This wonderful old picture was taken at a time when photography was a new, emerging technology. Unbelievably, it was taken in our very own Douglas Street in 1880 (thats over 130 years ago!) and may be amongst the old photos of Blantyre.

Douglas Street, for those not familiar, is a main artery in Blantyre now, leading from the High Blantyre Cross at The Cornerstone down towards the EK Expressway. The old white building on the left is the High Blantyre Smiddy, or Blacksmith as we know that term these days. The building at the back, at the end of the road, is the Station Cafe on Main Street which would have been next to what is now The Cornerstone pub. The Smiddy was one of a few Blacksmiths in High Blantyre. The identity of the little girl is unknown.

In the 1880’s, Douglas Street was not as wide as today with the kerbline on the left roughly matching where it is today but the buildings on the right, now demolished and is the modern wide road.

Sadly, all buildings in this photo are now demolished.

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Lillias Addison My mother was born in Douglas Street many years ago