Pictorial History of Auld Blantyre

Blantyre Folk

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The title of Lord Blantyre was a title in the Peerage of Scotland; it was created in 1606 and became extinct in 1900. More

Frances Teresa Stuart from Blantyre

Out of compliment to her, Charles 11 ordered her figure to be perpetuated as Britannia on our copper coins. More

David Dale is not given enough credit for what he achieved with the Workers Village in Blantyre.

Not only did he create over 3,000 jobs overnight, he created housing for the homeless and orphans of the Parish. More

Major John Ness

Early School Days in Blantyre

1856

William Dixon

William Dixon (1753-1822), a Northumberland miner, became lessee of the Govan coalfields in 1770-1771; becoming a part owner in 1813 and the sole owner in 1819. He purchased the failed Calder Ironworks, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, for £400 in 1801 and went into partnership with David Mushet, discoverer of the blackband ironstone, to run the works and exploit the Monkland coalfields. The partnership lasted only 2 years after which William Dixon bought the works again for £19,000.William Dixon died in 1822 and was succeeded in business by his youngest son, William Dixon (1788-1859). By this time the business was the second largest coal and iron concern in Scotland. More

One of the Grand Masters of this Lodge was called. Col John Clark Forrest.
He had three streets named after him John Street, Clark Street, and Forrest Street. His home or Property was called Auchinraith. Logan Street was named after his wife Janet Logan. He must have had a great influence in the village matters to have all these streets named after him and his property.
He was also the provost of Hamilton 1875-81.
For anyone interested in this family,there is a gravestone in the High Blantyre Auld Kirk and Graveyard dedicated to this family.

Andrew McAnulty Banner

Andrew McAnulty

Champion of the working class and one who spent a lifetime fighting for better conditions for the mining industry, Mr. Andrew McAnulty, died on Saturday night at the home of a married daughter, Mrs George Paterson, at 105 Parkville Drive, Springwells, Blantyre, Lanarkshire. More

One of the most important political events was the founding of the Scottish Labour Party by Keir Hardie, a forerunner of the modern Labour Party. He became the first Labour MP in 1892, and in 1893, the Independent Labour Party was formed. 1894 saw the formation of the Scottish Grand Committee to debate Scottish issues, and in 1897 the STUC (Scottish Trades Union Congress) was founded.

Keir Hardie

William Small
Miners’ Agent
Blantyre

The Man Who Fought for the Rights of Coalminers.
See Willam Small Miners Agent

Archibald Russell "Old King Coal" the son of Archibald Russell and Jean nee Wright, was born 1830/1 at Govan. He resided at Wishaw House and Auchinraith House, Blantyre and died 11 April 1904 aged 74 at Auchinraith House and is buried at the Acropolis, Glasgow. (I think they mean Necropolis). More

Auchinraith House

Dr Cowan-Wilson

John Clifford - Blantyre Gazette

The journey has been  long, eventful, satisfying, happy and good company, but now it is time to say goodbye. we have come to the end of the road……

The above paragraph, was written by John Clifford himself and appeared in the last issue of the Gazette Newspaper in 1964.

William Rae - The Bone Specialist

The Post Card reads: He found 7 bones out of place that had been out 7 yrs but he died before he could complete his work. August 28th 1906

Jimmy Brownlie

Jimmy Brownlie lived in the Hoolet's Nest

Jimmy Brownlie was born in Blantyre and was an outstanding personality in Scottish football over many years, as a goalkeeper and manager.

Alex Menzies (footballer born 1882)

Alexander William "Alex" Menzies (born 25 November 1882) was a Scottish association footballer who played as a forward for Hearts and Manchester United in the 1900s.

Born in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire...

Jimmy Carabine

Born in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire - November 23, 1911 – 1987) was a Scottish football right back.

In the club game Carabine was most closely associated with Third Lanark A.C., serving the club as aplayer from 1934 to 1945 and then as manger from 1946 to 1949. In all he made 216 appearances and scored 10 goals for the club.

Philip Murray was one of the most important American labour leaders of the twentieth century.

Born in Blantyre, Scotland, on May 25, 1886, Philip Murray was the eldest of thirteen children and began working in the mines at age 10.

Taken at the back of No:3 and No:4 Central Building on Glasgow Road. The lady on the left is Mary McKendrick (look like she is knitting and possible Mary's sister, Catherine Connell who is peeling a potato). Taken around 1912.

The Siegel family members who in the 1901 census lived in the Buggy building the girl is Annie Siegel.

Tribute to former Rangers star Adam Little

AN EX-RANGERS player from Blantyre has passed away at the age of 88.

Dr Adam Little, a wing-half, was a key figure in the Rangers side of the 1940s.

The son of a miner, Adam was born in Blantyre on September 1, 1919.

TOMMY MILLER They called him "Atomic Tommy" and he came from nowhere to zoom right to the top in a year and less. I first saw him as a second-half wobbler at the end of 1949, but he was a reserve when 1950 came around, in the team proper within the first month - and had bagged a couple of maximums and the track record by June!

