I was recently thrilled when my good friend and fellow history colleague Gordon Cook gave me a nice gift! I’m now the proud owner of a large map of the underground coal workings of High Blantyre, marked up to show where each victim of the 1877 Pit disaster died. As well as this to accompany […]
Continuing a look at these little notebooks, packed full of messages from Blantyre people during the 1930’s and 40s. Shared here for all to enjoy, the messages give advice and provide friendship support to a Blantyre lady. Some excellent little snippets including: “Friendship oft would longer last, and troubles be prevented, if angry words were […]
A lady (who wishes to remain anonymous), shared these lovely 1930s an 1940s note and autograph books. They belonged to her grandmother, who kept them to collect messages from her Blantyre friends. Containing messages of friendship and good advice, I’m sure these would have been well looked after and treasured. Perhaps there’s a lot to […]
I like simple adverts like this. Unremarkable at the time, but great to look back on much later. A reminder just how much prices change even in a relatively short space of time. From 1971, this house advert is for the “Glebe”, a modern detached home on Craigmuir Road. Offers over £11,500. Equipped to the […]
A rare and unique African manuscript with the only handwritten eyewitness account of Livingstone’s death has been published online at the end of April 2019 by Livingstone Online, a digital resource dedicated to the famous explorer. Livingstone was one of the most famous explorers of Africa in his day. In 1855, he became the first European […]
An article about the history of New Lanark appears in the Herald today. Constructively written, it however contains a massive error, confusing New Lanark with Blantyre Mills. It incorrectly states that David Livingstone was born in New Lanark and was schooled there, when of course he had nothing to do with New Lanark. David Lvingstone […]
This early charter of 1240 on first glance may not be too interesting given its about the gift of Lands of Strathblane from the Earl of Lennox to Sir David Grahame. However, upon inspection to mentions witness Lord (or Master) Stephano de Blantir (or Lord Stephen of Blantyre). It’s quite possibly the earliest mention found […]
I had an interesting message from John Pettifer. John told me, “We have the First Edition of the Master of Blantyre by Catherine Marsh. The book is in excellent condition dated 1896.However , our edition has an inscription as follows: “For Lord BlantyreWith Catherine Marsh’s best & grateful regards. Dec 20th 1895.” This may be […]