Blantyre Library (now in Sports Centre)

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 […]

New Smokeless Fuel, 1892

In Autumn 1892, Blantyre witnessed a technological breakthrough with the development of a new smokeless fuel made from coke breeze, a waste product from coal mining. A successful plant capable of producing solid briquettes was inaugurated, promising economic potential. However, concerns arose about the future sustainability of this innovation, largely due to potential greed among coal masters.

Rev. Dr. Gloag’s 1892 Lecture on Blantyre’s History

I’m still deeply immersed in Blantyre news of 1892. A fascinating year of change, innovation, technological leaps forward and best intentions. Exploring life in Blantyre that year, an interesting story appeared in the Hamilton Herald on 7th October 1892. From 133 years ago…. A lecture, entitled, “Blantyre: Historical and Picturesque,” and illustrated by nearly 200 lime-light lantern […]