Imagine a town with no cars, buses and exhaust fumes, no telephone lines or electriity cables, no pop singers or Spice Girls and no Christmas specials to watch on television. Believe it or not this is exactly how Falkirk appeared on Christmas Day a hundred years ago, on Christmas Day 1898.

With a population of approximately 29,000, Falkirk was a modest market town with large families of 10 and upwards living together in single and two-roomed houses.

The days water supply was usually collected by children first thing in the morning in buckets from the town's old wells and pumps, and with a coal fire blazing and smoke flowing steadily through the chimney, a traditional hearty meal was soon followed by Christmas Day entertainment. This often took the form of true stories and tall tales told to the 'bairns' by older members of the family.

But one of the main attractions to the residents of Victorian Falkirk at Christmas was Back Row, now called Manor Street. With many second-hand shops selling clothes, watches, tools and a thousand other items, Manor Street was the perfect place for people to find last minute Festive gifts.

Many locals often enjoyed a casual saunter along the Back Row of Falkirk to watch and listen to the strolling street singers and musicians as they passed through the town.

Victorian Falkirk was a far cry from the town we all know today. Many of the home comforts we all take for granted, like a television, electricity and an indoor toilet were unheard of one hundred years ago

However, whether it is one hundred years past or one hundred years in the future, one thing about Falkirk that will always stand the test of time is the spirit the people of this town bring to Christmas, and the truely unique atmosphere that only Falkirk can create.