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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: charlotteuk on Friday 16 January 09 10:10 GMT (UK)
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Is there anyone from the Motherwell area that can tell me the name of the Steelworks that if I remember correctly from childhood visits to Scotland, was at the top of Logans Road near a level crossing?
I know that my grandfather worked there between 1909 & 1950. I've tried looking it up online but it would appear there were several steelworks in Motherwell.
Thank you
Charlotte
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I'm not from the area but the biggest known steelworks there was Ravenscraig.
Would that be it?
Dave
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Hi
Are you thinking of the Motherwell Bridge works?
Tracey
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Tiger_lass is spot on, it was Motherwell Bridge and Engineering Works, always known locally as The Bridge Works.
Lodger.
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A much changed company nowadays
http://motherwellbridge.com/
http://www.mbgroup.co.uk/index/motherwell-bridge-past-and-future
There is a new housing estate on a large part of the site
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Lots of old pictures about the company here
http://www.rls.org.uk/database/results.php?id_proj=0851&db=scran&_IXSPFX_=z&PHPSESSID=e6iurfdi76h4u9g0ofhs7lsmo2
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Hi,
I don't know if this picture is for your steelworks , but it is a picture of a group of steelworkers called _ the lanarkshire smelters .
My great grandfather lived in Craigneuk and is in this picture . Maybe your relative is also .
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The 'Lanarkshire' is a different steelworks but in those days the workforce did move around a lot
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Thank you Santi,
I wasn't sure what steelworks the picture was from just that it was dated 1907 and was from Lanarkshire .
I presumed that it must have been close to the Motherwell area because my gr. grandfather lived in Craigneuk and I don't think he would have been able to travel very far for work.
Thanks,
Megan
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my great grandfather worked in the dalziel steel works in motherwell he was a puddler here is a pic of him and the other workers in the forge it has some names awell.
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Thank you all for the replies and some great pictures too - but unfortunately my grandfather isn't amongst the workers in the photos.
Hi
Are you thinking of the Motherwell Bridge works?
Tracey
It would appear that I was mistaken about the location of the steelworks too as it isn't where I thought it was, and but at least I know now. I'm also pretty sure it wasn't called Ravenscraig either.
Thanks
Charlotte
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The 'Bridge Works' was the steel works at the top of Logans Road at the level crossing
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Hi Megan,
I was quite excited when I saw this picture as my great grans brother James Monaghan was a smelter and he lived and worked in Craigneuk, he is probably in this picture oh how I wish they named the people in the picture
Thanks Jane
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The 'Bridge Works' was the steel works at the top of Logans Road at the level crossing
Thank you Sancti.
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Dear Lodger,
I am new to rootschat and so I apologize for my ignorance of protocols and etiquette, but when I was a "visitor" (before registering as a "member") I saw one of your posts that suggested you have compiled a private database of many of the MIs (monument inscriptions?) for churchyards, graveyards and/or cemeteries near Glasford and environs? I am looking for the possible burial of one Archibald Shearer (spelling variations are possible) who I believe lived in the area of Drumtall Farm, which I think is on the "border" between East Kilbride Parish and Glasford Parish. He likely died sometime between 1785 (when I believe his last child was born) and 1810 (when one of his sons moved away to Shotts). This Archibald might have been born about 1738, an estimate I based on his marriage to Margaret Murray on March 13, 1763 in East Kilbride. Of course it is possible that his wife, Margaret (Murray) Shearer, is buried near him, and the same range of dates for death would apply.
I hope you will be able to help me, as I live in the U.S. and have never had the privilege of visiting Scotland.
"Pacoima"
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The picture of the smelters does anybody know any of the names of the men in the picture, one of my ancestors was a smelter at the same time of this picture living in the area. His name was James Monaghan
Jane
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McGhee,
I only have the picture because my great grandfather who is in the picture had it in his possesion.
It has been passed down from him . No other names are on the back except for him so I can't indentify anyone else.
I posted the picture in case someone recognizes any of their relatives.
Sorry,
Megan
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Thanks for the reply Megan
Kind regards Jane
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My mother's father (Henry George McMurray) was born in Scotland in 1911 and I'm related through him to a lot of McMurrays in Motherwell. Many of them worked in steel, as did my grandfather in Vermont. Their family came to the US in 1921 or so.
My second great-uncle was Robert McMurray, born September 15, 1884 in Motherwell. He married Margaret McVicar and they had two children. I think Robert died while working at Dalziel Steel Works on October 15, 1939, age 55.
Does anyone have any thoughts about how I might find out more information? Thanks!!
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Does anyone have any thoughts about how I might find out more information? Thanks!!
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk has all these birth, marriage and death certificates, plus the originals of the censuses. It's pay-per-view but modestly priced.
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Allan Wood, could it have been an Agnes rather than Margaret McVicar? See death notice:
MCMURRAY At 5 Viewbank Avenue, Calderbank, on October 17, 1950, Agnes McVicar, beloved wife of Robert McMurray (late of Motherwell)
Of course this could have been another McVicar/McMurray couple, as Agnes described as wife of rather than widow of, although I am only seeing one marriage with theses surnames, that being:
MCVICAR
AGNES
MCMURRAY
ROBERT
1905
651/ 175
Airdrie or New Monkland
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McMurray was not a common name here in Motherwell, there were only 4 McMurray households listed in the 1911 street directory for the town. The householders names were :-
McMURRAY Henry, ironworker, 98 Wellington Street.
