On the evening of Sunday 21st May 1893, some excitement took place on the outskirts of Springwell at the Low Blantyre Road (Glasgow Road).
At Greenfield, Patrick O Brien, an 8 year old who lived with his father nearby, was playing on the bridge parapet at the side of the road. The bridge was beside the Foundry, and Patrick was with his brother, larking around on the bridge parapet. Climbing up the parapet in search of birds nests , Patrick fell through the branches after standing on the parapet wall. He fell 20 foot below to the ground and broke his wrist.
Two passing boys carried the young upset boy home and Dr Livingstone Louden was fetched. Today, the stone parapets of the bridge are still there to be seen, just before the First Bus Depot (then the foundry). This is on the approach into Springwell, just before the Parkburn Trading estate. With trees still growing higher than the wall, its easy to visualise the context of this story, especially in photographs like this one where there are few cars.
