Some long forgotten history about Blantyre business.
Thomas Cross was an early painter and decorator based from High Blantyre. In 1892, he operated from Gardiner Place on Main Street, a former tenement which once sat where the entrance to the carpark is now, next to Day Today and Ladbrokes.
Being a painter and decorator in the 1890’s meant long, physically demanding days with little protection and modest pay. Most work was done by hand using ladders, brushes, and lead-based paints, often in cold, damp conditions that slowed drying and affected health. Training came through apprenticeships, with skills passed down rather than formally taught. Jobs ranged from tenements and grand villas to churches and public buildings, and the finish of your work was a visible mark of your reputation in the community. It was honest, skilled labour respected, but tough, and not without serious health risks.
I’ve not looked further yet into the life of Thomas Cross, but he advertised often, usually in the Hamilton Advertiser, so we can conclude he was well known.
Illustration : AI generated for Blantyre Project
