Attached are the accounts for the construction of the Old Parish Church halls at Kikrton in 1893. Listing the total bills paid and slightly over the £1,350 budget at £1,534, the halls were completed a year later than expected. Much of the work went to Blantyre people and nice to see the Hamilton Advertiser still charging a small fortune in advertising rates. Many local tradesmen got the contract with the masonry undertaken by Robert Aitkenhead Builders. William Adam (who owned the sawmill nearby on Main Street) undertook the joinery work. Interesting to see that Kirkton, Causeystanes (Broompark) and Hunthill areas donated the most money. It shows the people in the local area of the actual proposed hall, were perhaps understandably the most passionate about the fundraising.
Also pictured are the halls at the end of their life. In 1989, this series of photos shows the hall not long before demolition. The building lasted just short of 100 years and I’m sure is fondly remembered for the parties, brownies, guides, cubs, scouts and sunday school. Some trivia about the hall….During the 20th Century, High Blantyre man, Mr Lee was caretaker for a time. Also the electrical green cabinet, pictured in these photos is still there today. Faded, but still there outside what is now Kirk Care Home.
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