This category focuses on Alloa, a town of between 14,000 and 15,000 people in Clackmannanshire, Scotland.
Alloa is in the Central Lowlands, on the north bank of the Forth, at the area where the River Forth becomes the Firth of Forth. Alloa is on the western Fife Peninsula, south of Ochil Hills, east of Stirling, and west of Dunfermline.
The town's name has varied over time from Alway to Auleway, to Alloway, before settling on its current name. The name may have derived from Aull Waeg, which translates as "the way to the sea."
A central point in Alloa's history and geography is the Alloa Tower. Originally, the structure was originally built as part of a line of fortifications defending the north shore of the Firth of Forth. Built in the early 14th century, it had been enlarged with a great hall, and was built up to three stories in height by the mid-14th century, and later expanded for four or five levels, while retaining its first-floor access. John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, incorporated the tower into a large mansion that served as his residence, known as Alloa House, in 1710. The house burned in 1800 but was rebuilt in the 1830s. Currently, Alloa Tower is owned by the National Trust for Scotland, and is open to the public on specific days.
The town's beginnings date back to the early 14th century or before. Sir Robert Erskine was granted the lands in 1368 for his services to Scottish King David II, and he and his descendants developed the estates.
Sir John Erskine, the 23rd and 6th Earl of Mar and 1st Duke of Mar, owned several coal mines in the region. He commissioned the construction of the Gartmom Dam, north-east of Alloa, to provide water power for mining operations and other industries in 1711.
An adequate supply of water and barley prompted George Younger to establish a brewery in the 1760s, and this was soon followed by others, leading Alloa to become a significant brewing centre. Other important early industries included wool weaving, glass making, and barrel cooperages. However, its port, which allowed for trade between Glasgow and mainland Europe, closed in 1970. Today, its economy is dominated by retail operations and leisure activities.
Traces of the Gartmom Dam still exist today, although the dam is no longer used for energy production or water supply, although the area is popular for fishing and leisure purposes.
Besides Alloa Tower and Gartmom Dam, other historically or architecturally significant structures in Alloa include Tobias Bauchop's House, which dates back to 1695, the Greenfield House (1892), the Inglewood House (1901), and the Gean House (1911). The Alloa Town Hall and Library were built in 1886, and the Spiers Centre was originally built as a swimming pool in 1895. Many of Alloa's 17th and 18th-century buildings were demolished with the expansion of milling operations and later during 20th-century slum clearances.
Alloa is served by two high schools, Lornshill Academy and Alloa Academy, as well as four primary schools (Sunnyside, Redwell, Park, and St. Mungos), and the New Struan School, an independently operated residential school for primary and high school pupils with autistic spectrum disorders.
The town is home to two Churches of Scotland, a United Free Church of Scotland, a Pentecostal Church, a Baptist Church, an Episcopal Church, a Catholic Church, and congregations of the Latter-day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses. There is also a Musalla, which is a place for Islamic prayers and worship for those who are unable to attend a mosque.
Alloa hosts a professional football club. The Alloa Athletic Football Club was formed in 1880, and plays its home games at Recreation Park.
Topics related to the town, any governmental agencies located within the town, as well as local industries, businesses, schools, medical facilities, museums, libraries, attractions, sports or recreational facilities, teams, or programs, and local events are appropriate for this category.
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Recommended Resources
The six-year, state-funded school serves the town of Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, and intake schools include Redwell, Sunnyside, St. Mungo's, and Park. A school calendar, school policies, uniform policies, attendance, and absence reporting policies are highlighted, along with its pupil leadership programme, course choices, support services, parent council, senior leadership team structure, and curriculum pathways are featured, and its faculties and staff are included.
https://www.alloaacademy.co.uk/
ACE was formed in 1984, and has since become a leading charity and social enterprise in Clackmannanshire, offering a range of services to support the local community and protect the environment, including a furniture and bric-a-brac store at The Hub in Alloa, and its Remakery, which includes a Reuse Café, all of which are featured here, along with volunteer opportunities, directions, and information about contributing to the organisation.
https://ace.scot/
The website was developed to promote the historic town of Alloa, Scotland. It includes a guide to shopping and dining in Alloa, along with its entertainment venues, health and beauty services, sports facilities and programmes, and community services. Other resources include the history of the town, professional opportunities, and an introduction to Home-Start Clackmannanshire, a local charity that supports parents and caregivers in various ways and through various means.
https://alloafirst.co.uk/
Situated on 25 acres, Inglewood House is a circa 1901 Jacobean mansion that has been transformed into a luxurious hotel and spa. It serves as a destination for weddings, spa breaks, romantic weekends, conferences, and events. A brief history and profile of the structure are set forth, and its room and suite options are highlighted, with an online booking system and contacts. Corporate packages are defined, and tickets to hosted events may be purchased online.
https://www.inglewoodhouseandspa.co.uk/
Doing business as Inverallan Knitters, the family-run company operates 365 days a year as one of the few remaining hand-knitting experts, exporting to many companies worldwide. The company began operations in the late 1970s and has moved several times to accommodate its business needs. It is currently located in Alloa, in central Scotland. The business location and contacts are posted on the website, including a product catalog that supports online shopping.
https://www.inverallanknitters.com/
Located in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, Lornshill Academy is a six-year comprehensive school for pupils aged eleven to eighteen. Pupils are placed in one of four houses )Devon, Forebraes, Grange, and Ochil), and the school is associated with seven primaries: Craigbank, Clackmannan, Banchory, Fishcross, Deerpark, Abercromby, and Saint Serfs. Its management structure, leadership, curriculum, pupil handbook, library, and pupil services are highlighted.
https://lornshillacademy.org.uk/
Established in 1949, Mackie's Coaches is an independent coach hire and charter company headquartered in Alloa, in Central Scotland. Its office location, telephone number, and email address are provided, along with the company's history, booking terms and conditions, terms of travel, and job opportunities. Its memberships and affiliations, coach services, local bus services, holiday and day tours, and an overview of its fleet are included, along with job opportunities.
https://www.mackiescoaches.com/
