Old Photograph Bakers Cart Methil Fife Scotland

Old photograph of a Co-operative Society Bakers cart in Methil, Fife, Scotland. Methil lies geographically between Largo bay to the East and Wemyss Bay to the West. Previously an industrial maritime powerhouse of the region, it is now redirecting itself towards a green energy future. One boundary delineating Methil from its adjacent towns is the River Leven.



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Old Photograph Thornliebank Scotland

Old photograph of Thornliebank, Glasgow, Scotland. The village now a suburb of Glasgow, first made its appearance on Thomas Richardson's map of 1795 and was, at the time, referred to as Thorny Bank, a title believed to have been inspired by the substantial number of thorn trees that were prevalent in the area. In 1789 it was a little street of cottages but it had grown by 1845, to have a population of 1366. This was largely due to the Crum family, who established and ran the Thornliebank printworks. John Crum founded the works in Main Street in 1778 to print locally woven linen. Walter Crum who was in charge by 1819 was a chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society. He replaced spinning and weaving by calico printing with bleaching, and turkey red dyeing. This work brought immigrants from Northern Ireland. Walter's son Alexander Crum who took over the printing works was a major philanthropist supporting housing, education, and leisure facilities in the village. He also provided funds for the village club and Thornliebank Parish Church. Alexander Crum was Member of Parliament for Renfrewshire from 1880 to 1885. After his death he was commemorated by the Crum Library which was designed by the Scottish architect Sir Rowand Anderson and formally opened on 20 March 1897.



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Old Photograph Scottish Co-op Wholesale Society Shieldhall Govan Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of the Scottish Co-op Wholesale Society in Shieldhall, Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. The Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society was formed in 1868 for the purpose of purchasing or manufacturing goods for supply to numerous local co-operative retail societies. A factory complex was established at Shieldhall, Glasgow, which produced a wide range of foods, furniture, clothing and metalware. Where possible, the Society tried to control its own supply of raw materials which involved the acquisition of grain mills and timber suppliers in Canada and a tea plantation in Ceylon. The Society extended into service industries including hotels, transport and banking and the funeral undertaking department was particularly successful. The Society also moved into retailing and either opened local branches or took over small local societies.



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Old Photograph West George Street Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of buildings and people on West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland.



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Old Photograph Burgh Hall Pollokshaws Scotland

Old photograph of the Burgh Hall in Pollokshaws, Glasgow, Scotland. Pollokshaws Burgh Hall, which opened in 1898, was provided for the people of Pollokshaws by Sir John Stirling Maxwell, who contributed towards its upkeep until the burgh was annexed by Glasgow in 1912. The hall was designed in the Scots Baronial style by noted Edinburgh architect, Robert Rowand Anderson, who also carried out alterations and additions to both Eastwood Parish Church and Pollok House around the same time.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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