1900 Boathouse Photo

This beautiful, charming scene is Boathouse at Boatland, Blantyre. Situated on the western riverbank of the Clyde, not far from Blantyreferme, these former houses were once a nursery and orchard home to the Brown family in the late 19th and early 20th Century.

Arch Brown died in 1912, after which the fields in the background became a towering bing for Blantyreferme colliery. The charm of the place was gone and the houses fell into decline, before ultimately being demolished before the second world war. Today, only the beachhead remains along with a few stray fruit trees, with little signs of any former habitation.

The ferryman “Boat Jock” lived in a house which was then, a ruin to the right out the picture, allegedly dating back to the 1600’s.

With thanks to Christine Wallace who has kindly donated and posted me the original photo.