As finer weather arrived in May 1895, Blantyre brass band decided to host a weekly outdoor concert at High Blantyre.
This was the second year in a row they had done this. Each Friday evening, the band met at Kirkton “at the fountain” with Mr William Maddock as the conductor. Anybody caring to hear them was welcomed. These were certainly simpler times and for many people, this was a much looked forward to event.
Now, when I read “at the fountain”, I was slightly puzzled, as I thought the former cast iron fountain was erected in 1897 to honour Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, but this being 1895, must have meant, 1. either I was wrong about that, or 2. this was another fountain.
It is known that the Wardrop Moore Arch (still there today) as part of the Kirkyard Wall, originally contained some sort of water dispenser and later became a trough, then a seat. The Iron fountain was to a Jubilee design, so I think this reference meant that the band met at the arch and of course with only the occasional horse traffic to contend with, the audience would have been standing where the High Blantyre Cross is now. The location is pictured in the 1890’s.
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