You may recognise this building, for it still looks very similar and exists today. Its the former Collinses Newsagents shop at the corner of Stonefield Road and Broompark Road. Shared here by Bill Duncan, this previously unseen photo likely dates from the 1940’s and features the drapers known as Dunsmuirs.

Previous to this, the shop was also a drapers as Danskins in the 1930’s. It was owned by my great grandmother Agnes Danskin and her husband John. Agnes passed away in Whitburn in 1947. My gran told me during their time there, they had an awful time of it trying to clean the steps and windows everyday, which would be covered from coaldust from across the road at larkfield. Customers were told to close the door every time they came in behind them, for fear the dust would land on the fashionable dresses and silks.

The shop is thought to have changed hands in the early 1940s, when the Danskins moved away to Whitburn. Many people of a certain generation will remember the shop as Dunsmuirs which was known as that name for quite some time. The shop was run by Mr and Mrs Dunsmuir who are known to have had a son, Dickie.

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The Blantyre Project broompark road on the right

Alan Baird i can remember it being called mcgintys

The Blantyre Project when was that Alan? Thats a new one for me to look at!

Alan Baird well about 1968 i think up until the collins family took over at least thats what we used to call it

Jack Bethel Dunsmuir’s as long as I can remember. Didn’t the Dunsmuirs move to the bungalow on Broompark road, where Warnock’s laun used to be?

The Blantyre Project is that the same family? Jean and John Dunsmuir built the wee yellow and white bungalow next to Warnocks Laun in the early 1970s. They were good friends of my family. John kept a really nice garden at the back with little paths everywhere, leading to ornate little summerhouses and benches. Its a fond childhood memory of mine, but no idea if thats still there. I also dont know if it was the same family who had the shop.

So, McGintys then. Was that in the 1960s?

Mary Marr I remember it as dunsmuir then mcginty and Collins

Alan Baird phew thak god some one remembers it as mc gintys lol i thought i was going daft lol

Janet Cochrane It is the same dunsmuirs Paul your mother was friendly with mcginty were in the shop after them

The Blantyre Project thanks Janet. I had no idea the Dunsmuirs in Broompark road were the same ones that had the shop. Once again, im learning so much from you. wink emoticon