In the summer of 1891, Lanarkshire experienced a warm season, leading to water scarcity. By May 1892, residents in Blantyre feared drought until rainfall alleviated the crisis. Colonel John Clark Forrest opened his well at the Toll, now Stonefield Public Park, to address the urgent water needs.
Caroline Hay shared an oil painting of Milheugh Falls, showcasing her artistic interpretation. The artwork features flowing white brushstrokes for the waterfall against a darker river, exuding movement and energy. The soft sky and distant trees add depth, while warm light enhances the landscape’s calming and evocative beauty.
Apologies to regular readers for lack of posts this last fortnight. (I’m still here and alive, by the way!) My spare time this month has been consumed by an offline personal building project, which thankfully has progressed well and nearing completion. I hope to find time again in evenings after work to continue history research […]
Euan Matthews from the Blantyre Project reached out after finding a bottle from Robertsons factory while clearing his father’s flat. He questioned whether the “26” on the bottle indicated a 1926 origin, suspecting it might instead signify a batch, product, or volume due to its modern appearance.
John Queen shared a photograph from the 1940s, captioned “Family gathering at the Livingstone Memorial, Blantyre Scotland, to celebrate Granny Fraser’s 70th Birthday.” He indicated that the picture was likely taken in 1949, featuring his gran, his mother, her younger brother, and three siblings, including Margaret Dunn.
John Queen shares a photo of Milheugh House featuring his grandmother, mother, and two uncles. He reveals that his family had connections to the house, possibly through a relative who worked as a gamekeeper. The photo is estimated to be from the late 1940s, around the time his mother was born in 1945.
In 1892, residents complained about a lack of privacy while sending telegraph messages at the Post Office on Glasgow Road, Blantyre. Miss Walker, the sub postmistress, moved the telegraph machine to a back room for privacy. However, postmen sorting letters nearby could see incoming messages, prompting public outcry and letters to the Hamilton Advertiser.