Pictorial
History of Auld Blantyre
Blantyre Folk |
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Cosy Corner
Glasgow Road at Greenside Place Street. |
Some Blantyre folk enjoying a Holiday in Blackpool...
Recognise anyone? |

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Some Blantyre woman (including my nan, seated second from right) working in Burnbank - Peter Sim |
Scout Camp, but where and when?
Recognise anyone? |

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Blantyre Victoria F.C.
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Blantyre
Victoria were reconstructed as a junior team in 1902, playing
in the Scottish Central League. The Vics were successful
in winning the League Championship in 1935/36 and also contested
the final of the Lanarkshire Cup in the same season. Team
members, from left to right, back to front are: W. Reid,
D. Fletcher, J. Gillespie, J. Lyle, A. Williamson. Front
row: J.McDougall, T. McGee, R. Moffat, W. Towers (Capt.),
C. McNee. More |
Miner's
Wife 1907.
The worst mining disaster in Scottish history took place
in Blantyre in October 1877 when Dixon's Pit exploded killing
over 200 men. It is thought that the tragedy occurred when
a build-up of fire-damp (the equivalent to North Sea gas)
was ignited by a naked flame on a miner's hat. High Blantyre
was thrown into turmoil as thousands of goulish spectators
joined the relatives crowding around the pit head as bodies
were brought up over the following days. The newspapers
too, in the absence of photographs, took to relaying graphic
descriptions of the victims' injuries. A public enquiry
was organised but(more) |
Miner's
Wife 1907

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Bill,
I have copies of these photos that were inherited from my late grandfather, William Dobson, although I don't know who any of these people are. I think that they are associated with the "Buggy" buildings, so if any of the visitors to this site could shed any light on them, then I would be obliged.
Thank you so much and keep up the good work.
Kind regards
Elizabeth Dobson Grieve
see Update |
Blantyre Gala Day 1945
These were taken doon the village.
I think the first one doon at Livingstone's in 1945 (the crowning of Queen of the Village) and the other one of the Village Gala around 1950 at Station Road / Viewfield Ave.
See larger photos for more detail... |


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See larger photos for more info and detail...
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The first one is of William Francis Benham (known as Frank) outside his shop in Blantyre. I`m afraid I do not know exactly where it was but I think it could possibly have been on or near Station Road.
The second photo is of (l to r back) Frank Benham, Lizzie Benham, Bessie Benham, Molly Benham (my Grandmother) and Charles Benham(my Grandfather). The children at the front are my Mum (Helen Benham), my Uncle (Charlie Benham) and my Aunt (Betty Benham). I believe this picture was taken in their garden at Craig Rock. Both pictures are C1923/4. |
I found this old photo and thought you might want to feature it in your "Do you recognize" segment, I've tried to sharpen the image as best I could but it's still not very clear, The date is circa 1949 and I'm not even sure what the bus trip was for, but I'm thinking it is either the Blantyre racing pigeon club or perhaps a miners outing. More |

Recognise Anyone? |

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Old Town House 1890 |
Ayrshire Coast Outing c1940's |

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Blantyre Silver Band - 1904 |
Pictured here is the Auchinraith Silver Band with Andrew McAnulty "the old war horse" seated fourth from the left on the bottom row.
With the help of the Band, Andrew raised funds to help build the Miner's Welfare. More |
Auchinraith Silver Band
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Pit Blacksmiths
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This image shows blacksmiths employed at one of Blantyre's pits. Blacksmiths or as they were known locally "smiddies" were employed to fabricate iron and steel brackets, clamps and other fixtures used throughout the mine. An obvious task (seen in the photo) they also worked on was the manufacture and fitting of horses and ponies shoes. More |
Blantyre Theatrical Group - c1908 |

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Archibald Tunnock & Staff - 1930 |
Strawberry Pickers - Crossford
1909 |

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Gala Queen 1975
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Bill we are formally of Blantyre and have a few old pictures they are of my wife Nancy who was Gala Queen in 1975 they are not great pics but I thought you could add them to your collection, My family name is Kelly/McAlinden and my mother still lives in Low Blantyre as well does my wifes her maiden name is Gilchrist and her mothers would be Craig. Gerry Kelly |
Nancy Kelly
I just wished that I had a better pic of the one where she was crowned unfortunaley the person taking the picture barely got her in it. The other picture shows her visiting her grans grave in a cemetry in High Blantyre. |

