Blantyre Carvings

[[<<]]
'''As found in 2012'''
%lframe height=150px margin-top=1em wikilink%[[http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/SeScoFox/Blantyre%20Rock%20Carvings%202012-05-23/1024Blantyre2012-05-26RockCarving5PointingHand.jpg | http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/SeScoFox/Blantyre%20Rock%20Carvings%202012-05-23/1024Blantyre2012-05-26RockCarving5PointingHand.jpg"Pointing Hand,2012"]] | Pointing Hand
%lframe height=150px margin-top=1em wikilink%[[http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/SeScoFox/Blantyre%20Rock%20Carvings%202012-05-23/1024Blantyre2012-05-26RockCarving4DavidLivingstone.jpg | http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/SeScoFox/Blantyre%20Rock%20Carvings%202012-05-23/1024Blantyre2012-05-26RockCarving4DavidLivingstone.jpg"David Livingstone,2012"]] | David Livingstone
%lframe height=150px margin-top=1em wikilink%[[http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/SeScoFox/Blantyre%20Rock%20Carvings%202012-05-23/1024Blantyre2012-05-26RockCarving1ChristWithCross.jpg | http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/SeScoFox/Blantyre%20Rock%20Carvings%202012-05-23/1024Blantyre2012-05-26RockCarving1ChristWithCross.jpg"Figure With Cross,2012"]] | Figure With Cross
%lframe height=150px margin-top=1em wikilink%[[http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/SeScoFox/Blantyre%20Rock%20Carvings%202012-05-23/1024Blantyre2012-05-26RockCarving2ChristCrucified.jpg | http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/SeScoFox/Blantyre%20Rock%20Carvings%202012-05-23/1024Blantyre2012-05-26RockCarving2ChristCrucified.jpg"Christ Crucified,2012"]] | Christ Crucified
%lframe height=150px margin-top=1em wikilink%[[http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/SeScoFox/Blantyre%20Rock%20Carvings%202012-05-23/1024Blantyre2012-05-26RockCarving3ChristEntombed.jpg | http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/SeScoFox/Blantyre%20Rock%20Carvings%202012-05-23/1024Blantyre2012-05-26RockCarving3ChristEntombed.jpg"Christ Entombed,2012"]] | Christ Entombed

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External links

(:gma-map view=hybrid:)

!!External links

According to Canmore, from information attributed to Mr RJ Smith in 1996, "A group of carvings, including the Passion, Crucifixion and Deposition (or Entombment?), have been cut into the rock face below the site of the Priory. These were executed by a local man, c.1956. Other carvings include one of the head of David Livingstone."

This concurs with information received regarding a pair of articles which appeared in the Blantyre Gazette some years ago, although the date of publication is unknown. In the first, there was mention of sandstone carvings having been made in the late 1950s or early 1960s, together with an inference that they may have been of medieval origin. In a later follow-up article, the truth was revealed, and noted that what appeared to be natural erosion of the carvings was in reality damage caused by local vandals.

The reference to a further carving depicting the head of David Livingston is unconfirmed. We have visited this site on a number of occasions and failed to notice any further features, and it may be that this element is either nearby and hidden, or was less well defined than those recorded here, and has been lost to erosion.

The only consistent information that has come to light in recent years is the name Bud Hawkins, of Blantyre, who is said to have been responsible for the carvings. The exact date of the work is unknown, but we own a series black & white photographs taken during a survey of the carvings, and these pictures show the detail in sharp relief, with little evidence of weathering or erosion by comparison with our own later pictures, taken in 2006. Sadly, our acquaintances who took the survey pictures are no longer with us, having passed away during the 1990s, when they would have been well into their eighties. The actual date of the visit and survey never arose during our discussions, but they would appear to date from the 1950s or so, and the lack of erosion when compared to their condition in 2006 suggests they were relatively new at the time.

Dating from 2003, we have been told of an exchange in a Blantyre forum where it was noted the carvings were made by Bud Hawkins of Strathmore Avenue, Blantyre, but gave the date as the 1970s (which we know is incorrect), and also included suggestions that they may date from the 1700s due to their proximity to Blantyre Priory, which dates back the 15th century.

