We can only imagine the horrors of war, and what state of mind many of the First World War soldiers were in when they were deployed to the trenches on the European Mainland. Blantyre man Hugh Boyle, from Auchentibber like other soldiers felt it necessary to draft a small will, knowing chances of death in […]
Andy Lynch shared this “Certificate of Merit”, which belonged to his mother, Ellen Frew. The certificate is dated 1941/42 and was given as an award at Calder Street Junior Secondary School. Things like this interest me immensely, like being able to know those awards were given out on the last day of term to […]
James D Brown of Calderside has provided a little insight into the rent of Brownsland Place, the tenement that once stood across from the War Memorial in Auchenitbber. Well, the tenement does still exist in some way, although only the lower ground floor with windows and doors all boarded up. James kindly scanned a copy […]
Every now and again, a great little piece of memorabilia turns up. Like this card from August 1912, an invite for William Haig and his wife to attend the opening of Calder Street School. The invite went out from Blantyre School Board for William Allan Haig and partner to attend the opening of the […]
James Brown of Calderside House, High Blantyre shared these images, adding, “This is the mid 20th Century travel permit of Janet Neill, my grandmother. She was born in Auchentibber at Brownsland Place although later lived at Fernslea Avenue. “ Janet was born in 1892 and This is a good example of early travel visa with a […]
An interesting letter from David Livingstone to his brother Robert Livingstone, written in 1852. Its a rare insight of brotherly affection, asking to keep his younger brother “on the level” and is peppered with religious reflections. It’s clear that David was thinking he wasn’t going to see his younger brother for a long, long time. […]
Thanks to Patrick Irwin, who works at the garden at TACT Hall for this book on David Livingstone. The author being Tim Jeal. Now, this is a book unlike any other on David Livingstone. Published in 1973, it is fairly controversial for Blantyre for within the retelling of Livingstone’s Life story, there are suggestions […]
Funding for Blantyre’s roads being repaired and upgraded has ALWAYS been a hot topic! Setting a budget and sticking to it was just as important in Victorian times as it is today. Take for example, this extract of Accounts for Blantyre’s Roads for the year 1859. Mr J Wardrop Moore of Greenhall was treasurer […]
