Time for a few more brand new “auld” photos. This charming photo of a dark haired girl was amongst a collection of Blantyre photos by early local photographer, David Ritchie.
This great photo is Blantyre girl Mary Ritchie, the daughter of joiner David Ritchie and Mary Ann Fleming. Little Mary was born on 4th January 1895 in School Lane, High Blantyre. David’s photos in this collection span between 1894 to around 1918 and it’s known the family once lived at School Lane, then round the time of this photo moved to new houses at Broompark Avenue.
Looking about 10 years old in this picture, it can be dated to around 1905, some 118 years ago. Her face, a picture of concentration is probably to do with being asked to sit still for so long. Her father David is the assumed photographer, a keen hobby he had.
The scene had been set for this photo with a good fur draped over the hair and the subject well presented, wearing nice clothes and some jewellery. I suspect her rather “fed up” expression is a reflection of having to sit without moving for a time for the photo, or the very fact that her father once again was taking more pictures of the family. Mary and his siblings were certainly well photographed.