This wonderful photo shows the Ritchie females in High Blantyre along with little Robert Ritchie on the left. Taken by early photographer David Ritchie, incredibly we can put an approximate date on the photo given we know when Robert was born. I think the photo probably dates from around 1910 or so.
The Ritchie family by this time were living at newly constructed Broompark Avenue.
This captivating family photo from the Edwardian era offers a remarkable glimpse into the past. Set against a wooded backdrop, the group likely spanning multiple generations, showcases the fashion and formality of the period. Wide-brimmed hats, high-neck blouses, long skirts and sharply dressed children reflect the modest elegance and social values of the time.
Notice how the women sit primly on a rustic wooden bench, their posture proper and hands neatly placed. The younger girls mimic their elders, already adopting the expectations of womanhood. The young boy, Robert dressed in trousers and jackets, reflect the norms for young Edwardian males. And those blurred faces? Possibly the result of a long camera exposure—common in early photography.
I’ve been able to geo-locate this scene, which was taken at the rustic seats which were placed around the former oval pool near Auchentibber, within the Calderglen gorge.
