Robertson’s Beach Find

Andrea and her nephew Luke discovered a vintage bottle stopper and a ginger beer bottle fragment at Portobello Beach, Edinburgh. The stopper, marked “ROBERTSON BLANTYRE,” highlights the historical significance of A. Robertson & Co. Founded in the 1870s, the company was a prominent local producer of soft drinks in Blantyre.

Uncovering the Past: Newspapers Found in Blantyre Church Hall

In November 1891, Blantyre Old Parish Church opened its former hall, later demolished in 1989, revealing six well-preserved newspapers documenting significant events of the time. Session clerk Tom McLean highlighted the hall’s historical importance and the community’s efforts in securing funds for its construction, before plans for a new hall were initiated.