school

Fun at the Christmas Fair

Fun at the Christmas Fair

Here we are manning our stall at Strathblane Primary School on 6th December. There was a great atmosphere in the school hall and we enjoyed talking to our customers about Strathblane Heritage and our activities. Through the sales of cards, books and tea towels we...

read more
Campsie Capers by Bob Sharp (2024)

Campsie Capers by Bob Sharp (2024)

The Campsie Fells (‘The crooked fairy hills’) lie just a few miles north of Glasgow. They’re the highest and most extensive group of hills that form a more or less continuous range between Dumbarton and Stirling. To the west of the Campsies are the Kilpatrick Hills,...

read more
Blanefield Smithy

Blanefield Smithy

Blanefield’s charming art gallery is housed in a smithy that is thought to be around 300 years old, though its exact age is unknown. It is certainly one of the very oldest surviving buildings in the parish of Strathblane. It appears on John Grassom’s map of the area...

read more
Toys Galore

Toys Galore

At the end of March a group of Strathblane Heritage members set up a mini pop-up museum in the Thomas Graham Community Library. They were there to show off the toys they played with as children to the pupils of P4 from Strathblane Primary School. After an introduction...

read more
Blanefield Thistle

Blanefield Thistle

A true tale of footballing fortunes.  Your recently-formed village football club obtains the priceless opportunity to play one of the nearby city’s leading clubs after a good first run in the Scottish Cup against rival local teams. As this is likely to provide...

read more
Blane Valley Burns Club

Blane Valley Burns Club

The club’s own painting of Robert Burns, by local artist Norrie Barclay. Itself a copy of the famous Alexander Nasmyth portrait (above), mysteriously disappeared in the mid-1990s. (National Portrait Gallery)  Picture the scene: a snowy January evening at the...

read more
Strathblane Lawn Tennis Club

Strathblane Lawn Tennis Club

On a pleasant summer’s evening back in the late 1990s, Strathblane Lawn Tennis Club president Professor David Hole and a fellow-player headed to Dunblane for a doubles match in the Lawn Tennis Association’s Central Scotland league. Their cheery mood was enhanced when...

read more
The Blane Valley Players

The Blane Valley Players

There have been amateur drama societies in the village on and off since the late 1800s. Current records cover the existence in the 1960s of the Strathblane Amateur Drama Club which produced a number of plays at the Edmonstone Hall, attracting good-sized...

read more
Ballewan

Ballewan

BALLEWAN Painting of Ballewan House, often known as The Ha', by Connie Simmers BALZEOUN Ballewan is an estate in the Blane Valley that was carved out of the earldom of Lennox. For two centuries it belonged largely to the Craig family, culminating in Milliken Craig...

read more
Our Class Photos from the Old School

Our Class Photos from the Old School

Here are some wonderful class photographs sent to us for the website, with the contributor's comments below each. We won't be posting full lists of the pupils with each each picture, but some comments identify the contributor's family members in the older photos. Do...

read more
Our Memories of the Old School

Our Memories of the Old School

In July 2023 we posted on the local Strathblanefield FACEBOOK group asking people to share their memories of the old school. Here are some of the responses: It’s so nice to create a bit of history about the old school. I was only there my first two years of school...

read more
School (1716 – 1966)

School (1716 – 1966)

Though the first Strathblane parish schoolmaster was appointed in 1716, it was many years before the school was housed in a permanent schoolhouse. This was finally built in 1781 at Thorn of Cuilt, at Netherton, which is the area now known as Blanefield.  This...

read more
Missing Men – John Douglas Walker

Missing Men – John Douglas Walker

John Douglas Walker, Gunner Royal Garrison Artillery, aged 36 It is easy to imagine the wife and children of Gunner John Douglas Walker celebrating the news of the Armistice of 1918 and joyfully anticipating his return to Blanefield from the Front. It was a Monday...

read more
Missing Men – John Kemp Scott

Missing Men – John Kemp Scott

John Kemp Scott, Lt Royal Scots Fusiliers, aged 24 John Scott John Kemp Scott stares resolutely from his portrait in which he wears the uniform of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. It is not hard to imagine this moustachioed, neat, determined-looking young man with a dog...

read more
Missing Men – William Rankin McLintock

Missing Men – William Rankin McLintock

William Rankin McLintock, Private Royal Canadian Dragoons, aged 30. William McLintock’s Gravestone A brief bleak item appeared in the Milngavie & Bearsden Herald in July 1917. Under the headline “Strathblane Soldier Killed”, it noted: “The past week has been a sad...

read more
Missing Men – Alexander Buchanan Gilchrist

Missing Men – Alexander Buchanan Gilchrist

Gravestone at Bramshott (St Mary) Churchyard , East Hampshire. Alexander Buchanan Gilchrist, Sergeant/CSM Reserve Canadian Infantry, aged 30. On June 6 1906 Passenger Number 192 boarded the Allan Line’s SS Carthaginian in Glasgow bound for Montreal with the dream of...

