On Monday 12th August 1901, about 7.30am, a young man named Thomas Strang (19) met with a shocking accident whilst working in the Priory Pit, Blantyre. Accidents in Blantyre’s pits were not uncommon. Thomas lived with his parents near to the colliery at Priory Rows. (where the Priory Playing fields are today). Strang was a […]
Who remembers the rhymes and chants of the playground in our youth? Well, i’m perhaps going even further back here than my own childhood, but I’ve picked out 12 good rhymes you may remember. Nursery rhymes and songs which formed such a staple part of growing up in Blantyre, songs sung by mums and grannies […]
This is 2nd February 1966. Contractors are slowly but surely in the background removing the Priory Bing. To put into context, in the middle of the photo is Priory Row, which surely must have been demolished very shortly after this? To the left is Craigknowe and trees in the background left of Calderglen. In the […]
About five o’clock on Friday morning of 2nd October 1931 the lamp cabin at the Priory Colliery, Blantyre, belonging to William Baird & Co Ltd., was gutted by fire and the lampman, John Doran, who resides at 5 John Street, Blantyre, was removed to the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, suffering from serious burning injuries. On inquiry […]
On 9th January 2015, April Leopold Hynes contacted me saying, “So excited to find this page! My family came from Blantyre in 1923 to US and they were the Strangs. Coal miners. Thomas J Strang and Margaret Hill Strang – children were Agnes (who died as a young girl) Thomas, James, Robert, Rosina and Mary.” […]
On 13th December 1938, a report of a strike ending featured in Blantyre papers.The strike saw 850 men down tools, all to stand up for 4 colleagues whom they believed had been unfairly treated. The report states: “Settlement of a strike at Priory Colliery, Blantyre, yesterday will help a local charity. Four men whose suspension […]