Conifers Cut back
The community owes a huge thank you to Clr Maureen Chalmers (SNP) for being instrumental in getting South Lanarkshire Council to clear back the tall conifers around the Dixon’s Memorial Obelisk, at High Blantyre Cemetery.
Decades of growth had obscured the monument and despite concerns from residents over the years, nothing was done….until now. This page has highlighted the issue in 2013 and again in 2015, but it took finally being brought to the attention of Maureen for swift action. With thanks to her intervention and with James Meechan of Ground Services coming to the rescue, the overgrown fast growing trees have now been cleared back.
Blantyre Pit Disaster
The 141st Anniversary of the Blantyre Pit Disaster is this Monday coming, with many of the hundreds of men and boys who died buried close by in an unmarked area of the Cemetery known as the “common ground”. The disaster is also remembered by the memorial at High Blantyre Cross.
The small landscaped circle the obelisk stands on contains important burials from Blantyre’s history including Major Ness, the teacher of Stonefield Parish School and members of the Robertson family of Springwell. A photo is attached from 1904 showing how open the area looked nearly 115 years ago.
We’re sure you’ll agree, focus is once again on the prominent monument itself.
