With thanks to Jenny Day for providing this photo. The berry pickers at Boathouse, Blantyre at the edge of the River Clyde…. including some of Jenny Day’s family. Back row 3rd in, Jessie, Arch Brown with arms folded, unknown male, Robina, front row, Katie, seated, Christina, Jenny’s Grandmother Jessie and Jeannie. This would make the photo probably about 1890. The orchards were at the rear and side of the property. Immediately behind the camera vantage point would have been the river Clyde.

During the berry season Arch also employed girls from Carluke to help with the picking. This was mentioned in his diary from 1874 and 1875. Arch worked at Boathouse in this house (next to Boat Jocks cottage) from 1874 until his death in 1912. (If i recall right he died in the week after the Titanic sank).

Yesterday i posted about a sinkhole opening up and exposing foundations. It was the foundations of this house that were seen in that hole!