Another old Blantyre photo today, though again I don’t have much information. Photographed by Blantyre man David Ritchie, this cheery wee baby sits on a lovely button backed chair. The photo is a little blurry, which is to be expected being so young and not able to sit still yet. I think this is one […]
Look, it’s a Motorcar! 1902
More stories from Auld Blantyre, which I hope you’re hearing for the first time. 120 years ago, the sight of a motorcar was indeed a rare thing. Even more so if one was travelling through a small mining village like Blantyre. On Monday 19th October 1902 a sensation was felt when a motorcar unexpectedly passed […]
1964 Livingstone Memorial Church Choir
Main Street Thatched Cottage, 1911
One of my most favourite photos of old Blantyre is this one, previously not seen online until now. I’ve held back for several years showing this picture, until I researched a little more. Shared with Blantyre Project, nobody knew where it was, but I’d be happy to reveal the answer. This is Main Street. In […]
Police Census Statistics, 1902
Just over 120 years ago, during December 1902, the Blantyre Police conducted a census of the Parish of Blantyre, where they concluded the population was 14,382, (of which 7,775 were males). This was up from 13,942 at the end of the 1901 the previous year. Stonefield was the most populated hamlet with 3,516, followed closely […]
Bellsfield Milk Deliveries, c1910
Dating somewhere between 1902 – 1910, this fantastic, clear photo shows Blantyre milk deliveries taking place. It’s thought the man is a rather young, Alexander Craig and two milkmaids for his farm at Bellsfield, High Blantyre. Looking at the census, Alex was established at Bellsfield, High Blantyre sometime after 1902, prior to that being in […]
George Matthews, 1903
Next, a sad tale of homelessness which ended in tragedy. One, snowy morning in January 1903, a startling discovery was made on the banks of the River Calder. A man was found, deceased, having apparently frozen to death in a field, next to the riverbank. As news spread around Blantyre, authorities were perplexed as nobody […]