Dating somewhere between 1902 – 1910, this fantastic, clear photo shows Blantyre milk deliveries taking place. It’s thought the man is a rather young, Alexander Craig and two milkmaids for his farm at Bellsfield, High Blantyre. Looking at the census, Alex was established at Bellsfield, High Blantyre sometime after 1902, prior to that being in Hamilton. In 1911, Alex was 32 years old.
Everybody holds milk jugs for delivering smaller quantities from the milk churns. The cart is clearly labelled “Alex Craig, Bellsfield, High Blantyre” although the exact location in unknown. It could be however, outside the entrance to Bellsfield which is a possibility. Presuming the cart kept within the local area, the only other place I know where there were 5 bar horizontal railings, was at Milheugh, and this remains a possibility.
This is another photo from the David Ritchie collection, an early photographer from High Blantyre. Shared here from Alex Bowie with sincere thanks.
Uncle Alex was 34 years old in 1911. And it is the entrance to Bellsfield.