This next story is from 1908, but before anybody says anything, the photo is much later from 1977 for illustration only, showing Broompark Road at Larkfield in the exact spot of where this happened. On Saturday 22nd August 1908, a miner Mr William Devlin had been enjoying a few drinks in Grace MacCallum’s Pub at […]
During 1931 and 1932, contractors removed the old rusty iron bridges (erected in 1878) and replaced them with modern trusses. Starting at Low Blantyre, the contractor’s worked their way up the Auchenraith line towards High Blantyre. The first bridge to be renovated was known as “Bridge 1”, a railway bridge crossing over Glasgow Road at […]
Following on from yesterday’s article, here’s the other side of the former outdoor auditorium at the Village, Blantyre. Putting the scene into context, you can see Shuttle Row, the home of David Livingstone at the top right. The River Clyde just out the photo to the left. Can you imagine coming along to this location […]
To the north of the Africa Pavilion Buildings, at David Livingstone Birthplace, Blantyre is a large, open and flat grassy field. It slopes steeply down towards the river and at present in 2022 is closed off to the public. Though just woodland and fields today, this was once the location of Blantyre’s outdoor arena. A […]
Pictured in the 1920’s from the Pedestrian Bridge over the railway track at High Blantyre is the former High Blantyre Train Station. This looks southwards towards Sydes Brae. The Blantyre Old Parish Church is just out the photo to the left. The passenger service stopped in WW2, but the line existed carrying freight and coal […]
Blantyre Parish Council met on Thursday 8th April 1910 to discuss the condition of Victoria Street. An improvement plan for the road surface was discussed. Now first, we need to put this date and location into context. At that time, Victoria Street had only been named in the previous decade, existing prior to that as […]
Next a mystery about a Blantyre man, James Geddes. Aged 24, James was a passenger on the “American Forwarder” which departed the UK on 26th October 1955. His niece, Helen Brandon recently contacted me provided this passenger list which is the subject of the mystery. James, who was born in December 1931, and single at […]