Local Landscape Heroes: Hamilton Natural History Society

Bill and Audrey Wallace

Filed under History & Archaeology

Hamilton Natural History Society (HNHS) are nominating Audrey and Bill Wallace as our ‘Local Landscape Heroes’. Both of them had a great love and knowledge of the local landscape and were involved in recording and preserving our natural and built heritage.

Audrey Wallace investigates the 50th Silver Anniversary tree at Chatelherault for the Hamilton Natural History Society, HNHS, in 2012
Audrey Wallace investigates the 50th Silver Anniversary tree at Chatelherault for the Hamilton Natural History Society, HNHS, in 2012

Audrey was originally from Belfast, where she worked in the library at Queens University and was a member of Belfast Naturalists Field Club. When she married Bill and moved to Hamilton in the 1950’s, she found there was no similar society so she re-started one – Hamilton Natural History Society. She was a keen observer and recorder of wildlife and was also interested in archaeology. She made sure the Society was involved in local issues to protect nature – doing surveys, commenting on planning issues, attending public enquiries, keeping rights of way paths actively used and taking part in public consultations on new developments such as Strathclyde Park and Chatelherault Country Park. She was HNHS secretary for 29 years and remained a member until her death in 2014.

Bill Wallace plants a 50th Silver Anniversary tree at Chatelherault for the Hamilton Natural History Society, HNHS, April 1985

Bill Wallace was also an active HNHS member, being treasurer for 20 years then vice president for 5 years. He was also a member of Hamilton Civic Society and was extremely knowledgeable about local history. In 1969 he wrote an article on ‘Hamilton - Its Naturalists and Natural History Societies’ for our journal but he also wrote about local history. He donated much of his archive material to Hamilton Library. He died in 2008 age 92.

Hamilton Natural History Society HNHS 50th Anniversary cake

Hamilton Natural History Society HNHS 50th Anniversary cake

In 2010, HNHS celebrated its 50th anniversary and to mark this, we produced a booklet detailing the historical origins of the society (from the 1890’s) and some of our activities over that time (in parallel with a local timeline of what else was happening in the area).  It highlights the enthusiasm and dedication of many local people who could all be regarded as ‘Landscape Heroes’. Read the booklet, available under ‘Related Resources’.

This Museum item was created as part of the Local Landscape Heroes project, delivered by CAVLP Heritage, managed by Northlight Heritage, with support from Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership and Historic Environment Scotland. The project facilitated community exploration and celebration of people who they deemed 'Local Landscape Heroes', from farmers to millers, poets to painters and everyone inbetween. Explore the other Local Landscape Heroes items in the Museum and by clicking the links below to find out more.


You Might Also Like...


Glorious Gardens: Mauldslie Castle

Glorious Gardens: Mauldslie Castle

One of the Valleys' grandest old estates

Glorious Gardens: Cambusnethan

Glorious Gardens: Cambusnethan

A disappearing treasure of the Clyde Valley

Glorious Gardens: Baronald House

Glorious Gardens: Baronald House

The Echo in the Crags and the Botanist

Glorious Gardens: Jerviswood

Glorious Gardens: Jerviswood

A beautiful and productive landscape on the outskirts of Lanark

Mapping the Past Guide

Mapping the Past Guide

A guide to the cartographic heritage of the Clyde and Avon Valley

Collieries: Mapping Underground

Collieries: Mapping Underground

Part of the Mapping the Past trail

Trig Points: The Basis for Modern Mapping

Trig Points: The Basis for Modern Mapping

Part of the Mapping the Past trail

Archaeology Scotland

Archaeology Scotland

Investigating, informing, inspiring

Black Hill: More than just a Viewpoint

Black Hill: More than just a Viewpoint

Part of the Mapping the Past trail

Bonnington Pavilion, the 'Hall of Mirrors'

Bonnington Pavilion, the 'Hall of Mirrors'

