Alloa
Alloa is a town located within Clackmannanshire, set inside the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It is situated on the north bank of the Firth of Forth towards the foot of the Ochil Hills, 5.5 miles (8.9 kilometres) east of Stirling and 7.9 miles (12.7 kilometres) north of Falkirk. The name potentially means 'rock plain'. During the 2001 census, Alloa had a permanent population of 18,989. Improvements were made to the harbour through the 18th century, leading to Alloa thriving as a river port through which the merchandise made in Glasgow were exported to continental Europe. During those times, and until the 1950s, the key industry for the north and east of the town was coal mining. Wool has also often been plentiful in the area and in the early years of the nineteenth century, John Paton started a small yarn-spinning business within the town, later establishing Kilncraigs Mill. His firm merged with J. & J. Baldwin of Halifax in 1924 to become the world-famous Paton & Baldwins Ltd. Alloa was known for its weaving and glassmaking industries during the 19th and into the early 20th century. Alloa has long been associated with the brewing industry, with a minimum of nine major breweries producing ales at its height. It was also home to a distillery. After the closure of the distillery, barrel production continues to flourish in the town. The town features a bustling shopping centre, with nationally recognised supermarket chains on the site of the old distillery, near to the railway station. For all your home upgrades, be sure that you employ trustworthy experts in Alloa to ensure you obtain the highest quality work.