This photo from the 1930s is of course Shuttle Row, Low Blantyre and in particular the very room where famous explorer David Livingstone was born in 1813.
It’s a busy photo and there’s more than a hint of trying to cram many museum artefacts into the small space, something which happened for decades afterwards too.
The exhibit in this room changed lots of the years even being redecorated but was dominated for many years by prominent items like the recessed bed, or the ‘wag on the wa’ clock, being on display. Whenever i see this mockup of preVictorian life, I always stopped to think how difficult it would have been for many family members to be in a such a small space. Is it any wonder kids were sent outside or wanted to be outdoors!
