Pictured in this previously unseen photo from between 1900 – 1905 are High Blantyre children. Photographed by David Ritchie, perhaps near his home at School Lane, 4 of the 10 children in this picture have no shoes, treading the streets of Blantyre in their tough, bare feet. The photo illustrates the following narrative very well. […]
This photo is from the collection by early Blantyre photographer, David Ritchie. These three little children’s names are unknown but are within a collection of Blantyre photos and so are most likely from Blantyre. The boys are perhaps twins, looking and dressing the same. This collection of photos is between 1895 to 1905 and the […]
Let’s go to the late 1890’s next and back to the remarkable series of photographs taken by early photographer David Ritchie. Queen Victoria was still on the throne when these two Blantyre lassies were photographed, a held up bedspread providing a more pleasing backdrop. That may just be a hand at the top left! These […]
In September 1916, Mr David Gilmour of the Lanarkshire Miner’s Union spoke at meetings of the poor accommodation miners had throughout Scotland and the lack of sanitary conveniences. Families of 7 or 8 people still shared the one apartment and a shocking statistic showed that many births and deaths happened in that one, same room. […]
The first meeting of the reconstituted committee of the Hamilton Combination Poorhouse took place on 22nd December 1916 at the former poorhouse on Bothwell Road. With representatives from each town, Mr Alexander Millar was there on behalf of Blantyre interests. After voting on a tender for repainting the building, the committee got to business of […]
A wonderful photo from nearly 100 years ago. Shared here by Gordon Frew this was taken at the end of Clark Street, just off Glasgow Road. The tall fence may be Blantyre Vics? Gordon told me, “My gran is 2nd from right back row she looks around 6 to 8 years old so that’d place […]
The children of Blantyre in 1980, could hardly believe it when they saw Santas Grotto set up in ASDA Carpark in December that year! This Christmas magic had been conjured up Blantyre Round Table who converted a caravan into a mobile grotto to give the kids a treat. I’m not sure who the kids are […]