Origins of “The Dandy”

In the 1870s “The Dandy” (the path through the woods next to the Parkville) was a direct path leading not only to Boweshill and Thornhill residences, but also across open fields, across the railway, through the woods and down directly out at the North of Blantyre at the managers house at Blantyre Village works (exactly where the lion monument at David Livingstone centre is now). It was privileged managerial access and egress out of Blantyre Village works avoiding curfews at the village gates and any tolls on Glasgow / Station Road.

“The Dandy” was reference to the gentry of the big houses at Thornhill, Boweshill and Blantyre Village Works Managers house and the fine way they dressed. These were the privileged owners who had a property right of permission to access this private way. When tolls were relaxed on the Sabbath, according to a discussion i once had with Jimmy Cornfield, the mill workers were permitted to also access the path on their route to church and chapel. Dressed in their finest Sunday best, they must have also felt “fine and dandy”. Part of the Dandy is now renamed Thornhill Avenue.