1982-1989
Changes
SNAPSHOTS OF THE CENTRE
Miscellaneous shots of the Town Centre inside and out. Lifts, corridors, shops, ramps, rooftops and more. As the 1980s went on the centre was starting to show its age, leading to more renovations and remedial works.
Unless otherwise indicated, pictures taken from the Cumbernauld Development Corporation collection, held by North Lanarkshire Council’s Archives.
Mosaic located at car park level, ground floor
Shot of the town centre with the B&Q/General George stores construction underway
Offices on the third floor (Allander Walk) - these were later removed and bricked up
The original Cumbernauld News studio taken from the second floor of Phase One
Outside the library - the upper level was eventually enclosed and blocked off
Offices at the top of the Allander Walk ramp; this became Avon House and the windows bricked up.
Shot from the top of the ramp on Allander Walk.
Exterior shot of the building before the blue colouring was replaced with red.
Ramp looking up at Sellyns shop in Phase 1 (later the Cumbernauld News office)
Exterior of Town Centre showing the old water tower and the former DSS building/job centre
Exterior shot showing the ramps leading from Phase One to the college.
Missing floor tiles
Missing floor tiles and grubby walls on ramp
Bubbling of floor surfaces in corridor
Missing floor tiles in centre
Exterior shot of the roof outside the library
Another shot of the roof outside the library
Graffiti on wall of town centre
Area of the town centre looking grubby and run-down
Puddles at the bottom of fire escape stairs
Graffiti on town centre walls
Mural by Barbara Balmer, "Cumbernauld 1981"
Allander Walk corridor outside the library
Lift from ground level to outside of library; this lift was later taken out of commission.
Ramp from floor 3 of Phase 1
Lift at ground floor level (the one that went up to the library)
Another lift within the town centre
Lift in the shopping mall of Phase One/Two
Chinese New Year library parade through Phase 1 shopping mall; Beatties and G. Hutt can be seen. Taken from Cumbernauld Library's own photo collection
Celebrating 20 years of the town twinning scheme; taken in Phase 4 mall
Photo of the council offices in Bron Way; taken from local history collection in Cumbernauld Library
Model of plans for new council offices; taken from local history collection in Cumbernauld Library
IN THE NEWS 1982-83
RETAIL
MADNESS
Woolco closed down in 1986, What Everyone Wants moved to bigger premises after Presto shut their doors, and as 1988 began two large stores opened in the form of B&Q and General George. Plus the Red Triangle snooker club and Papa Doc’s nightclub livened up Cumbernauld’s social scene. Click on the larger articles to read them in more detail.
All adverts and articles in this section taken from the Cumbernauld News, archived at Britishnewspaperarchive.com
Turkish Kebab & Curry Centre Mar 1982
Retsons Jul 1982
Christmas Shopping 1982
Rumbelows Jan 1984
Tandoori Restaurant Mar 1984
R.S. McColl New Store Mar 1984
Granada Aug 1984
Red Triangle Oct 1984
Scotch Corner Nov 1984
Scotch Corner Nov 1984
Red Triangle Nov 1984
Christmas Shopping 1984
Red Triangle Jan 1985
Red Triangle Feb 1985
Papa Doc's Aug 1985
Papa Doc's Sep 1985
Papa Doc's Nov 1985
Dragon's Palace Nov 1985
Woolco Jan 1986
Woolco May 1986
Tip Top May 1986
Capital May 1986
Capital May 1986
Moll Flanders Jun 1986
Presto Jun 1986
Papa Doc's Jul 1986
Woolco Closing Down Sale Jul 1986
Presto Sep 1987
Our Price Music Oct 1987
What Everyone Wants Nov 1987
What Everyone Wants Dec 1987
General George Jan 1988
B&Q Jan 1988 P1
B&Q Jan 1988 P2
Moriartys bar Mar 1988
What Everyone Wants Mar 1988
William Low Nov 1988
IN THE NEWS 1984-85
RETAIL
MADNESS
Gateway’s brand new superstore replaced Woolco’s shop in early 1987. Here are a few pages advertising Gateway’s arrival in Cumbernauld. As ever, you can click on the larger articles to read them in more detail.
All adverts and articles in this section taken from the Cumbernauld News, archived at Britishnewspaperarchive.com
Gateway Opening P1 Jan 1987
Gateway Opening P2 Jan 1987
Gateway Opening P3 Jan 1987
Gateway Opening P4 Jan 1987
Gateway Opening Feb 1987
IN THE NEWS 1986-89
MAPS AND PLANS
Town centre plans from 1981/1982. Click to see larger images.
Plan of lower retail level. Plans taken from Cumbernauld Development Corporation Collection, held by North Lanarkshire Council's Archives.
Plan of upper retail level. Plans taken from Cumbernauld Development Corporation Collection, held by North Lanarkshire Council's Archives.
Plan of Phase 1 3rd Floor. Plans taken from Cumbernauld Development Corporation Collection, held by North Lanarkshire Council's Archives.
Plan of Penthouse level. Plans taken from Cumbernauld Development Corporation Collection, held by North Lanarkshire Council's Archives.
