1879 Adverts in Blantyre
Looking through Naismith’s Directory for Blantyre, I saw these local adverts from 1879. This was the time of a real construction boom.
James Hazels, local gasfitter (and bellhanger!).
Hazels, Mr. James – or Hazels is noted in the 1879 Naismith’s Directory as a plumber and gasfitter (and was known to be a bellhanger!), High Blantyre. He lived at Downie’s Buildings on Main Street near Kirkton in 1881.
Stewart Mr. Robert – late 19th Century slater and plasterer, Auchinraith, High Blantyre, according to Naismith’s Directory of 1879.
Robert was known to be a fine curler and took part in the team that won the championships in 1891. He also was contractor on the construction of the Old Parish Church Halls in 1893. His business was based near the top of Broompark Road adjacent to the Blackley family.
When builder James Aitkenhead passed away, Robert Stewart became a trustee and inherited several properties at the top of Broompark Road in the early 20th Century. These included tenements to the west of Broompark Road, near Blackleys, namely numbers 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25 Broompark Road, which according to the valuation roll he still owned in 1930. These were 4 stone built tenemental properties with the upper floor accessed from steps at the rear. They opened out on to the Broompark Road pavement and sat directly across the road from Smiths Garage and a Quoiting Green.
A stonewall, which still exists today, separated the rear gardens of the properties from adjacent Kirkton Park. Robert was quite the property owned in the early 20th Century. Also in 1930 he owned houses at 48, 50 and 52 Hunthill Road.
From “Blantyre Explained” by Paul Veverka (c) 2016