24/07/2020
The Scottish Development Department collection consists of approximately 70,000 plastic photographic negatives and some printed photographs, as well as additional reference documentation for the majority of these images in the form of ‘record sheets’. These photographs and corresponding records sheets were captured by Scottish Development Department investigators, predominately in the 1970s and 1980s. Photographs show both urban and rural areas throughout Scotland, including cities, towns and villages.
Unfortunately not all photographs were referenced in the collection's record sheets. Since May 2020, thanks to the public's help, over 1,000 previously unidentified photographs have been identified. Some of these photographs are displayed in this gallery, identified by the public and project archivists between May and July 2020.
This collection was digitised as part of our three-year Digital Project, with the goal to make ‘invisible’ archives visible. The Scottish Development Department was one of several collections identified for mass digitisation, and was digitised in Year 2 of the project. Further information about the Digital Project can be found here: https://canmore.org.uk/content/archive-digital-projects-2018-2021-0














SC 1801817
Chatelherault Country Park, construction of staircase behind gate, Hamilton
© Crown Copyright: HES

















SC 1815389
St Brendan's Church and 32 Mountstuart Road, Rothesay, Argyll and Bute
© Crown Copyright: HES






SC 1818316
Kytra Lock Keeper's Cottage, Caledonian Canal, Boleskine And Abertarff, Highland
© Crown Copyright: HES


SC 1821901
South facing door, St Magnus Cathedral, Palace Road, Kirkwall, Orkney
© Crown Copyright: HES













SC 1829975
Rear of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Andrew, Dunlop Street, Glasgow
© Crown Copyright: HES














SC 1945941
Entrance to Bobber Wynd and Burgh Chambers, St Catherine Street, Cupar, Fife
© Crown Copyright: HES









SC 2003220
Paisley Co-operative Manufacturing Society (PCMS) building, Causeyside Street, Paisley
© Crown Copyright: HES

SC 2003266
The Russell Institute, 30 Causeyside Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire. Junction of New Street and Causeyside Street, view taken looking ENE across junction
© Crown Copyright: HES

SC 1801817
Chatelherault Country Park, construction of staircase behind gate, Hamilton
© Crown Copyright: HES

SC 1815389
St Brendan's Church and 32 Mountstuart Road, Rothesay, Argyll and Bute
© Crown Copyright: HES

SC 1818316
Kytra Lock Keeper's Cottage, Caledonian Canal, Boleskine And Abertarff, Highland
© Crown Copyright: HES

SC 1821901
South facing door, St Magnus Cathedral, Palace Road, Kirkwall, Orkney
© Crown Copyright: HES

SC 1829975
Rear of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Andrew, Dunlop Street, Glasgow
© Crown Copyright: HES

SC 1945941
Entrance to Bobber Wynd and Burgh Chambers, St Catherine Street, Cupar, Fife
© Crown Copyright: HES

SC 2003220
Paisley Co-operative Manufacturing Society (PCMS) building, Causeyside Street, Paisley
© Crown Copyright: HES

SC 2003266
The Russell Institute, 30 Causeyside Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire. Junction of New Street and Causeyside Street, view taken looking ENE across junction
© Crown Copyright: HES