A further report was received which referred to a forum post noted in 2005, attributing the carvings to Tommy Hawkins, but with no further details, so some degree of uncertainty still remains.

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv00.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv00.jpg"Detail of cross bearer, c. 1950"]] | Detail of cross bearer[[<<]]c. 1960
Scanned from an original black & white photograph taken when local historians surveyed the carvings c. 1960, the detail on the face of the cross-bearing figure can clearly be seen to be in sharp relief.

Compare this with the later image shown below, taken only some 50 years later in 2006, showing that nearly all the sharp detail in the relief has been lost. This loss is consistent over all the carvings (as opposed to localised areas of damage by vandals), and suggests that while the softness of the sandstone is may be one of the reasons why these carvings exist at all, it also means they will not last for any considerable period.

*(:gma-point lat=55.8033071 lon=-4.0947247 link='Blantyre Priory - former site' :)

(:mlat:55.8033071:)(:mlon:-4.0947247:)(:mngr6:NS687586:)
*(:gma-point (:llVgm NS686573 :) link='B P carvings' :)

(:gma-map :)

The '''Blantyre carvings''' are a series of carvings, based on a religious theme, on a cliff face overlooking the River Clyde, below the site of the former Blantyre Priory, and across the river from the remains of Bothwell Castle.

According to RCAHMS, from information attributed to Mr RJ Smith in 1996, "A group of carvings, including the Passion, Crucifixion and Deposition (or Entombment?), have been cut into the rock face below the site of the Priory. These were executed by a local man, c.1956. Other carvings include one of the head of David Livingstone."

This concurs with information received regarding a pair of articles which appeared in the Blantyre Gazette some years ago, although the date of publication is unknown. In the first, there was mention of sandstone carvings having been made in the late 1950s or early 1960s, together with an inference that may have been of medieval origin. In a later follow-up article, the truth was revealed, and noted that what appeared to be natural erosion of the carvings was nothing more than damage caused by local vandals.

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv00.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv00.jpg"Detail of cross bearer, 1950s"]] | Detail of cross bearer[[<<]]c. 1950
Scanned from an original black & white photograph taken when local historians surveyed the carvings in the 1950s, the detail on the face of the cross-bearing figure can clearly be seen to be in sharp relief.

  * [[http://www.blantyre.biz/RockCarvings.htm | Additional images]]

(:gma-point lat=55.8033071 lon=-4.0947247 text='Blantyre Priory - former site' :)

A series of '''carvings''' based on a religious theme exists in '''Blantyre''', on a cliff face overlooking the River Clyde, below the site of the former Blantyre Priory, and across the river from the remains of Bothwell Castle.

According to RCAHMS, based on information attributed to Mr RJ Smith in 1996, "A group of carvings, including the Passion, Crucifixion and Deposition (or Entombment?), have been cut into the rock face below the site of the Priory. These were executed by a local man, c.1956. Other carvings include one of the head of David Livingstone.".

This concurs with information received regarding a pair of article which appeared in the Blantyre Gazette some years ago, although the date of publication is unknown. In the first, there was mention of the sandstone carvings having been made in the late 1950s or early 1960s, together with an inference that may have been of medieval origin. In a later follow-up article, the truth was revealed, and noted that what appeared to be natural erosion of the carvings was nothing more than damage caused by local vandals.

The only consistent information that has come to light in recent years is the name Bud Hawkins, of Blantyre, who is said to have been responsible for the carvings. The exact date of the work is unknown, but we have black & white pictures of a survey being made of the carvings, and these pictures show the detail in sharp relief, with little evidence of weathering or erosion by comparison with our own later pictures, taken in 2006. Sadly, our acquaintances who took the survey pictures are no longer with us, having passed away during the 1990s, when they would have been well into their eighties. The actual date of the visit and survey never arose during our discussions, but they would appear to date from the 1950s or so, and the lack of erosion when compared to their condition in 2006 suggests they were relatively new at the time.

A further report was was received, referring to a forum post noted in 2005, attributing the carvings to Tommy Hawkins, but with no further details, so some degree of uncertainty remains.

(:Discuss:http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/forum/m-1152205972/:)

[[!Uncategorised]]

According to the RCAHMS entry, based on information attributed to Mr RJ Smith in 1996, "A group of carvings, including the Passion, Crucifixion and Deposition (or Entombment?), have been cut into the rock face below the site of the Priory. These were executed by a local man, c.1956. Other carvings include one of the head of David Livingstone.".

