Old Photos of Motherwell and Surrounding Areas

[Patsy Beech]

Hello,

I am also looking for information about old Motherwell as I am chasing an Edmond V. Campbell around the UK in his job as an actor and theatre manager. He was born in London in 1836, and by 1871 he is recorded as working in Wolverhampton, but by 1881 he has moved north into 'God's Own Country' and can be found in Dalziel, Motherwell living at 30 Brown Street, as a boarder with his Welsh wife Mary. The head of the household was John Cook, Railway Stoker, aged 32.

Does anyone know of a theatre in Motherwell in 1881 where he might have been working, and is Brown Street in the same place now as it was in 1881? Are there any images or books available of that period for Motherwell?

All help greatly appreciated.

Happy Searching,
Patsy

[Lodger]

Hi Patsy,
I checked the 1881 census and Edmund is living at Brown's Place. This was a tenement building in Hope Street and was demolished in the early 1960s, by then it was a sub-standard slum.
There were no theatres in Motherwell at that time although there may have been one in nearby Hamilton. He is listed as a comedian on the 1881 census.
He may have been passing through at that point in his life, perhaps moving into Glasgow where there were plenty of theatres and music halls.

[Patsy Beech]

Hi Lodger,

Thank you for the information about Brown Place, and the lack of theatres in the immediate area. I can't imagine he would have travelled far to work as theatre hours are strange, going to work when most people are enjoying themselves, which means a very late night walk home.

By the way the meaning of Comedian has changed slightly over the years, where we now think of a 'stand-up comedian' back then it was actually an actor who specialised in comic roles.

I much appreciate the help given with the local area, it saves hours of trying to find old maps and compare them with modern day streets.

Best Wishes,
Patsy

[anotheroneopens]

Re-Motherwell Theatre.

There was a theatre in Motherwell around that time-it was The Empire in Camp Street- it was very popular but failed when the numerous cinemas were built . I think it may have been demolished in the late  early 1930's.  My 90 year old mother remembers appearing there in a school show about 1930. Browns Place was a part of the Pollock Street/Hope Street tenements. First right past the station or left at Dalziel High Church.

[Lodger]

The Empire Electric Theatre in Camp Street Motherwell opened in 1911.  The building ended its life as a Tyre Shop and was demolished in the 1960s as far as I can remember.

Lodger.

[wtkirkwood]

National Tyres (Electric Theatre Camp St - Parkhead Street) was still standing in the 1970's