John Graham
The Blantyre Saint

This poem is dedicated to a Christian called John Graham, who puts his trust in Jesus Christ, our saviour bless his name.

Reverend James (Jim) Hunter

I'd like to reccommend my grandfather for a place in the Blantyre Hall of Fame.
I believe he deserves a place.

Frank Welsh
Born 1874 in the Dixon Rows Blantyre to Agnes Welsh who later married Nicol Kyle.

He lost three uncle's in the mining disaster of 1877. John, James and Francis Welsh. Also losing his recently acquired step father Nicol Kyle.

This picture was taken while he served with the Royal Horse Artillery,  not sure if he served in the 1st World War.

He had two sons that I know of, one being my grandfather also Frank Welsh who... More

Typical Blantyre wedding in the 1930/40. This particular wedding is of my aunt and uncle Joe and Agnes McQuade it consists of the McQuade Family and A lot of the Cummiskey Clan thrown in.

Sent in by Jim Whelan

Hasties Farm Staff Party

Recognise Anyone?

More

Please find attached a photo of somre Blantyre folk - my husband's Grandmother Mary Hainey, his Father Joseph Hainey an two Uncles John and Hughie Hainey. This photograph was taken at Hasties Farm some years ago not sure of the date.
 
Regards Mary Hainey

Bill,
This a picture of a wedding in the old Masonic Hall Glasgow Road
Blantyre 1939. My gran and granda Alex And Kit Cummiskey are pictured at the right hand side standing 3rd row from the front. Don't Know whose wedding, sorry.

Jimmy Whelan

Blantyre Bowling Club

Blantyre Bowling Club

Blantyre Miners Welfare

Blantyre Choral Union
c 1960

Jean Weaver, nee Scott) .  She's the one second from left, and was presented with a silver bowl in a stand for throwing the first bowl of the season. 

The Anderson Clan

Five generations of the Hanlon Family c1918

Nimmo's Band

Did they play at your wedding?
More chance it was your parents wedding?

My Grandfather was a master tailor with the Coop and is probably a photo of the folks who worked in the Coop, probably at the beginning of the 20th century.

The Innes Clan c1934-35

Blantyre Organ Grinder's

This postcard dating from around 1908, illustrates two of the methods used to raise funds for the Cottage Hospital. Organ grinders collected cash, while postcards featuring them such as this one , were sold to raise money too. Specially produced postcards were sold to raise money for... (more)

Hi Bill,

Congratulations on your website it is really wonderful and so much information.

I have attached 3 photos of High Blantyre Primary School Choir with the music teacher Mrs Butler.  These photos were taken between 1956 – 1960 - I think – maybe someone will know the exact dates. 

My name is Nancy Murphy (Boyd)  I lived in Stonefield Crescent until I emigrated to Australia in 1972.

I also have some photos of Thompson’s Licensed Grocery Shop that used to be in Hunthill Road and will attach them in a separate email.

Keep up the good work.

Best Wishes, Nancy

Robert Thomson

Hunthill Road Off Licence

Willie Thomson

Hunthill Road Off Licence

Queen's Coronation 1953

Baird's Rows, Blantyre

Girl wlking in from the left is Betty Clarkin (now living in Canada)
Boy with collar and tie was William Clarkin (now deceased)
More

Queen's Coronation 1953

Baird's Rows, Blantyre

The man in the picture worked at the Broadway Cinema...

Anyone know his name?

More

Queen's Coronation 1953

Baird's Rows, Blantyre

William Clarkin sitting at bottom right wearing a collar and tie.

Were you there? More

Queen's Coronation 1953

Baird's Rows, Blantyre

The Wain's Party

More

Coronation day behind Teddy's pub at the bottom of Priory street. More

Outside 93, Craighead [Bairds] Rows. 3-2-1958. Wash house and Blantyre Celtic Park football ground fence in background.

My Dad outside no.93 Baird's Raws. Aug.1941. Note the outside [shared with next door,flushing] toilet.

High Blantyre Old Parish Church Scouts (28th
Lanakshire) off to camp - Outside the now gone Church hall at High
Blantyre Cross.

High Blantyre Old Parish Church Scouts (28th
Lanakshire) off to camp - Outside the now gone Church hall at High
Blantyre Cross.

Inverary Camp 1949

Inverary Camp 1951

Alnwick 1954:
Blantyre District Camp

Gran Slater with her Daughter Katie
1939 Merry's Rows

Dad's Plot

1937 Merry's Row
Dad Slater with Major the Collie, Sadie, Mum Slater holding Duncan (Aged 74 in 2011) and Alex

Priory Street 1938

In front of #1 Priory St. Mum, my sister Sadie and me in mums arms.
( I am now 74 )

This is the Big Lin up the Cauther January 1960

High Blantyre 1 - 2

Glasgow Road 1 - 2

Low Blantyre

Blantyreferme

Blantyre Folk 1 - 2

Everything Else