In April 1911, the Committee of the District of the Middle Ward of the County of Lanark was seeking to improve pedestrian crossing points on Lanarkshire’s muddy roads. Perhaps something we take for granted these days, but 110 years ago, the simple act of crossing the road could leave your boots far from sparkling. Crossing points were marked by a more robust hardstanding in the form of causeys (cobbles). Usually made of hard wearing granite, these were inlaid into the busiest of crossing points, not just to protect your footwear, but make the crossing safer too.
The committee that month asked to receive tenders for this work to install cobbled causeyway crossings as well as install granolithic kerbing in Blantyre, Bothwell, Cambuslang, Cambusnethan, Dalserf, Dalziel and Hamilton. Specifications were available from Mr Robert Spittal, the Road Surveyor in Hamilton with tenders to be priced by 10am on Monday 17th April 1911.
An example of such a crossing can be seen in this picture of the era showing the cobbled street crossing at the top of Station Road and its junction with Glasgow Road.
Great pic Paul but in more than just the cobbled crossings.
There seems to be an event with the east side of the road busy with children. They look dressed up and heading north. Could it be they are heading to church?
Do you know more about the photo?