During the late 1890’s, many Italians arrived in Blantyre. Numerous individuals had enterprising spirit keen on creating their own businesses and a name for themselves. On Friday 22nd July 1898, a little Blantyre girl named McGuire, the daughter of Patrick McGuire was queuing up with a number of friends at an Italian barrow or stall […]
These little faces (I think) are Blantyre siblings, Minnie and James Ritchie. A photo remarkably taken around 1895, some 127 years ago! Their father was David Ritchie, a master joiner and likely the person who took the photo given his keen interest in photography. Their mother was Mary Ann Fleming. The parents married in Strathaven in 1888 before […]