Wonderful Journey

Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Blantyre history

Wonderful Journey

Another bite sized chunk of Blantyre History

Govan Poor House
Hello Drapadew,

What a wonderful journey I have just had through the streets and history of Blantyre. Must say my wee Scottish Mum even though she went to New Zealand in 1917 as a 12 year old, still maintained all the scottish traditions ie: Malt and cod liver oil to keep us healthy and I am sure it help as you say we are still here. You mention the ration books, well we were fortunate in NZ and didn’t have to have them so my Mum would post away wee parcels of goodies to the folk back in Scotland.

When we arrived at Southampton in 1949, I was as skinny as a bean pole (thanks to a big dose of measles during our trip) and the family wanted to know had mum been starving us to send food. I guess broken biscuits are a real treat when you don’t have a lot of money coming in, we used to go up to the shop and get them too and pay a penny for a crust of bread with butter.. Oh the memories you have stirred up.

As you say, I probably wouldn’t remember much about Blantyre, my main memories are of hot lunches in the school hall, and getting dark early in winter, Christmas in the big shops in Glasgow, travelling around Scotland in my Uncle’s Camper which was a converted War Ambulance. It will be just wonderful to be able to walk around the place where my folks were’

You mention your books, do you write family history? or? I do hope that you share these wonderful memories with your family like you are with us on TS.
Looking forward to the next edition.

Just a couple of things I have just discovered re family in Blantyre, my GGGrandad died in the Poor House in Govan but prior to that he had been living at Henderson’s Building, Blantyre and my Dad’s family moved and lived most of their life in Hardie Street.

All the best
Cheers
Margaret

Note from Bill: Henderson’s Building is where Kelly’s Corner was.

Stock photo: Govan Poor House

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Continuing the conversation between Thomas Dunsmuir Hartman in Chicago (known as TDH or Drapadew) and originally from Logan Street, Blantyre and Margaret in Queensland Australia on TalkingScot.

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