Old photograph of the Mechanics Institute in Coldstream, Scottish Borders, Scotland. Mechanics' Institutes are educational establishments, originally formed to provide adult education, particularly in technical subjects, to working men. Similar organisation are sometimes simply called Institutes. As such, they were often funded by local industrialists on the grounds that they would ultimately benefit from having more knowledgeable and skilled employees, such philanthropy was shown by, among others, Robert Stephenson, James Nasmyth, John Davis Barnett and Joseph Whitworth. The Mechanics' Institutes were used as libraries for the adult working class, and provided them with an alternative pastime to gambling and drinking in pubs.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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