On 27th November 1918, just over 2 weeks after the fighting in Europe ended, sad news reached High Blantyre that another soldier had died. Private Alexander Richardson, Royal Artillery, the youngest son of James Richardson, died in a hospital in France from pneumonia. The 40 year old soldier from Hunthill Road left behind a widow […]
This was the Blantyre Community Centre youngsters on a float in the July 1980 Gala day. The youngsters were aboard their decorated float in a procession going through the town. Do you recognise anybody? These kids are all likely in their late 40’s, early 50s now.
Back to Auchentibber Quoiting Green and the former Italian Gardens. Who could have thought a place like this existed in Blantyre…..in the midst of a busy mining community!? This photo from the 1910’s taken by Davi Ritchie shows the miners we featured a few days ago in the background, many of whom were quoiting players. […]
This lovely photo was sent in by Monica Jean Chizmadia. This is her father, Gerard ‘Scotty’ McGarry photographed in Stonefield Public Park, Blantyre around 1950 or so. You can see how popular the park was then, the former boating pond clearly visible. The young trees only a couple of decades old and all at a […]
Showing all these amazingly clear photos on Blantyre Project, it’s only right I tell you who took them! Early photographer David Ritchie lived in High Blantyre (at Broompark Avenue and later at Main Street). He was a joiner by trade born in 1864, passing away in 1938. Photography was his hobby and he took many […]
There’s a little known man from Blantyre’s history that deserves some attention drawn to him. William McCall (or McColl) was a Blantyre man who made many heroic river rescues and managed to save the lives of many people. His heroic efforts can be traced back as far as 1889 and were the admiration of the […]
Need your help – Quick Question OK, so I need your help with a “Banter” section which will be inserted at the back of the next book. Hoping for some answers to this question: “If you could timetravel back to Blantyre’s past (either in living memory or further back), WHEN would you go back to… […]
Blantyre Soldiers fighting in WW1 won many awards and accolades but when a soldier at the front, John McKeeman did something remarkably brave and was not shown recognition by the army, local people later took it upon themselves to acknowledge his bravery. Lance Corporal John McKeeman, a soldier in the 1st Cameronians is the central […]