I hope nobody minds minor, incidental stories like these. Such events took place over 125 years ago, and do reflect actual events in Blantyre at the time. Such snippets help form a larger picture of what was going on, such as this story about hungry miners. Four Blantyre men, found themselves in bother with the […]
A couple of weddings from 1967 next. Policewoman Vivian Kerr of Waverley Terrace married Airdrie Constable Robert Tweedie at High Blantyre Parish Church. The couple were stationed at Blantyre Police Station but later moved to Coatshill with daughters Kirstie and Una. Also in 1967 Etta Gray of Beech Place, Blantyre married Hamilton man Andrew Anderson. […]
Hugh B Kerr & Son Ltd were Blantyre based building and civil engineering contractors in the mid 20th Century. In 1950, they had subsidiary companies Kerrlaw Quarry Ltd (suppliers of freestone and silica sand) on telephone Blantyre 231. Also Kerr Plant Hiring Co Ltd (plant hirers and contractors). Their offices were at Station Road with […]
The 1930’s global recession had an effect almost everywhere. In 1934, fifty six year old unemployed miner Robert Kerr lived at 56 Maxwell Crescent, High Blantyre. Sadly, the downturn in work also affected him severely. With Christmas 1934 been and gone, depression had set in and between Christmas and New Year 1934/35 he left home suddenly […]
I’ve been extensively investigating the history of Crossbasket Castle lately, and uncovered something of particular interest. The child of former Crossbasket owner James Kerr Clark was responsible for bringing Stalin to Churchill’s table in WW2!! “Lord Inverchapel, the man who made diplomatic history by persuading Stalin to dine at the British Embassy during the war, […]
Gerry Walker contacted me recently saying, “My family lived in Craigton Place between the mid 60`s to early 70`s after leaving Rosendale, (No longer there) one of the smallest streets in Blantyre with only eight houses on it. A great street to grow up on as we had the swing park at the bottom of […]
During mid December 2014, I was approached by Eoan Kerr, asking if he could share his 1970 Blantyre cine footage with Blantyre Project. This little edit shows the relevant part of his footage with is shown here with permission. Featured is Bothwell Bridge and the older 1952 – 1999 David Livingstone Memorial Bridge. Hope this […]