Biggar (Scotland)

Until the 1970s, Britain used "town gas" — mostly coal gas produced by roasting coal without air, mixed with water gas from spraying steam on the coals. The blend was optimised for heating and cooking, rather than for gas lighting or coke production as earlier processes had been. It was rich in carbon monoxide and often the get-out option of the sad or desperate. Every town of any size had a gasworks and a hulking gasometer - a collapsible tank that rose or sank with storage requirements. Then North Sea gas became widely available, the nation's appliances were converted to use it, and all the gasworks became redundant. Most were demolished and the sites redeveloped, but the Biggar site and equipment were preserved.

Wide ranging exhibitions of local life.

Extensive garden created by the writer Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006) and populated with his artwork. The name is a jibe at Edinburgh, "Athens of the North".

Victorian-style puppet theatre with shows aimed at younger children. Also has a tearoom.

Community theatre, opened in 1861, with local amateur acts and visiting professional performers.

18-hole parkland course run by South Lanarkshire Council. White tees 5662 yards, Par 68.