A view of Corra Linn, with a difference

Chatelherault Country Park

Chatelherault Country Park

A 'Jewel in the Landscape' and former hunting lodge

Cleghorn Roman Camp

Cleghorn Roman Camp

Part of the Mapping the Past trail

Craignethan Castle Historic Environment Scotland

Craignethan Castle Historic Environment Scotland

Scotland’s last great private stronghold perched on the Nethan Gorge

Designing the Landscape: Chatelherault

Designing the Landscape: Chatelherault

Part of the Mapping the Past trail

Douglas Heritage Museum

Douglas Heritage Museum

Explore the history of this sleepy and historic village on the south bank of the Douglas Water

Dundaff Linn inspires budding artists

Dundaff Linn inspires budding artists

11 artists follow in the footsteps of master painters

Falls of Clyde Historic Trail

Falls of Clyde Historic Trail

A historic guide for tourists, by Lady Geraldine Lockhart Ross

Forests of the Valleys

Forests of the Valleys

Trees have a big part to play in the Clyde and Avon landscape

Friends of Cambusnethan Priory

Friends of Cambusnethan Priory

Sharing photos, stories and memories about Cambusnethan Priory before it is lost forever

From Sheep to Shawl textile and dying manual

From Sheep to Shawl textile and dying manual

A Guide to the Textile Heritage of the Clyde Valley

Getting Around

Getting Around

A Brief History of Transport in the Clyde and Avon Valleys

GUARD Archaeology Ltd

GUARD Archaeology Ltd

Specialising in archaeology and cultural heritage projects

Guide to Re-Photography

Guide to Re-Photography

Exploring our Landscape

Hamilton Civic Society

Hamilton Civic Society

Stimulating interest in the town of Hamilton

Hamilton Mausoleum

Hamilton Mausoleum

Built as a tomb and monument to Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton, nicknamed ‘El Magnifico’

Historic Environment Scotland

Historic Environment Scotland

Investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland’s historic environment.

Lanark Heritage Trail

Lanark Heritage Trail

Lanark, where Heritage blooms - explore this bustling town & discover historic highlights

Lanarkshire Family History Society

Lanarkshire Family History Society

Encourages the research of genealogy and general interests of Lanarkshire

Larkhall Heritage Group

Larkhall Heritage Group

Promoting the heritage of Larkhall

Low Parks Museum, Hamilton

Low Parks Museum, Hamilton

Low Parks Museum in Hamilton is a 5-star museum under the Visit Scotland grading scheme, situated in the former Low Parks of the Duke of Hamilton's estates.

Making a Medieval Tile

Making a Medieval Tile

Celebrating the Brick and Tile Industry of the Clyde and Avon Valley

MapCRAFT

MapCRAFT

Expressive Mapping in the Clyde and Avon Valley

Motherwell Heritage Society

Motherwell Heritage Society

Promotes the study of local history

National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride

National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride

Find out what country life was like for people in the past and how this shaped the working farms of today, in this five-star museum.

National Trust for Scotland Black Hill

National Trust for Scotland Black Hill

A spectacular viewpoint over the Clyde and Avon Valley with a Bronze Age history

New Lanark World Heritage Site

New Lanark World Heritage Site

A restored 18th century cotton mill built on Utopian ideals

North Lanarkshire Archives

North Lanarkshire Archives

Explore the historical records of North Lanarkshire

North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre, Motherwell

North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre, Motherwell

Formerly Motherwell Heritage Centre, the building is now the main centre for North Lanarkshire’s extensive archives collection.

North Lodge Bridge, New Lanark

North Lodge Bridge, New Lanark

A gateway between ways of life

Northlight Heritage

Northlight Heritage

Making Heritage Matter

Place Names: Dalserf & Nemphlar

Place Names: Dalserf & Nemphlar

Part of the Mapping the Past trail

Scotland's Garden and Landscape Heritage

Scotland's Garden and Landscape Heritage

Encouraging the protection and study of historic parks, gardens and designed landscapes

