Airdrie, Motherwell Street, Boots Factory

In 1946, a 145 acre site at Airdrie, including Raywards House, was bought by Boots of Nottingham for £27,000. In April 6th 1949 the Boots Factory was opened by Tom Johnson. The light manufacturing and packaging factory was based on the production flow at Boots main factory at Beeston in Nottingham. The factory floor was at landing dock height to allow a through flow of raw material to finished products. In the early days used mainly for packing sodium bicarbonate, Epsom and Glauber salts, Back and Kidney Plasters, Mate herbal tea, corn solvent and high volume tablets (e.g. Asprin). It also carried out contract work for Vick Vapour Rub and Ministry of Food orange juice. There were originally 750 employees on site. Initially the buildings occupied only 8 of the 145 acres acquired.

By 1953 there were 600 employees and all Boots requirements of aspirin and saccharin tablets were manufactured in Airdrie. In the 1960s, cosmetics and toiletries were added and the packaging of medicinal and pharmaceuticals reverted to Beeston. In the 1980s, there were 660 members of staff (66% of which were female). In the period 1986-1988 there was investment with an expansion of liquids manufacture. Over half the products manufactured at Airdrie were toiletries.

The factory eventually closed in 2003.

Information taken from MS 7558/1, by RCAHS (MMD), 16 January 2015.

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NS 773 664 An evaluation was undertaken on the site of the former Boots Factory in October 2006. The site is proposed for redevelopment for residential housing. Two areas were evaluated.

Area A was of archaeological interest as map evidence shows the presence of a farmsteading, Rawyards Farm. This farmsteading is depicted in detail on the 1st Edition OS map (1864), and it also corresponds to the site of Ryeyards Farm depicted on William Roy's Military Survey of Scotland Map (1747-55), indicating continuity of occupation from at least the mid-18th century. Thirteen trenches (c 450m2) were excavated in this area. The evaluation established the presence of the remains of buildings at the site of Rawyards Farmsteading and of cottages fronting the A73 Motherwell Road.

Area B was a parcel of former agricultural land to the SE of the Monkland Branch rail-line and has been undeveloped since at least the time of the 1st Edition OS map. This area was considered to have the highest potential for the preservation of buried remains of archaeological interest. Ninety-two trenches were excavated in Area B totalling c 4600m2. A small section of dry stone wall was uncovered and evidence of ground levelling work using mining waste was revealed.

Archive to be deposited with NMRS and WoSAS SMR.

Sponsor: Woodford Group Ltd.

C O'Connell, 2006.

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Photographed in 2003 following a TV News article about possible/proposed closure.

Information from RCAHMS (MKO), February 2003