I am looking into My Great-grandfather, John Cossar Walker,  who was born 28.04.1871 in Meadowside, Libberton, Lanark.

He moved to Blantyre when he was in his early 20’s.

He was working as a Coachman at Bankville? Blantyre in 1894 when he married Charlotte Cameron.

In the 1901 Census he was living at 42 Central Buildings, Stonefield, Blantyre and working as a Vanman (possibly delivering milk with the co-op?)

From my Great- uncles memoirs and your website (1905 valuation roll) I have learned that he was a tenant at Annfield Terrace, Blantyre.

This is from my Uncles memoirs talking about his father -

‘Father opened his fleshers shop a year or so later (after moving to Annfield Terrace) in the Gold’s Building.  At the time of writing the shop is about to be demolished along with practically the whole stretch of the street.  It was amazing how the business prospered.  I can well remember as a little boy seeing the shop well filled with customers.  I can also remember at Christmas time the shop was crowded out onto the pavement and some folk were standing on the street when the trams passed and the police came into the shop and requested father to stop a little hobby horse (with music) that operated as it was set up in the window.  The window was well decorated for the festive season.  Two men (one Jimmy Buchannan, Slaughterman) and an apprentice lad were employed and that included mother, father and James (his brother) all busy in the shop on Saturday. Meat was very cheap in those days.  Father always prided himself on his home-bread cattle and sheep.’

John Walker died in Bathgate on 23.04.1910 aged only 39.  He was a shale miner at the time of his death.

I have eventually got to my question.  Do you know how I can collaborate the story of John Walker opening a fleshers shop and where this was?  I have been unable to find any documentation of this although the story of it has been passed down the generations.

Thank you

Ruth Boag