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Frank Benham outside his shop c.1923/24

Dear Bill,

I hope you still want old photos of Blantyre. 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. (See Update)

Frank was my Great Grandmothers` brother. He was born in Edinburgh, married in Glasgow and settled in Blantyre (around 1892). He was married to Elizabeth Ann Pearson Craig (Lizzie) and they had three daughters- Elizabeth (Bessie), Margaret (Meg) and Jane. They also had a son William who died in infancy in 1895. He was born at Darvoch Cottage in Blantyre. Frank died in 1925 at Craig Rock, Glasgow Road, Blantyre.

Frank Benham & Family c.1923/24

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. Bessie married David Campbell and lived near the station as I remember her garden backed onto the rail track near the platform also it was not far from David Livingstones` House/Museum. Anyway, if any of this is of use to you for your website please feel free to use it.

Regards

Eleanor Stenhouse Email

Hi Bill,

I was looking at you website and found the photo of Frank Benham outside his shop. It was on Stonefield Road, no 11.

As far as I know, Benhams owned the shop, then it belonged to 2 sisters (I was talking to my mum again and she recalled the name Bessie Benham, so
perhaps the shop was taken over by Bessie and one of her sisters), then a man from Holytown owned it.

It then belonged to my mum Sheila Russell and was a
newsagents, grocer etc, she became the owner around 1963/64 and she had until the late 70's when it was taken over by the chap who had the
newsagents on Glasgow Road ( I cannot remember his name, sorry).

I do know that when my mum had the shop, people still called it Benhams, even though he hadn't been in it in a while!

As you may have guessed I'm an old Blantyre lass, although I'm not there now. My family owned the farm at Wheatlandhead.

Anyway, I hope that's filled in a 'blank'.

Regards,

Elaine Russel

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