Discovering Hartwood

Sorry you are too late, this event has been and gone!

Discovering Hartwood is a day long free open house event at Shotts Community Centre as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival!

About Discovering Hartwood

Listed Under Health and Wellbeing Events / Community Events / Family and Kids Events / Music Events / October Half Term Events / Theatre Events

A multi-layered arts event being hosted to celebrate and share stories of the often-hidden history of Hartwood Hospital, a former psychiatric hospital in Shotts. Featuring storytelling performances, live music, drama workshops and an exhibition.

Storyteller Jane Mather and harpist Heather Yule will deliver In the Hartwood, a storytelling adventure which reveals a new history regarding Hartwood Hospital and it’s Paupers Cemetery. Celebrated soprano Monica McGhee will perform three of Scottish composer Robert McHardy’s lost songs.

'In the Hartwood' is a celebration of the lives of the patients at Hartwood Psychiatric Hospital which was open between 1895 and 1998 - at one time Scotland's biggest asylum.

As part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, 'Discovering Hartwood' day at Shotts will feature this special performance focusing on the lives of those who died in the institution. While the building now lies in ruins a team of volunteers tends the paupers cemetery in the grounds, and whilst uncovering their last resting place have also been discovering their remarkable stories.

In part one Storyteller Jane Mather and harpist Heather Yule will tell a modern fairytale about the cemetery and the folk who care for the graves today guiding you into the faerie realm where dreams are powerful and spirits abound.

Part two focuses in on the amazing story of one patient -Strathaven's Polish Baroness ‘Lady Felice’, and in particular her relationship with Robert Machardy, a celebrated Scottish Composer of Victorian times.

Motherwell born soprano Monica McGhee accompanied by Geoffrey Tanti on Piano will resurrect three Machardy songs which, to our knowledge, have not been played in public for at least a hundred years, the music for which until recently had been languishing in the archives of the British Library.

• The Soldier - was composed in 1879
• Song of the Sea - originally commissioned in 1879 by Thérèse Tietjens a leading opera and oratorio soprano during the 1860s and 1870s.
• What is there in that beaming eye - 1876

The workshops and performances aim to reveal a deeper understanding of mental health issues, promote dialogue and encourage community healing through the arts.

Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.

All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.

GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Lanarkshire, click here to find out more!

Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Lanarkshire? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!

Similar events you might like...

Strathclyde Parkrun

Selected dates between 4th January 2025 - 27th December 2025

Strathclyde Country Park, Motherwell

Strathclyde Parkrun is a weekly, free 5km timed run held on Saturday mornings at Strathclyde Country Park!

Drumpellier Junior Parkrun

Selected dates between 5th January 2025 - 28th December 2025

Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge

Drumpellier Junior Parkrun is a weekly, free 2km timed run held on Sunday mornings at Drumpellier Country Park!

Pain Association Scotland - Self Management for People Living with Chronic Pain

Selected dates between 23rd January 2025 - 17th December 2025

Various Locations Lanarkshire

Pain Association Scotland run professionally-led monthly groups across Lanarkshire for people living with all forms of chronic pain.

Julie Keys Bumps Couples Workshop

Selected dates between 25th January 2025 - 8th November 2025

The New Wellwynd Church of Scotland, Airdrie

Julie Keys Bumps Couples Workshop is tailored to equip expecting mums and their birth partners with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate childbirth with confidence and positivity!

Guided Meditation

Selected dates between 20th February 2025 - 16th October 2025

South Lanarkshire Lifestyle Centre Carluke, Carluke

Meditation on Twin Hearts helps to flush out negative thoughts and emotions that congest our mind and body every day.

Back to School Wellbeing Day

23rd August 2025

St Johns Parish Church of Scotland Hamilton, Hamilton

Join the South Lanarkshire Branch of the National Autistic Society at St John's Church in Hamilton for their Back to School Wellbeing Day!

13th Circle Coven Gathering

13th September 2025

The Loft Glasgow, Cambuslang

13th Circle is a monthly coven gathering for witches and the witch curious organised by Sagittarian Tarot & Coaching, join them in The Loft, Cambuslang on Saturday 13th September.