What a fantastic photo this is of different times gone by. This picture is actually a zoom in and extract of a larger photo of children at Broompark Avenue, Blantyre.
Although her name is not known, the photo was taken by David Ritchie and knowing the ages and names of some other children in the photo, I can date this as being 1908, 116 years ago.
Putting the photo in context, the girl is photographed from the newly created cul de sac, Broompark Avenue, and the wall in the background is that of the former doctors house, now St John Ogilvie Church. This was taken outside 1 and 3 Broompark Avenue, the girl directly facing their doors.
Without presuming too much, she is undoubtedly a Blantyre Gil, out playing with friends. These are play clothes, thrown on by parents without much too much care if they get torn or dirty. The boots are scuffed, the toes worn away and they must have taken ages to put on given all the laces! Of note, is the large rip in her dress. I don’t think that was done the day of the photo, and gives more than a hint of the type of poverty which existed then. Clothes meant to be worn outside for playing, and in no rush to be replaced.
This child would have been born just after 1900 and along with any children she may have had, would have by now lived out their lives. I would like to think there are grandchildren alive today with Blantyre connections, perhaps even reading this who may not realise THIS was their grandma!
