I found this reference to “Blantyre Mining School” in a local newspaper of 1893. I’d never heard of a ‘Mining School’ until seeing this article and read with interest that it appeared to teach and qualify colliery management! Classes were to be held from 30th September in the Low Blantyre School at Stonefield on a […]
With the Centenary commemorations of the Blantyre Pit Disaster coming to a close in early November 1977, the three men responsible for the design and build of the memorial, had one thing left to do. Experience being down a pit for themselves! So bravely, in the first week in November 1977, Robert Sim who made […]
Evidence at the Blantyre Pit Disaster Inquiry was given by local man John Watson in November 1877. This insight shows what a hard life John must have had and how as a survivor, may have been down to a lucky, simple request to work in a different part of the pit beforehand. Questioned by Mr […]
These men had a real difficult job in front of them in October 1977 when they gathered in the High Blantyre Old Parish Church Hall to judge the efforts of the town’s young artists. For this was the climax of the competition, open to Blantyre schools, organised as part of the commemoration of the centenary […]
Continuing a transcript of evidence given by Blantyre miners to the Blantyre Pit Disaster Inquiry in November 1877. On Page 187 is the evidence of local man Alexander Gardiner who was questioned by Mr Dickinson. Alexander said, “I am 59 years of age. I live in Auchenraith, High Blantyre, in the parish of Blantyre and […]
These three men were among over a thousand people who came to High Blantyre Cross on Sunday 23rdOctober 1977 to pay tribute to over 200 miners who died in the Blantyre Pit Disaster 100 years earlier. They were there to take part in the unveiling of the monument behind them, built in memory of the […]
The Monument itself was transported from Fife to High Blantyre Cross and lifted into place and secured without any fuss, then immediately covered up. The day for the unveiling was fixed for Sunday the 23rd of October 1977 at 2 p.m, a day after the actual centenary. On the day of the unveiling, crowds quickly […]