Taken from an old late Victorian ‘Magic Lantern’ show, this slide shows the former School at Blantyre works. Colourised, you can make out the building was heated by fires at either side, with a coal cellar hole clearly visible.

I’m not sure how accurate this particular illustration is, for the doorway known to be on this side appears sealed up, the steps leading to nowhere but a window, when in other old photos, this was clearly a doorway.

Dating back to the 1820s, this school lasted up until 1930 or so, used dually as a church, then latterly a small hall.

The man? It’s Mr McSkimming, the schoolmaster, who must have overseen the discipline and education of many Blantyre Works children.