New look for birthplace museum of explorer David Livingstone unveiled

A multi-million pound project transform the birthplace of Scotland's most famous explorer into a 21st century visitor attraction has been unveiled

It is hoped the £6 million scheme confirmed today for the former home of the Victorian missionary Dr David Livingstone in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, will “reawaken” interest in his exploits.

He is widely thought to be better known in African than in his home country.

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The project is aimed at creating “a vibrant new museum setting Scotland in a global context and celebrating the inspirational story of how a poor millworker became one of the most popular British heroes of the Victorian era and a hero of Africa today.”

The Heritage Lottery Fund, the Scottish Government and Historic Environment Scotland have all thrown their weight behind the planned transformation of an 18th century tenement which was built for cotton mill workers.

More than 3000 artefacts related to Livingstone will be on display at the new-look museum, which will be getting its first major overhaul since it opened in the 1920s.