On Tuesday 22nd June 1897, the children of the workmen of Auchinraith Colliery took part in Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, after being invited by Colliery owners. Merry & Cunninghame, (Coalmasters) reached out to the community in a rare display of generosity by sending out very artistic invitation cards directly to the children of workers, […]
Reviewing the monthly reports of Blantyre School Board, published in local newspapers, I found evidence that before Auchinraith School was built, it had been proposed to be built…..in Larkfield! The site of the current High Blantyre Primary was initially the preferred site for a new school in 1899, a school desperately needed due to capacity […]
On Sunday 7th June 1903, police raided an illegal betting operation in Blantyre. Sunday car players had congregated in the famous rendezvous at the field near the Auchinraith Colliery, a field encircled by the Auchinraith branch of the railway. The field notoriously used for gambling given its enclosure by the railway on 3 sides, with […]
In January 1905, a story circulated around Blantyre about a remarkable feat of endurance and bravery by Blantyre man, Charles Allan. Charles, a labourer who repaired chimney stacks, was sitting astride a chimney 60 foot from the ground with colleague worker, Andrew Messer. They were repairing the head of the chimney stack when Charles noticed […]
Thanks to Anthony Smith who recently shared these wonderful Blantyre photos from 1958. Pictured, from the top of the former Auchinraith colliery bing, these photos overlook Auchinraith and Springwells, looking westwards across Blantyre. Taken some 64 years ago, the changing face of Blantyre around this time included post WW2 prefab housing, new schools and far […]
At the end of July 1913, five young Blantyre miners found themselves in hot water standing in the dock at Hamilton Sheriff Court. They were charged with trespassing on the railway siding beside the Auchinraith Signal Cabin belonging to the North British Railway Company on 25th June that year. Their plea was guilty, explaining that […]
Sheila Brown shared this great photo of another former grand house of Blantyre. This is Auchinraith House, which was once situated just off Whistleberry Road. Sheila told, me, “Having found a photo of Auchinraith House, Blantyre, I believe that my grandmother, Mary Winter, was in service here around 1902. I attach the photo. Does anybody […]