Council Homes in 2016 (223a to 223c) on Glasgow Road

During the mid 1930’s, the County Council throughout Lanarkshire was on a huge drive to clear old, condemned or poor quality slums from towns and villages. Blantyre saw hundreds of homes demolished in the early to mid 1930’s no longer fit for purpose. These included homes at the Village, Springwells and nearby to Glasgow Road, the northern streets of Dixon’s Raws. Whole streets at Stonefield were demolished to the ground including Carfin Street, Govan Street, Miller Street and Burnside Street. Of course this created a huge demand for new housing and the council took the opportunity to ensure homes were well built, spacious and with indoor toilets.

When Messers Andrew Wright & Sons commenced construction of the new council homes 1935, the council already had a list of people who would accommodate them. The houses were ready in Springtime 1936, the first tenants moving in then, given addresses 223a, 223b and 223c Glasgow Rd.

Constructed in three large double storey blocks, homes were built of brick with slate roofs. The houses are stepped and terraced with front doors facing out to the A724 (Glasgow Road) offering access to each of 12 properties. They are constructed well and have accommodated hundreds of families, including generations of the same for over 80 years. None of these families ever saw trams going by their windows, for trams had ceased running by the time these homes were constructed. These are homes for “a modern age.”

Featuring Blantyre Project Social Media with permission. Strictly not for use by others on or offline, our visitors said,:

James Rouse Moved into 223b in May 1983. Where my mum and dad still reside. Seen many a transformation of the main street since then. Great memories and stories. A great place to live. The house was always a stop over for relatives doing their shopping.

Stephen Anderson Been here since Oct ’14, great place to live and great neighbours too, the Rouse, Campbell and Innes families and now Maxwell too in close 223B.
Don’t know how far you researched this Paul but there are many little differences between the flats:
On the left heading west:-
They all share one address number (223) but the opposite do not (240, 242, 244).
The first and last flats have 3 living room windows, the rest have two.
The upstairs and downstairs flats have the same front window layout (3+1 or 2+1) but the opposite have 2+1 downstairs and 2+2 upstairs.
The 2 bedroom flats have a window above the entrance door but the opposite flats do not.
The boundary wall is made of brick alone whilst the opposite walls have a coping stone.
Only 223B are 3 bedroom flats the rest are 2 bedroom.
Don’t get me started on the back garden layout, that’s for another day, think the first person to buy their flat must have just have picked one lol!

Blantyre Project Thanks Stephen. Fantastic! That comment will make the book!

Stephen Anderson Oops slight correction, flats opposite heading west are 242a, 242 then 244a… what an address mess lol

Blantyre Project Stephen thats ok, the current 620 page book only features the south side of Glasgow Road at the moment with all odd numbered addresses. A similar book will be started, a sequel, exploring all the North side of the road, but i’ll be putting my feet up until March before starting that!

Jack Owens I lived at 223a that close was the McGeachie / Owens — Campbell / Browns and up stairs the Parks and McDonalds. I lived there from 1941 till I left for Australia in 1964.

Kevin Creechan I used to accompany my dad to visit a friend named Andy Grant in one of these units around late 70s early 80s. The unit had been modified to allow wheelchair access.

Stephen Anderson My flat now, my brother Alex and Andy were great friends and he still sees his sister Barbara.