In Summer 1913, Britain was gripped by a bizarre and strange disease which seemed to be killing honey bees and Blantyre didn’t escape. The phenomenon was known as the “Isle of Wight” disease thought to be caused by a micro insect or mite (acarine) which got into bee hives. Allegedly originating in the Isle of […]
In early December 2016, John Sproat contacted me saying, “I ‘googled’ Barnhill, as I have been researching my ancestors, and found your website. My several-times great grandfather through my mother’s side, one John Wallace, was noted as being a ‘Smith’ (blacksmith) from Barnhill. The reference is to be found in Old Parish Records: OPR […]
To live to you’re hundred is a remarkable achievement for anybody these days, but to do it in a previous era, where quality of life was not as it is today, is astounding. One such Blantyre person lived to 100 years old. Ms Templeton (wife of the Blantyre Blacksmith John Templeton) was born on the […]