“Oor Location”
Monklands and Bellshill Hospital
Woven Tapestry 150cm x 135cm
1996
Inspired by the industrial history of the area, this tapestry was commissioned by Healthcare Arts for Monklands and Bellshill Hospital. Coal mining and iron smelting were the main industries and the coal was delivered to the factories through the network of canals. The iron foundries lit up the skies at night and you could read your newspaper at midnight by the red glow from the foundries. A local poet describes the industrial environment as “reeken” and “smeeken” and these words are woven in to the tapestry.