The photograph, taken by David Ritchie around 1905, shows Crossbasket House, home to the Neilson family, who were prominent iron and coal magnates. During this period, they had tennis courts at the mansion, reflecting the sport’s popularity among the wealthy. The house and grounds were well-maintained, symbolizing their affluence.
In the coming days, I will share research on the High Blantyre Parish Halls, built in 1891. The ceremonial stone-laying, attended by Lieut.-Colonel J. Clark Forrest, marked a significant community event despite poor weather. This project was driven by Rev. Mr. Turnbull and enthusiastically supported by local residents.
John Queen shares a photo of Milheugh House featuring his grandmother, mother, and two uncles. He reveals that his family had connections to the house, possibly through a relative who worked as a gamekeeper. The photo is estimated to be from the late 1940s, around the time his mother was born in 1945.
In Summer 1892, residents of Blantyre expressed concerns over postal services, highlighting inadequate delivery frequency and incorrect addressing. With only two post offices and two daily deliveries, a petition was made for improvement. The community demanded a new post office in Stonefield, reflecting significant dissatisfaction with existing services.
In 1892, Glasgow based Early Electrical Contractors ‘Anderson & Munro’ were involved in several major installations of new electric lighting to grand houses. However two stood out in being somewhat unusual, for the lighting was not to be powered by steam machines, but by the power of water. In August 1892, they were working on […]
On September 18, 1892, a sudden gale struck Lanarkshire, causing damage in Blantyre. The Rutherglen Informer reported that a newly erected temporary theatre, which hosted its first performance of ‘Jeanie Deans’ just the night before, was partially blown down by the high winds. Fortunately, no injuries occurred.
Council cuts! Don’t you just love them!? It was a shock to Blantyre residents last year to learn that Blantyre Library was to close down. The library had been at the corner of Victoria Street and Glasgow Road for many years (though never lived up to the greatness and volume of books at the former […]