In February 1892, police officers in Larkfield, Blantyre encountered miners Francis McGowan and William Kirk causing a disturbance by knocking over 15 water barrels. Both were fined £1 each, equivalent to about £90 today, or faced 14 days imprisonment for their antics during a routine patrol.
About 8 o’clock on the evening of Thursday 8th August 1895, an alarming accident took place at Dixon’s Pit 4 at Larkfield, Blantyre. This little known accident took place where today, the playing field Bing is. The nightshift men in the colliery were preparing to descend to their work when one of the hot air […]
The Blantyre Parish Council met on the evening of Thursday 17th October 1895, with Neil Douglas presiding. The purpose was to discuss the right of way at Larkfield, a rough track joining Broompark Road to Hunthill Road. The development of this track eventually became Watson Street. This wasn’t a council adopted road and care had […]
How times have changed! On Monday 14th October 1895 at the Justice of Peace Court, Robert Shields was charged with permitting drinking at his public house after 10pm. Robert pleaded not guilty of allowing drinking whilst his pub was closed a little earlier on 3rd October. Defended by Angus Campbell a solicitor of Glasgow. The […]
Little piece of forgotten history next. During the 1890’s, Mr. J Dunn owned 10 small, terraced houses in a single storey block at Larkfield. It’s thought these opened directly out on to Broompark Road located on space which is presently between the current Watson Street and High Blantyre Primary School. These homes were known to be fairly old even […]
A daring burglary took place in the early hours of Sunday morning, 23rd August 1896 at Larkfield, Blantyre. On the site of the current Olive Music Lounge (Doon Inn), 127 years ago was the Larkfield Spirit Vaults, a public house occupied by Mr. John McLaughlin. The robber entered under cover of darkness by bending back […]
Reviewing the monthly reports of Blantyre School Board, published in local newspapers, I found evidence that before Auchinraith School was built, it had been proposed to be built…..in Larkfield! The site of the current High Blantyre Primary was initially the preferred site for a new school in 1899, a school desperately needed due to capacity […]