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Karen Bell
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Bill,
I was looking through the auld Blantyre section of the site and came across the Gala Queen picture of Nancy Kelly page 6.
The girl in the middle was a girl I went to school with, Karen Bell
from the village. Karen went on to become Miss Evening times, then on to be runner up in the Miss Scotland competition. She went on to marry Maurice Johnstone a former Celtic and Rangers player and now lives in
Canada with her family.
A lot can be said for being in the BLANTYRE GALA.!!!!!!!
Jimmy Whelan
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I think this must have been taken around early 1930's My Mum is 3rd from the left, May Lindsay (1919-2006). She was the youngest member of the choir. This photo was taken in the Cooperative hall I think, and I wondered if it was a Co-op choir?
Moyra Lindsay |

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Recognise Anyone? |
This picture was taken in 1953, most of the names are a mystery but the two we are aware of are John Aitken, better known as The Daddler (front row centre holding the cup) who lived in Springwells or latterly Nursery Place High Blantyre, and Jock Stein (front row far right). |
Here is a picture of some of the tenants of Elm Street, this picture was not taken at the early days of the street but all the people in the picture were original residents, the picture was taken outside No 20. |

Elm Street
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Newspaper Article c 1990 |
The Blantyre Knights of St Columba gave over 100 senior citizens a special Christmas treat last week. For they put on a Christmas Party for the pensioners in St Joseph's Parochial Hall. The party consisted of a splendid meal followed by an entertaining cabaret. More |
Blantyre Tigers c1959
Can you name them?
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Blantyre Dog Track being used for Speedway. Owned and operated by Frank Doonin. |
The last speedway meeting at the Blantyre Greyhound Stadium took place on Sunday 18th October 1981 with a "Grand Challenge" between Glasgow Tigers and Bobby Beaton's Buccaneers. More |

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McLean Brothers Mineral Water
Works High Blantyre
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Seem like a Happy Lot of Workers!
More
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Do
you know who these Ladies are?
Mary Hainey
from Blantyre and her work pals. Can anyone tell me the names of
the other ladies? It was taken a long long time ago not sure of
the date. She lived at one time in the old David Livingston building
long before it was a museum. |

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Aggie Bain, who lived in Bardykes Road, next to the Barnhill Tavern, is seen walking along the crown of Broompark Road. |
This is a fairly historic postcard. It shows Pinnie Johnstone, who lost his leg in the first world war, at the foot of the Pech Brae, with the photographer looking from Millheugh Bridge. The photograph was, I am sure, shot in monochrome, and colourised sometime later. This was before the introduction of colour film.
More |

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-Forrest-1-th.jpg)
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The photograph shows my Grandad, Robert Forrest, when he was only 19, working a horse at Craigend Pit, off the Whisleberry Road, in 1920. More |
Robert Forrest, with his horse Hector, was taken at Ferniegair, Hamilton around 1931, by a photographer who was fascinated watching Hector drink from a shovel held under a tap. More |

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A photo of some of our family, which was taken, looking from the Millheugh bridge, towards Pech Brae, approx 1958, and shows the cottage, which is now demolished. More |
I know that you will recognise the spot immediately. Just upstream of Millheugh Bridge there was a reasonably flat area of rock which was great for picnics, bonfires, and even a wee paddle. More |

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These pics were taken in 1969 in Fernslea Avenue, The wee lass on the bike is Lynn Forrest... More |
This is a photograph of my G. Grandmother, Lilias Main, who married my G Grandfather Andrew Forrest, from The Deans, Cambuslang. The photograph was taken "on location" at the wee farm, at 79 Broompark Road, Barnhill, Blantyre, around 1890 -1891, when Lilias was around 12 or 13. She holds an authentic wooden luggie (milk pail) and four legged stool. More |

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He gave you fair warning whenever he came
though the tune he played was never the same
in a neighbouring street a bugler played
and it wasn't the lifeboys or boys brigade. More |
Village Kids... Early 50's |

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Reamonn Gormley
NEW footage has emerged of murdered Scottish teenager Reamonn Gormley doing charity works overseas.
The 19-year-old from Blantyre was a community volunteer and charity worker who had taught overseas in Thailand. |