The following is an extract [Page A1 and A2] from the Blantyre Colliery Explosion Inquiry Report, dated 21st December 1877. In particular a sub report by Messrs Ralph Moore, TE Wales, and James Willis, Inspectors of Mines. Transcribed word for word by P. Veverka this extract touches on lamps, events leading up to the explosion […]
On Monday 21st June 1897, the Nation was celebrating Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. That week, contractors were installing a large drain in the roadway at Glasgow Road, between Auchinraith Junction, along through Springwell and towards Greenfield at Blantyre’s boundary with Hamilton. Contractors were stood down for the day owing to the holiday but a watchman […]
Continuing a detailed look at Blantyre news stories from 1905, this one had an explosive ending! On Monday 6th November 1905, George Rice, a Polish labourer was working at Dixons Pits in Blantyre. Part of his daily tasks was to fetch explosives for the miners, which he did by travelling to a Glasgow store and […]
A different take on Blantyre Explosion next. This account was written by Labour Leader and MP of the time, Keir Hardie. Published in the Labour Leader Magazine on Hogmanay 1909, it’s more of a story around fictional characters, putting them in the situation of the Blantyre Pit Disaster of 1877. It is published here in […]
Today, 5th November 2021 marks the 100 year anniversary of a great explosion in Blantyre. Exactly one Century ago today, on the evening of Saturday 5th November 1921, Stonefield Road, Blantyre was the scene of great alarm, fear and excitement owing to a tremendously, disastrous gas explosion that occurred at the Gasworks. (the site of […]
On Saturday 25th April 1914, two Blantyre men, not particularly fond of one another decided to settle their difference in a Burnbank Pub. Differences that were to be settled with gunpowder! Shortly after six o’clock, when the bar in Burnbank was filled with customers, a loud explosion attracted the attention of everybody there to some […]
This next story took place 155 year ago in Blantyre Stores, in the Village, Low Blantyre in the building which is now the Village Bar on Station Road. About two o’clock on Friday 23rd January 1863 three boys from Blantyre works were employed at Blantyre Stores for the day only. James Maxwell, William Maxwell […]