I’ve recently discovered some information relating to the origins of John Street, just off Glasgow Road. Once part of Stonefield Farm fields, prior to November 1892, this was just a rough track known locally as the ‘Brickfield Road’, owing to the proximity to the Stonefield Brickworks (where now David Dale House is).
However, in November 1892, notice appeared in the newspapers that contractors were ready to widen this track, forming a new road in Blantyre properly leading off the main thoroughfare Glasgow Road and leading towards the Station.
It was to be called ‘New Station Road’ leading to the railway bridge then westwards towards a signal box. offers for the work were to be returned by Wednesday 9th November 1892. The work followed shortly after and proved a great success, popular with residents who had been making complaint about the lack of such a road for some time.
In the early 20th Century, New Station Road was renamed ‘John Street’, following the death of Colonel John Clark Forrest. New Station Road is shown on the 1898 map.
