Forgotten Towns

Series 4 Episode 5 - WHITBURN (# 930 Visited 25/10/2024)

Linlithgowshire, Scotland : Population 10,860 (Rank # 876)

This week sees us in the heartland of Scotland's former mining territory, and maybe an unexpected hotbed of Unionism.

MUSIC

Cushion Foot Stomp - Clarence Williams And His Washboard Five

I've Never Been To Me - Charlene

Central Milton Keynes (You've Never Seen Anything Like It) - Ronnie Bond

Invisible Girl - Jeff Grimes

THANKS

The staff of The Double Five, Whitburn

Lothian Buses

The Buildings of Scotland (The Lothians) - Pevsner, N. et al

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 4 Episode 4 - ARMADALE (# 929 Visited 25/10/2024)

Linlithgowshire, Scotland : Population 12,550 (Rank # 792)

Sleepy dormitory town, or gem of Scotland's central belt? We make legitimate, yet limited, attempts to find out during this episode.

MUSIC

Hoots Mon - Lord Rockingham's XI

I've Never Been To Me - Charlene

Central Milton Keynes (You've Never Seen Anything Like It) - Ronnie Bond

Invisible Girl - Jeff Grimes

THANKS

Scotrail

The staff of The Rowan Tree, Armadale

Star Trek

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 4 Episode 3 - AIRDRIE (# 928 Visited 25/10/2024)

Lanarkshire, Scotland : Population 37,410 (Rank # 287)

Airdrie is a town with something for everyone... so long as you like drizzle. We do some research from the pub interior.

MUSIC

Hoots Mon - Lord Rockingham's XI

I've Never Been To Me - Charlene

Central Milton Keynes (You've Never Seen Anything Like It) - Ronnie Bond

Invisible Girl - Jeff Grimes

THANKS

Scotrail

The staff of The Treasury Bar, Airdrie

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 4 Episode 2 - COATBRIDGE (# 927 Visited 25/10/2024)

Lanarkshire, Scotland : Population 43,960 (Rank # 241)

From an Iron Age crannog to vast iron output in a later age, Coatbridge has given plenty to the world. We take it all in, from Whifflet to Sunnyside.

MUSIC

Hoots Mon - Lord Rockingham's XI

I've Never Been To Me - Charlene

Central Milton Keynes (You've Never Seen Anything Like It) - Ronnie Bond

Invisible Girl - Jeff Grimes

THANKS

Scotrail

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 4 Episode 1 - RUTHERGLEN (# 926 Visited 25/10/2024)

Lanarkshire, Scotland : Population 31,190 (Rank # 343)

The nation's media came here for a week or two last Autumn but, beyond transitory political interest, we try and find out what it's actually like.

MUSIC

Hoots Mon - Lord Rockingham's XI

I've Never Been To Me - Charlene

Central Milton Keynes (You've Never Seen Anything Like It) - Ronnie Bond

Invisible Girl - Jeff Grimes

THANKS

Scotrail

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 3 Episode 10 - KIRKINTILLOCH (# 925 Visited 23/10/2024)

Dunbartonshire, Scotland : Population 21,380 (Rank # 496)

Christmas & New Year Special - A feature-length season-closing edition to take in not just this sizeable Dunbartonshire town but, we hope, the final stretch of our walk to the West coast.

MUSIC

Troika (from Lieutenant Kijé) - Sergei Prokjofiev

Galloping Home (Original Theme From 'Black Beauty') - Denis King & The South Bank Orchestra

Old Lang Syne - Slade

THANKS

The staff and patrons of Kincaid House Hotel, Milton Of Campsie

Ruth & Frank

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 3 Episode 9 - KILSYTH (# 924 Visited 23/10/2024)

Stirlingshire, Scotland : Population 10,080 (Rank # 925)

Kilsyth may be the nation's 925th biggest town, but it's only the 924th one your host has visited. Confused? He will probably fail to explain in this week's episode.

MUSIC

Spaceherosuits - Those Dancing Days

Letter From America - The Proclaimers

Put Your Hand On The Computer - They Might Be Giants

We Have A Dream - The Scottish World Cup Squad

Dirty Old Town - The Pogues

Edinburgh Man - The Fall

Super Trouper - ABBA

THANKS

The staff of Cafe Retro, Bonnybridge

The staff of The Boathouse Hotel, Kilsyth

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 3 Episode 8 - ALLOA (# 923 Visited 23/10/2024)

Clackmannanshire, Scotland : Population 14,420 (Rank # 705)

It may necessitate an illogical dead-end train ride, and time is tight, but we're determined to make our only visit to Clackmannanshire count.

MUSIC

Spaceherosuits - Those Dancing Days

Letter From America - The Proclaimers

Put Your Hand On The Computer - They Might Be Giants

We Have A Dream - The Scottish World Cup Squad

Dirty Old Town - The Pogues

Edinburgh Man - The Fall

Super Trouper - ABBA

THANKS

Scotrail

The staff of the Station Store, Foundry Loan

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 3 Episode 7 - LARBERT (# 922 Visited 22/10/2024)

Stirlingshire, Scotland : Population 11,050 (Rank # 868)

Run down by over-exertion, your host contemplates Larbert from the generic surroundings of his Premier Inn bedroom.

MUSIC

Spaceherosuits - Those Dancing Days

Blinded By The Light - Bruce Springsteen

Letter From America - The Proclaimers

Put Your Hand On The Computer - They Might Be Giants

We Have A Dream - The Scottish World Cup Squad

Dirty Old Town - The Pogues

Edinburgh Man - The Fall

Super Trouper - ABBA

THANKS

The staff of Premier Inn, Larbert

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org

Series 3 Episode 6 - STENHOUSEMUIR (# 921 Visited 22/10/2024)

Stirlingshire, Scotland : Population 9,740 (Rank # 943)

Our trip to Stenhousemuir is dominated by the 'chip shop challenge'; can a man travel quicker than a 'bus whilst buying a haggis supper?

MUSIC

Late Night Bus - The Longcut

Take The Long Way Home - Supertramp

THANKS

FirstBus

The staff of Bruno's Chippy, Stenhousemuir

Dougie

London Parkour - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXMPRK2LQAE

Visit the UK's 1,000 largest settlements with Alexander Rennie. For full details of both challenge and podcast, see https://forgottentowns.org