In December 1894, the Hamilton Advertiser had a small article about the Blantyre Works Factory.
Though still operating, (and only just), they reported that 1894 was closing and that the year had been a bad one for many working folks. The ‘Misfit’ kept turning up, i.e issues causing employment and trade worries. Despite this, trade had improved at Blantyre Works and wages were on the whole, good.
Girls at weaving tasks were earning between 14s and 17s, with a standard average wage spanning 8 days, taking home a pay of 21s. The Blantyre Works closed for a few days between Christmas and New Year 1894, but it was hoped in the newspaper that ‘following the New Year, the girls come back to work, for there is still plenty of good work for steady, tidy, girls.”
These were the final few years of Blantyre Works, the decline very much underway. The Mill buildings were demolished in 1903.
In this photo, exclusive to Blantyre Project, Blantyre Works is pictured the following summer after this article was described, in 1895.
On Social Media, the following comments were received on Facebook:
Fiona Macdonald Morning, are there anything like employment records for the factory?
Sharron McDermott I know some of my ancestors worked at a mill in Blantyre as it was on the census records. That would be interesting Fiona Macdonald if they did have records I will try look on Scottish People.