About ten o’clock on the morning of Monday 20th August 1923, fire broke out in the pattern store at the Blantyre Engineering Company’s works at Forrest Street. By the time the fire brigade had arrived from Cambuslang, the store and valuable patterns it contained were practically gutted. The flames rapidly spread to the pitched […]
Tag: blantyre engineering works
Blantyre Engineering Works Ruler
Thanks to Betty McLean in Canada who sent me these photos of a small ruler her family kept. Marked on it is “Blantyre Engineering Works”. Betty told me, “This belonged to my father-in-law, Tom McLean who worked at the Blantyre Engineering Co. He worked there from age 14 until he retired. He also kept in touch with […]
Advert: Blantyre Engineering Works
Throughout October, I’ll be bringing you adverts from Blantyre businesses in days gone by. Today is the turn of Blantyre Engineering Works with an advert from 1950. This business was created by Mr James Kelly who was associated with Blantyre Celtic and Kelly’s Pub. It was formerly location at Forrest Street. Noted in the 1930 […]
Blantyre Engineering Works
In 1878, Mr. Topping an Iron Founder from Coatbridge, established the “Blantyre Engineering Company”, which was known locally as “the foundry“. The company was later owned by Patrick and David Kelly who manufactured machinery mainly for the coal mining industry. This photo dates from between 1995 – 1997 and is the entrance to Blantyre Engineering […]
1950 Low Blantyre from above
This great aerial photo was taken from a low flying aircraft on 29th December 1950. Documenting postwar Britain, the pilot captured an everyday Blantyre working day over Forrest Street, John Street, The Public Park and beyond. Above the bend in the River Calder, you can see see Station Road prefabs. I can also see the […]





