This Blantyre scene may not be so familiar, especially to a younger generation. This is Craig street, the homes bought over by compulsory purchase order in 1978 to make way for the new Asda Superstore. This part of the street linking Calder Street to Glasgow Road. To put this former scene into modern context, the […]
In December 1905, reporters commented on the flurry of building and construction activity in Blantyre, especially by private home owners building their own homes to let out. One area of huge development that month was at the newly named Craig Street, where it was said that month that houses on the eastern side of the […]
Slag Road – was the former name of Craig Street. It first appeared during the 19th Century. At some point during the 1870’s, a track was formed along the edge of the existing farm field and upon expanding nearby population, became a small road, initially called, “The Slag Road.” Perhaps due to the proximity to the Auchinraith Pit, the name may […]
In early November 1909, Mr McCall raised the topic of the condition of Craig Street at a Blantyre Parish Council meeting. In particular he wanted the street to be properly “made”, rather than left as a rough track. By 1909, houses on either side the northern end of Craig Street had been built near its […]
This is Blantyre woman, Jean (Jeannie) Smellie who many people may remember as being ‘Nurse MacFarlane’. It’s impossible to tell how many babies this midwife brought into the world, but it was a LOT! In those days of home births, there was a reliance on midwives being on call. Jean was brought up in Craig […]
The first week in November 1980, wasn’t a good week for the traders on the Stonefield Park side of Glasgow Road. They were told they would have to be out their premies by February 1981 at the latest for the next part of demolition of Glasgow Road tenements. Many traders were shocked to learn of […]
ASDA in Blantyre opened on Tuesday 21 October 1980. The date of the new £3m superstore was unveiled to Blantyre residents a month before and for the best part, many people were excited and looked forward with anticipation. It was the third superstore to open in Lanarkshire, one of the largest. Mr Peter Firmston-Williams, ASDA’s […]