Early 1930s Weir on River Clyde at Village works
An eighteen-years-old Uddingston girl, Miss Mary McGuinness, of 124 Towie Place, Old Mill Road, was the victim of a drowning tragedy in the River Clyde between Bothwell and Old Blantyre in December 1931.
She was returning home from a visit to relatives under the escort of a young man, Mr. James Kerr of 5 Viewfield Avenue, Low Blantyre, as her way, for the most part, was without lights.
When they arrived at the supension bridge between Bothwell and Old Blantyre Works, the girl told her escort that he need not accompany her any further. The young man, however, insisted that, the night was very dark and the river bank broken and dangerous, he would see her home. He had just paid the toll at the pay-box when the girl ran across the bridge and disappeared on the path, presumably into the river.
The young man gave the alarm to John McBain, the bridge-keeper, but the river was so swollen that it was impossible to see anyone in the dark water. The police were informed, and, although lights were procured and a search made from the bank of the river, no trace of the woman’s body was ever found.
Pictured around the same time is the scene of this terrible tragedy. A photo of the weir and the suspension bridge looking across to Blantyre. The river on that dark night would have been much higher and faster. May you rest in peace, Mary McGuinness.
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