Taken near the top of Forrest Street in 1980, this photo of Glasgow Road looks westwards and captures the street in a significant state of change.
With Herbertson Street just out the photo to the left, an open, expansive “wasteland” had opened up on the south side of the street following the demolition of the Co-op Central Premises and Anderson’s Buildings.
Suggested as being a good side for the market, approval was not given, for almost immediately, work was to commence on building a new small Industrial Estate (Auchinraith Trading Estate), designed originally to accommodate some of the displaced businesses. However, some of the larger units attracted larger businesses like Reid’s and Botterills.
Homes on the ridgeline behind that area still exist today at Church Street. Losing something as large and significant like the church is hard to imagine what it was like for people driving along this stretch of road, let alone the redevelopment that what was to come!
Featuring Blantyre Project Social Media with permission. Strictly not for use by others on or offline, our visitors said:
Drew Fisher Thanks for these items. This area of Blantyre really seems heartless now. Town planners seem to have concentrated on other places. If only the church had been kept!
Blantyre Project wish the church had been saved. However, it had been repaired too many times, foundations faltering even as early as 1921. Thats underground mining for you!
Cllr Maureen Chalmers SNP Ward 15 Blantyre I can see my house!