McMURRAY James, plater, Thistle Street.
McMURRAY Mrs Mary Ann, Kilmoray, Douglas Street.
McMURRAY Mrs Mary, 32b North Orchard Street.
In the 1922 street directory (compiled as a voter's roll rather than a list of head of households)
McMURRAY B. 36 Ashton Place, Airbles Street.
McMURRAY C. 11 Forrest Street.
McMURRAY J. 11 Forrest Street.
McMURRAY R.F. 117 Brandon Street.
In the 1925 Householders list (compiled by streets) all of the above are still at the same addresses,
McMURRAY BERNARD, miner, 36 Ashton Place, Airbles Street.
McMURRAY C. fitter & McMURRAY JOHN, steelworker, 11 Forrest Street.
McMURRAY ROBERT, draughtsman, 117 Brandon Street. (That address is still there, a tenement).
There was a family of McMurrays lived in Kings Building, Merry Street when I was young (2 years ago! ;D ) I just rang one of the daughters who still lives in Motherwell, she said her father's family originally came from Ayrshire and he only came to Motherwell for work in the 1930's.
Hope this helps.
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I believe the butchers used to advertise "Smelters Steak!" as only their wifes could afford it! ;D Not to be confused with "Carluke Steak!" which was a piece n jam.
Great book & pic's of Scotland's Iron & Steel workers. "Sons of Vulcan!" by Robert Duncan, pub' Birlinn.
Skoosh.
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I can thoroughly recommend Robert Duncan's "Steelopolis", the history of Motherwell, written by the only man (or woman - and I'm thinking of one in particular!) who was so intelligent that he didn't have to plagiarize his work from every other single thing ever written about the town.
Never heard of a "smelter's steak" Skoosh, a new one on me. My great-grandfather was a 1st hand smelter in Dalzell Works (Colville's) and he died at an early age. My grannie used to tell us that he lost so much sweat at the furnaces that his death was attributed, in part, to a lack of salt. So these poor men earned their steaks.
A Carluke steak is another story! Based on the R & W Scott jam works in Carluke, the factory is still going after 100 odd years and many a wean still enjoying a Carluke steak.
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I have a copy of The Monkland Tradition, written by Thomas Ronald Miller, founder and chairman and managing director of Motherwell Bridge and Engineering Company.
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Forfarian,
Motherwell is famous for coal and steel.
The Monklands are famous for steel 'n' coal. ;D ;D ;D
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Allan Wood, could it have been an Agnes rather than Margaret McVicar? See death notice:
MCMURRAY At 5 Viewbank Avenue, Calderbank, on October 17, 1950, Agnes McVicar, beloved wife of Robert McMurray (late of Motherwell)
Of course this could have been another McVicar/McMurray couple, as Agnes described as wife of rather than widow of, although I am only seeing one marriage with theses surnames, that being:
MCVICAR
AGNES
MCMURRAY
ROBERT
1905
651/ 175
Airdrie or New Monkland
I've seen that, too. I'm not sure.
I have not done super-extensive research into the McMurrays, to be honest.
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McMurray was not a common name here in Motherwell, there were only 4 McMurray households listed in the 1911 street directory for the town. The householders names were :-
McMURRAY Henry, ironworker, 98 Wellington Street.
McMURRAY James, plater, Thistle Street.
Interesting. I had always assumed it was a common name. My great-grandfather Henry M. McMurray (1882-1951) was one of 13 children, so even though he and his family left for the US in 1921, I assume he had other siblings remaining in Motherwell. It's possible that James is his brother (1879-1952, died in Carluke), but I don't have any other Henrys in my info. Their parents were Robert McMurray and Margaret Close.
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Lodger :)
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@ Lodger, that should be "Melters Steak!" no Smelters! Presumably fillet? ;D
Skoosh.
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@ Lodger, that should be "Melters Steak!" no Smelters! Presumably fillet? ;D
Skoosh.
Aye Skoosh - the good auld days that the sainted Maggie wanted us all to go back tae.
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Wherever she is now I hope the salt tablets are ad-lib! ;D
Skoosh.
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Forfarian,
Motherwell is famous for coal and steel.
The Monklands are famous for steel 'n' coal. ;D ;D ;D
That's New Monkland you are talking about. ;)
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Motherwell Football Club are historically known as "The Steelmen"
I was born in the Maternity Home on Airbles Road spitting distance from Fir Park Street.
Came home from hospital to a "single-end" with outside "dunny" at the rear in Orbiston Street, and our single window overlooked the massive sheds of Dalzell Steel Works with the railway line into Motherwell separating.
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The melting shop personnel worked in the Lanarkshire Steel Company
The Lanarkshire Steel Works (the Shire) was between Flemington and Craigneuk
on the Wishaw Road. I can be sure about the location as I served my time as an
Apprentice Electrician in the steelworks before moving on.
1962 to 1963. Junior steel production trainee
1963 to 1967. Apprentice Electrician
1967 to 1969. Electrician
1969. Off to greener fields