I hope you’re enjoying my stories of Blantyre in the 1890’s. Here’s another wee snippet.
No more than 5 years had passed since its construction, when in 1897 it was noticed that there was already dry rot appearing in the new Infant School in Low Blantyre.
At a monthly meeting of Blantyre School Board in September 1897, the subject arose about what to do. A special committee reported that dry rot had broken out in the ladies room, the cause being dampness and poor ventilation. Some “plain speaking” was heard on the matter considering the modern age of the school.
It was agreed that the floor of the ladies room would be ripped up and relaid using concrete instead of wood. In addition, further checks would be made around the building to install additional ventilation bricks improving airflow to voids below floors.
I have a great photo of the former Stonefield Infant School from the following decade and zooming in, I can see clearly the new ventilation blocks all around the base.
A bit of interesting Blantyre trivia, which is little known. The Infant School location was exactly where the Blantyre Asda Foyer is now. Indeed, the whole of the “wee school” being able to fit in that area within the store!
Featuring Blantyre Project Social Media with permission. Strictly not for use by others on or offline, our visitors said,
Rena Caullay Thank you so much for the information, especially for the picture. I attended this school and the picture brought the memories flooding back. Please keep posting these gems, and thanks again for all your hard work.
Rob Gordon As a 5 year old, I walked through those doors in 1947 to start my education!
Archie Peat Me to same time , same class . It was called Nessies in those days !!
Jeemo Lisboa Brilliant.. Keep them coming
Clare Colvin fab pic xx do you have my pics of the old library? many many happy memories from the old library.
Agnes Vorsterman Spent a lot of time in the library till about 1988. My mum took us when we were young and she was still going when she was 89! I worked in the Asda when it opened. Didn’t know the history of the site
Clare Mccann hope the tots got educated elsewhere
Jean Maxwell I was 8 by the time I went to Nessies I remember it well
David Nicol That’s my old school 1951 a lot of memories
Clare Mccann hope it wasnt RAAC concrete or whatever it’s called
Jim Crawford I often heard my late dad talking about Nessies school .but little did I know where it was actually located. Does anyone know how or why it was called? Nessies school.My dad was born in Cemetry Road in 1923.
Blantyre Project Ness’s school was Stonefield Parish School, nicknamed after headmaster John Ness. It was called Ness’s even long after his death. Ness’s is a different school to the infant school pictured and was located where the current library is now at the corner of Victoria Street and Glasgow Road.