read more
Missing Men – George Cumming Gardner

Missing Men – George Cumming Gardner

George Cumming Gardner, Cpl King’s Own Scottish Borderers, aged 26 George Cumming Gardner was born at Muirhouse Farm, Strathblane, on September 6 1889. Having left the village in his youth to live in Craigton, his name finds no place on the Strathblane War Memorial,...

read more
Missing Men – Daniel Dugan

Missing Men – Daniel Dugan

Daniel Dugan, Corporal Black Watch, aged 19. Daniel’s Irish-born grandparents had settled in Blanefield in the 1880s. In 1891 the family, including nine children, plus three boarders, are all described as living in a three-roomed dwelling with no running water in New...

read more
Missing Men – John Colquhoun

Missing Men – John Colquhoun

John Colquhoun’s Gravestone John Colquhoun, Private Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, aged 19 On April 14 1917 the Stirling Observer reported the “death of a Strathblane man”, aged 19. In fact, John Colquhoun had never resided in Strathblane but was one of many...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 25 ERIC FERNANDEZ YARROW

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 25 ERIC FERNANDEZ YARROW

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 25 ERIC FERNANDEZ YARROW, LIEUTENANT ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS, AGED 20. In 1914 Eric could have avoided war service but it wasn't his style. Here, writing soon after war was declared, he begs his father to allow him to "jion (sic),...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 24 FERGUSON THOMSON

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 24 FERGUSON THOMSON

STRATHBLANE FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT: 24 FERGUSON THOMSON, PRIVATE, SCOTS GUARDS, AGED 22. Private Fergie Thomson The Thomson family assembled en masse, probably for the wedding of Annie (back row, second from left) in September 1906. Fergie, aged ten (front row,...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1: 23 MICHAEL STEWART

STRATHBLANE WW1: 23 MICHAEL STEWART

STRATHBLANE WORLD WAR 1: 23 MICHAEL STEWART, PRIVATE KING’S LIVERPOOL REGIMENT, AGED 29. The glasshouses at Dinneiddwg, the mansion in Mugdock where Michael worked as second gardener Michael joined Lowland Division Cycle Corps but was soon transferred to the Army...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 22 ARCHIBALD (ARCHIE) LAMONT SCOTT

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 22 ARCHIBALD (ARCHIE) LAMONT SCOTT

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 22 ARCHIBALD (ARCHIE) LAMONT SCOTT, PRIVATE MACHINE GUN CORPS, AGED 27. Machine Gun Corps Archie Scott The Machine Gun Corps Memorial at Hyde Park Corner.The boy David is flanked by real Vickers machine guns encased in bronze. “He was a fine...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 21 JAMES ROBB

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 21 JAMES ROBB

STRATHBLANE FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT: 21 JAMES ROBB, TROOPER, LIFE GUARDS (HOUSEHOLD BATTALION), AGED 21. Household Battalion “Having gone into this action 498 men strong, the Household Battalion suffered 348 casualties. 13 officers were also hit. The majority of these...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 20 ROBERT RIGG

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 20 ROBERT RIGG

STRATHBLANE FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT: 20 ROBERT RIGG, CORPORAL GORDON HIGHLANDERS, AGED 21. Robert Rigg's grave In the early 20th century, well-heeled families in the Strathblane area began swapping their horse drawn carriages for motor cars. Some of those, including...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 19 COLIN OGILVIE RANKIN

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 19 COLIN OGILVIE RANKIN

STRATHBLANE FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT: 19 COLIN OGILVIE RANKIN, LANCE CORPORAL HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY, AGED 27. Troops going over the top in 1917 at Arras where Colin was killed on April 25. Postcard ofOld Edenkiln in Dumbrock Road, Strathblane, where Colin grew up and...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 18 WILLIAM PATERSON

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 18 WILLIAM PATERSON

STRATHBLANE FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT: 18 WILLIAM PATERSON, PRIVATE ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS, AGED 27. Above: Williams attestation papers from November 22 1915, when the family was staying in Balfron Memorial to the 51st Highland Division with Gaelic...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 17 ROBERT ROWLEY ORR

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 17 ROBERT ROWLEY ORR

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 17 ROBERT ROWLEY ORR, CAPTAIN ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS/ROYAL FLYING CORPS, AGED 30. Captain Robert Baird Rowley Orr Robert's Commonwealth War Grave at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium Painting by Frederick Alsop of...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 16 DONALD JOHNSON MCNEIL

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 16 DONALD JOHNSON MCNEIL

STRATHBLANE FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT: 16 DONALD JOHNSON MCNEIL, SERGEANT 1ST BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS), AGED 24. The Stirling Observers lurid account of December 5 1914 describes the stirrup charge in its report of Donald's death. The entirely mythical "stirrup...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 15 JAMES MACINTYRE

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 15 JAMES MACINTYRE

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 15 JAMES MACINTYRE, PRIVATE SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS, AGED 19. The atlas from his Aunt Rhoda that James took to war The pressed wild rosebud marked "Ardlui June 1916" The calendar tab for September 1916 on which James was marking off his days in...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 14 DONALD MCINTYRE

