Embarking on a promise to everybody here, that as part of a planned book about Blantyre Mining Disaster, I will explore the lives and exclusively tell the stories of every miner who died in the 1877 Blantyre Explosion. This is the remarkable story of James Gold, a miner whose 3 brothers, along with him, died […]
Hopefully this is the first time you’ve seen this photo. Pictured on Glasgow Road is the David Livingstone Memorial Church, the photo dating from (what I believe is) the 1950’s/1960’s. Does anybody remember the former tenement immediately to the left? I’ll be writing in detail about these buildings later in the year as part of […]
In early 1922 gas lamps along Glasgow Road were replaced with electric lighting, not without its share of problems, I may add. This left the Parish Council with lots of redundant equipment which they promptly advertised for sale in an advert placed in the Scotsman in March that year. Up for sale were 28 […]
NOMINATE YOUR FAMILY OR FRIEND Blantyre Oscars 2019 We’re looking for more nominations for this years forthcoming Blantyre Oscars! If YOU have a Blantyre family member, friend or colleague who has done something remarkable or noteworthy, why not NOMINATE THEM for a Blantyre Oscar! Categories are “Lifetime Achievement”, “Music & Entertainment”, “Inspirational Individuals”, […]
A final Aerial photo from 1961. This was shows exactly the nature of 57 years worth of change and what it can do to a town. On the right hand side in the foreground is the former Auchinraith Bing, towering over the adjacent timber houses which can be seen to its left. The houses […]
Old habits die hard! That was the message for tenants moving into the brand new houses at the Crescents in Springtime 1922. When people were given their new homes, some found it difficult to break with renting space and bedrooms to lodgers or boarders! Those cramped, overcrowded miners homes they had once frequented, were […]
Pictured here in February 1980 is Jim Botterill junior being given a lift by Jim Docherty. They’re pictured at their new warehouse, a 4000 square foot premises which allowed the company to service their shops using their own vans. In 1980, Botterils had 8 shops throughout the area, the latest at that time being […]
Working my way through some more ancestry requests. Andrew Cousins asks, “Does anyone have any information on Mary Taggart, born Blantyre 1891 and died in 1947? I believe she was a school teacher who worked at St Josephs and lived in Station Road” This proved to be an interesting investigation. Mary TAGGART was born in […]
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