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Alloa is a town on the north side of the River Forth in Clackmannanshire.

The settlement was established at a crossing point on the river. By medieval times a ferry operated between Alloa and South Alloa on the opposite bank.

Alloa grew to prominence as a port in the 18th Century and the harbour became a major exporter of goods from Glasgow to the continent. The development of coal mining to the north and east led to expansion of local industry and manufacturing, increasing the amount of goods passing in and out of the port.

A number of other industries grew up in the thriving town. Brewing, textiles, glass-making and shipbuilding all became important to the area. Power for these came from nearby Gartmore Dam.

By the 1960s Alloa's harbour could not compete with more modern ports like Grangemouth. Its position upriver meant that it was unable to handle larger ships. The port closed in 1970.

Of the town's main industries, now only one brewery and one glassworks remain. Other industrial buildings have been regenerated for office, retail and leisure use.

Features of the area

• Town
• River
• Harbour
• Mine
• Industry

Clackmannanshire Group

Clackmannanshire is one of Scotland’s 32 unitary council areas. It has the smallest population of Scotland’s mainland council areas. Around half of the population live in Alloa, which is also the council’s administrative centre.

The council area borders Perthshire, Stirlingshire and Fife.

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