Like an elegant rebirth, this comparison of Crossbasket House in 2012 and on the right as it looks now in 2022, is simply stunning. There’s no doubt that the last decade has saved this grand old building from oblivion, judging from my collage. Despite best efforts of owners and volunteers in the late 20th Century, […]
Many people will know of local man John Dunsmore (aka Wee Yanni) and his passion for the River Calder. A favourite fishing spot, John loves nothing more than spending time near the river. His skills include stonemasonry, something he’s become very accomplished at, and notably renewing the plaque on the Blantyre Disaster memorial and cleaning […]
You may recall a few weeks ago, I posted about a large privately owned field to the east of Crossbasket Castle, High Blantyre which was earmarked as a development site for private housing. The controversial plan for housing in this natural beauty spot west of Greenhall and situated on the banks of the River Calder, […]
1946 – Following World War 2, the Crossbasket gatehouse, east lodge was sold by James directly to his sister on 14th November 1946. Agnes Little was unmarried, a spinster but a lady with many business interests herself. Amongst them a seamstress and drapers business in Ladybank, as her sisters Margaret and Peggy had too. It […]
When George Neilson bought Crossbasket, High Blantyre in 1891, he immediately set about adding the 3rd massive addition to the house, extending it further using Architect Alexander Gardner and James Baird Thomson from his father’s Glasgow architectural firm James Baird Thomson. James Baird was only 21 years old and an apprentice but an accomplished […]
Walter Clark of Crossbasket (guardian) Walter, born in 1839 in Java and was also a merchant of Glasgow. He wasn’t a true owner of Crossbasket. He was the guardian, a trustee member until the estate of deceased James Clark could be sorted and absent John Kerr Clark was in a position to sign for […]
A continued look at James Clark’s time as owner of Crossbasket. Extract from the book “History of Crossbasket Castle” by Paul Veverka (c) 2015 1862 – On 9th January 1862, James Clark was amongst the audience of an important presentation and lecture in Glasgow’s Queens Rooms. The Herald newspaper of the following day gave a […]