On a warm Summers evening on Thursday 3rd August 1893, some barbaric scenes were witnessed at the side of the River Clyde next to the Craighead Viaduct. Below the North British Railway, on the banks of the river, a large crowd assembled (following word of mouth) on a vacant piece of land. The intention was […]
At the start of September 1909, the Hamilton Herald told readers of a few “Autumnal” related matters occurring in Blantyre. As summer months started to end, a few Autumn stories and matters appeared in newspaper columns. I’ve picked a few interesting items. “Signs are not awanting to remind us that the winter season is fast […]
Thanks to Anthony Smith for sharing these 2 photos dating from 19th December 1963.The scene is the Craighead Railway Viaduct being dismantled. I recently found out that the demolition took place between 11th and 23rd December 1963 and these incredible photos show how the sections were burned and toppled to the river, the date of […]
These family photos were taken by my dad in 1978. Although not very clear, they do show myself and my sister Joanne, in and around Blantyre. At High Blantyre Primary School gates, at Stonefield Crescent (where all the houses absolutely looked the same in the days before coloured roughcast!), and playing at Greenhall Park. I […]
On Monday 2nd September 1935, a 23 year old woman was crossing the Craighead viaduct, when she lost her footing and fell the full 100 feet down into the river Clyde below. Under the railway viaduct was a passageway for pedestrians. The body of a young woman was recovered on 2rd September 1935 from the River […]
Kenneth Pierce of Blantyre recently brought something to my attention. It would appear during the March 2015 rain and snow, the Central pier of Craighead Viaduct suffered a catastrophic collapse. This may come as a surprise to many people as it did to me. Roving photographer Jim Brown volunteered to go down to investigate and […]
On Tuesday evening of 12th April 1881, a fatal accident happened to John Urquhart Sillar, age 6. He was the Blantyre son of Mr Sillar, inspector of the poor in Blantyre Parish. With another boy, young John was playing near the bridge in course of erection in connection with the High Blantyre and East Kilbride […]