles; the First Battle of Falkirk in 1298 where William Wallace led the Scots into battle against Edward’s English army and the Battle of Falkirk Muir in 1746 where Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites defeated the government forces.
In the 18th and 19th centuries Falkirk was home to Europe’s greatest cattle markets where upwards of 100,000 beasts changed hands.
With an abundance of coal and iron ore, Falkirk was at the start of Scotland’s industrial revolution. The Carron Iron Company’s first furnace opened in 1760 and by 1800 it was the largest smelting works in Europe. The Forth & Clyde Canal and the Union Canal were built to transport goods and materials to distant markets. The recent restoration of the canals for navigation and leisure has created The Falkirk Wheel at the canal intersection.
Today Falkirk has a wide range of cultural facilities. Callendar House in Falkirk is a museum and visitor attraction, with permanent and changing exhibitions and historical research facilities. Falkirk Town Hall is a major venue for performing arts, entertainments and film. Many other events take place throughout the area, including Big in Falkirk, Scotland’s national street arts festival, held annually in May.