Betty McGauley writes, “I’m trying to find out about the McAleenans from John Street. My great gran and grandad came from Ireland. Thank you.” I was able to reply with: “Hi Betty. The name McAleenan or MacAleenan first arrived in Blantyre between 1890 and 1895 when Labourer Bernard McAleenan took up residence at Broompark Place at […]
Here’s the full photo of Glasgow Road looking east at the top of John Street. Taken in 1981 can anybody tell me what the green and white caravan was?
Going back now to 1982 to Glasgow Road and the Sports Centre looks almost brand new, its clean brickwork matching the cleanliness of the opposing new shopping centre. This must have felt very futuristic. (Anybody leaving Blantyre just 3 years earlier, would not recognise this scene at all if coming back in 1982!) The photos […]
June 2019 was quite the month for people turning up and handing in things to my door! Like this big yellow box from George Hay, packed full of “auld photos” of Blantyre. A treasure trove of nostalgia collected over several decades and stuffed full of photos of Blantyre that even I’ve not seen. I look […]
What a homecoming Blantyre Vics got in 1982 bringing the cup back home to Blantyre! Pictured here from Marion Brownlee via Alex Rochead, these great photos show the photo opportunity at Castle Park, looking over towards the back of the houses at John Street and what was then, the brand new Sports Centre. At Ibrox […]
At the very bottom of John Street, the railway bridge was repaired by steel girders a few years back. However, there is a dating stone. Dated 1847, carved into the stone, the time of the construction of the main Hamilton to Glasgow line. So if that was the first repair, the original really lasted well, […]
In the early hours of 2nd December 1946, the gable of 4 John Street collapsed in a fierce storm that Sunday night/ Monday morning. It rendered six families homeless. Although the authorities rehoused three families, three families remained defiant about not moving until they were satisfied that alternative accommodation would be up to standard. Luckily nobody was […]