Hunthill Rd: Duncan Generations

I just love old photos of people and places in Blantyre and this is no exception. This photo must be one of the most treasured family photos, if only for it’s age and of course who’s in it! The date is 1908 and pictured is my grandfather John Duncan (the baby in the photo and my mother’s father). Most likely his christening judging by the robes the baby is wearing. The baby was brother to Chrissie and Margaret Duncan (and Jenny who died when she was 7). Little baby John Duncan, went on to marry my gran, Mary Danskin. To others, the people won’t matter but look at the history in this photo. It was the exit of the Victorian era. Before aviation or car travel. Before 2 world wars.

Incredibly, the location is marked on the back of the photo. Hunthill Road. My ancestors lived in the stone tenements on Hunthill Road. This garden was at the back of them, walled, where the bungalow houses at the top of Stonefield Crescent now are.

So why else is this photo important to me?! Apart from being over a century old, it’s the other generations in this photo that make this unique and special! Pictured in the middle is my great grandfather, also called John Duncan. To his left is HIS mother, our great, great grandmother and on his right HIS grandmother, our great, great, great grandmother!! This is my direct line. Confused yet? The man by the hothouse is noted as “Uncle David” although my great aunt informed me he was not a real uncle of the family. This photo has been scanned in the highest resolution i could find to preserve it.