Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing some detailed research into the former High Blantyre Parish Halls. In particular around its construction and the ceremonial laying of masonry back in 1891. This is history from 135 years ago.
In November 1891, the new Parish Church Halls were being erected at the corner of Main Street and Hunthill Road at Kirkton, High Blantyre. Much anticipated, the new building was a real talking point and never more so than on the afternoon of Saturday 28th November 1891, as the memorial stone of the was laid with masonic honours.
The community champion who had the honour of doing this, was Lieut.-Colonel J. Clark Forrest, Provincial Grand Master of the Middle Ward of Lanarkshire. A man who would later have streets named after him.
The idea from paper to inception was largely due to the energy and zeal of the young minister of the parish, the Rev. Mr Turnbull and the movement for the erection of the halls had been very cordially taken up by the parishioners. In the run up to the memorial stone being laid, parish residents were very much looking forward to the ceremony and a great deal of preparations had been made. Unfortunately, the weather was damp, cold, and inclement, but this did not prevent a large turnout of masonic and other bodies, while the general public were largely represented.
AI has helped me recreate what the construction of the halls may have looked like that Winter.