Scotland's Urban Past

Scotland's Urban Past

Your town, your street, your story

Shaping the Landscape: Black Hill and Stonebyres Quarry

Shaping the Landscape: Black Hill and Stonebyres Quarry

Hill formed from cooling magma providing great geological look out

Shaping the Landscape: Cartland Craigs & Cleghorn Glen

Shaping the Landscape: Cartland Craigs & Cleghorn Glen

A deep gorge, a castle and the highest bridge in inland Scotland

Shaping the Landscape: Chatelherault and the Avon Gorge

Shaping the Landscape: Chatelherault and the Avon Gorge

A quintessential part of the area's mining history

Shaping the Landscape: Lower Nethan Gorge

Shaping the Landscape: Lower Nethan Gorge

Ancient river deltas and swampy forests

Shaping the Landscape: Morgan Glen & Millheugh to Fairholm

Shaping the Landscape: Morgan Glen & Millheugh to Fairholm

Subtle valleys exposing the stone through which the river cuts

Shaping the Landscape: RSPB Scotland Baron's Haugh

Shaping the Landscape: RSPB Scotland Baron's Haugh

Created by mining subsidence, now a haven for wildlife

Shaping the Landscape: Sampson's Slingstane and Fiddler Burn

Shaping the Landscape: Sampson's Slingstane and Fiddler Burn

A mysterious boulder perched on a steep sandstone cliff

Shaping the Landscape: Stonebyres Falls

Shaping the Landscape: Stonebyres Falls

Giant rock steps over which the Clyde tumbles

Shaping the Landscape: Thank the Rocks for the Trains

Shaping the Landscape: Thank the Rocks for the Trains

How geology led to the first local train lines

Shaping the Landscape: The Falls of Clyde

Shaping the Landscape: The Falls of Clyde

Dramatic falls show the power of ancient glaciers

Shaping the Landscape: The Nemphlar Channel

Shaping the Landscape: The Nemphlar Channel

An ancient dry valley formed during the last ice age

Shaping the Landscape: Threepwood Quarry

Shaping the Landscape: Threepwood Quarry

Stoop and room workings to extract high quality sandstone

South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Trust

South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Trust

Providing opportunities to enrich people’s lives

South Lanarkshire Public Research Resources

South Lanarkshire Public Research Resources

Collections and local history resources

Stonehouse Heritage Group

Stonehouse Heritage Group

A fascinating insight to Stonehouse village history

Strathaven John Hastie Museum Trust

Strathaven John Hastie Museum Trust

Working to establish a lively community museum for the historic market town of Strathaven

Summerlee Industrial Museum, Coatbridge

Summerlee Industrial Museum, Coatbridge

Summerlee is the museum of Scottish industrial life and is based around the site of a 19th century ironworks.

Tasting Through Time historic cook book

Tasting Through Time historic cook book

Historic apple, plum and pear recipes

The Avon Weirs

The Avon Weirs

Remnants of the river's industrial heritage

The BIG MAP

The BIG MAP

Collaborative Mapping in the Clyde and Avon Valley

The Clyde Walkway Stage 4: Cardies Bridge to Crossford

The Clyde Walkway Stage 4: Cardies Bridge to Crossford

Through historic woodlands and agricultural landscape to Crossford village.

The Clyde Walkway Stage 5: Crossford to Falls of Clyde, New Lanark

The Clyde Walkway Stage 5: Crossford to Falls of Clyde, New Lanark

Orchard country, spectacular wooded gorges and New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Village

The Falls of Clyde Heritage Group

The Falls of Clyde Heritage Group

Interested in protecting the Falls of Clyde and the surrounding landscape

The industrial valleys

The industrial valleys

Industry in the Clyde and Avon Valleys

The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway

The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway

Explore the lead mining museum at Wanlockhead and marvel at the skills of the lead miners who dug their shafts to below sea level and excavated miles of tunnels in their search for lead ore and silver.

The Royal Burgh of Lanark Museum

The Royal Burgh of Lanark Museum

A collection of items illustrating the ancient and varied history of the ancient Royal Burgh.

The valley of the glasshouses

The valley of the glasshouses

From Hot Houses to Garden Centres

Tinto Hill

Tinto Hill

One of Central Scotland’s best loved and most distinctive hills

Tourism and Art in the Clyde & Avon Valley

Tourism and Art in the Clyde & Avon Valley

The inspiration for artists and travellers

Visit Lanarkshire

Visit Lanarkshire

Fun family days out at historic attractions, adventure activities and beautiful landscapes.