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 14 DONALD MCINTYRE

STRATHBLANE FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT: 14 DONALD MCINTYRE, TROOPER LOVAT SCOUTS, AGED 23. The Blairquhosh Meikle Tree and Donald's childhood home Report of Donald's death in the Southern Reporter. Floors Castle where Donald worked as a gardener. “Both as a civilian and...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 12 WILFRID BLAKE MOYES

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 12 WILFRID BLAKE MOYES

STRATHBLANE FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT: 12 WILFRID BLAKE MOYES, SERGEANT 8th ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT, AGED 30. Wilfrid Moyes 1881 painting by local artist Frederick Alsop with the Manse where Wilfrid grew up in the foreground. Dumgoyne looms in the distance. Wilfrid's...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 11 DANIEL MORRISON

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 11 DANIEL MORRISON

STRATHBLANE WORLD WAR ONE PROJECT: 11 DANIEL MORRISON, PRIVATE KING’S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS, AGED 38 Daniel Morrison Tyne Cot Memorial Daniel Morrison M&B Herald October 1917 Tyne Cot, Zonnebeke, Belgium “Of a quiet and retiring disposition, he put his heart into...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 10 ALEXANDER MITCHELL

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 10 ALEXANDER MITCHELL

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 10 ALEXANDER MITCHELL, PRIVATE CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES), AGED 36. Silk postcards sent by Sandy Mitchell to his wife at Duntreath Alexander Mitchel- family grave Strichen Parish Churchyard, Aberdeenshire Sandra Mitchell, Sandy's...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 9 ALEXANDER LOWE

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 9 ALEXANDER LOWE

STRATHBLANE WORLD WAR 1 PROJECT: 9 ALEXANDER LOWE, SAPPER ROYAL ENGINEERS, AGED 25 Alex Lowe's grave Steam train on the Somme 1918 with men ofthe Railway Operating Division Effie Lowe (MOBE) in her QMAAC uniform The lodge at Parklea (now Blanefield House) where Alex...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 Project: 8 WILLIAM KER

STRATHBLANE WW1 Project: 8 WILLIAM KER

STRATHBLANE WW1 Project: 8 WILLIAM KER LIEUTENANT HAWKE BATTALION ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION, AGED 24. William Ker William Ker RND 1916 Christmas Card “I crossed the blood red ribbon, that once was no man’s land, I saw a misty daybreak and a creeping minute-hand; And here...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 7 WILLIAM GEORGE EDMONSTONE

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 7 WILLIAM GEORGE EDMONSTONE

STRATHBLANE FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT: 7 WILLIAM GEORGE EDMONSTONE, LIEUTENANT COLDSTREAM GUARDS, AGED 19. Willie, aged 15, towers over his classmates in Eton's Officer Training Corps his much-loved cousin Enid Dudley Ward The oil painting ofWillie that hangs in...

read more
STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 1 JOHN YOUNG BARR

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 1 JOHN YOUNG BARR

STRATHBLANE WW1 PROJECT: 1 JOHN YOUNG BARR, LIEUTENANT ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS, AGED 23. Lieut. Barr, Killed April 25, 1915, St Julien. Eric Yarrow's letter of condolence to Jack Barr's sister Morag, May 7 1915, in which he compares the shattered landscape...

read more
Carbeth

Carbeth

According to John Guthrie Smith’s history of Strathblane, “the compact little estate of Carbeth Guthrie” was constructed between 1808 and 1817 by West Indies merchant John Guthrie. Guthrie was a prominent member of Glasgow’s “Sugar Aristocracy”. He had managed an...

read more
Edenkill/Edenkiln

Edenkill/Edenkiln

View from Old Mugdock Road, where a lone cyclist contemplates the grandeur of the Campsies. Edenkill (now Edenkiln) occupied the heart of the community we now call Strathblane and was one of the three villages that comprised the parish, along with Netherton...

read more
Netherton/Blanefield

Netherton/Blanefield

"Nothing is now left of Old Netherton save the smithy and the school-house, and its very name seems likely to perish, for the factory originally called Blane Printfield has expanded to such ample proportions, and covered its environs with so many workers' houses that...

read more
Blane Valley Railway

Blane Valley Railway

RAILWAY MANIA By 8.30 on the morning of Monday 1 July 1867 an excited crowd had gathered in Blanefield near the bottom of the Cuilt Brae to greet the community’s first passenger train. Britain was in the grip of railway mania. The 1861 Blane Valley Railway Act...

read more
World War Two

World War Two

6. Netherton cottages including Sunnyside 9. The "Noo Hooses" today The white building in the foreground is Sunnyside which was demolished by a landmine in March 1941 killing four people. During the Second World War Strathblane, in common with many other villages, was...

read more
Water

Water

Local Workmen with the Water BoardLeft to right : Tom McCulloch, Jimmy Baxter, Tommy Miller, David Getty , John Harkins The Glasgow Water Supply The Blane Valley is the final stage of what justifiably can be called one of the greatest civil engineering achievements of...

read more
Blanefield Printworks

Blanefield Printworks

The Printworks (from John Guthrie Smith 1886. Photograph by John Coubrough) Block printing is the printing of patterns on fabrics using a carved block, usually made from wood. It originated in India around the 5th century BC but did not arrive in Scotland until the...

read more