I’ve recently been passed by Gordon Cook, my very own copy of a little Souvenir booklet from 1909 which featured Auchentibber Quoiting Green. The small pamphlet was written exclusively that year by the workers who formed the Quoiting Green. Its purpose was to let visitors know how the green and the famous Italian Gardens they created, came to be.
As you can imagine, I was quite excited about this little book, for it firmed up, not just dates relating to the construction of the green and gardens, but also provided some more history about old Auchentibber Inn and throughout 12 pages, included 18 excellent photos I’d never seen before. My intention over several articles is to transcribe the little booklet here, illustrating the articles with those photos, which although depict amazing scenes, due to age are of average quality. I look forward to sharing the booklet here over several articles, as copyright has now expired on the pamphlet (70 years after the author’s death).
The Booklet is titled “Lanarkshire’s Model Quoiting Green” and refers to the older spelling of Auchentibber as Auchintibber as it was then referred to. Nowadays, the area is known by a more modern name Auchentibber, with an “e”.
Inside the plain cover, it says “A Plea for the simple, old-time village life – This little booklet has been prepared to meet the wishes of many friends interested in our labours and anxious to learn something of the spirit animating our undertaking.”
The Ideal Public House
The booklet opens with a general viewpoint of Public Houses and a reminder that the derelict quarry that was to become the beautiful gardens had never been occupied before. Previously unseen online are two photos from 1909. The South Walk and the Corner of the South Walk, within the newly created gardens. Today, the whole garden is gone, now completely overgrown.
“To speak of a Public House is, to some minds, to speak of a place of poisoning influences, wholly bad and from which nothing can be expected, yet one of our teacher’s has said, ‘the situation is not ideal and has never yet been occupied by man.’ If, therefore, the visitor will but bear this in mind, it will help him to gain a better idea of what has been attempted and what has been done in this quiet mining village.”