According to the RCAHMS entry, based on information attributed to Mr RJ Smith in 1996, "A group of carvings, including the Passion, Crucifixion and Deposition (or Entombment?), have been cut into the rock face below the site of the Priory. These were executed by a local man, c.1956. Other carvings include one of the head of David Livingstone.".[^* [[http://lmid1.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.details_gis?inumlink=257549 | RCAHMS entry]]^]

According to the RCAHMS entry, based on information attributed to Mr RJ Smith in 1996, "A group of carvings, including the Passion, Crucifixion and Deposition (or Entombment?), have been cut into the rock face below the site of the Priory. These were executed by a local man, c. 1956. Other carvings include one of the head of David Livingstone.".[^* [[http://lmid1.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.details_gis?inumlink=257549 | RCAHMS entry]]^]

According to the RCAHMS entry, based on information attributed to Mr RJ Smith in 1996, "A group of carvings, including the Passion, Crucifixion and Deposition (or Entombment?), have been cut into the rock face below the site of the Priory. These were executed by a local man, c.1956. Other carvings include one of the head of David Livingstone.".[^* [[http://lmid1.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.details_gis?inumlink=257549 | RCAHMS entry]]^]

%lframe height=150px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv02.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv02.jpg"Figure bearing cross, 2006"]] | Figure bearing cross
%lframe height=150px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv01.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv01.jpg"Crucified figure, 2006"]] | Crucified figure
%lframe height=150px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv04.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv04.jpg"Carved symbols, 2006"]] | Carved symbols
%lframe height=150px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv03.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/b1/bpcrv03.jpg"Reclining figure, 2006"]] | Reclining figure

A series of '''Carvings''' with a religious theme exists in '''Blantyre''', in a spot overlooking the River Clyde, on a cliff face below the site which was once home to Blantyre Priory.

The only information that has come to light in recent years is the name Bud Hawkins of Blantyre, who may have been responsible for the carvings. The exact date of the carvings is unknown, but we have black and white pictures of a survey taken of the carvings, and these show them in sharp relief, with little evidence of weathering or erosion by comparison with out pictures, taken in 2006. Our acquaintances who took the survey pictures are no longer with us, but passed away in their 80s, in the mid-1990s. The pictures would seem to date to the 1950s (the actual date never came up in conversation or correspondence), but the rapid erosion of the detailed features suggests the carving were only a decade or so earlier

Dating back to 2003, an exchange in a Blantyre forum noted they were carved by Bud Hawkins of Strathmore Avenue, Blantyre, but gave the date as the 1970s, which we know to be incorrect, as are dates that suggest the 1700s because of the nearby Blantyre Priory, which daties back the 15th century.

In 2005, a further post attributed the carvings to Tommy Hawkins, so uncertainty remains.

Information received regarding the Blantyre Gazette notes the sandstone carvings were made in the late 1950s or early 1960s, and were the subject of an article in the local paper of the time. There was then an inference that they were of medieval origin, but a follow-up article revealed the truth, and that the ''wear and tear'' and erosion which can now be seen is not natural, but caused by those with nothing better to do with their time.

''See the RCAHMS entry referenced below, dating the carvings c.1956. We've left our original text above, since it suggests our guesstimate based on our old black and white pictures wasn't so far off.''

(:if false:)
Not publically visible, this is the text from the Blantyre Forum, but it makes little sense unfortunately.
I know who done the rock carving . It was Tommy Hawkins he was commisioned by the Queen as the messanger from the Palace was going in the front door Tommy belted out the back door The commision came after the carving got notice in the papers I beleive.Sadly Tommy took to the booze and passed on he was married to my cousin. I can give you a name that will give you all the information if you wish I will ask her can I pass her name on she also has a carving of the kiss made by Tommy and one of the thinker. It was done by a Hawkins but not Bud.Tommy was talanted but wasted with the booze :)Roz
(:ifend:)

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv00.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv00.jpg"Detail of Cross Bearer"]] | Detail of cross bearer[[<<]]circa 1950s
Scanned from a black & white photograph taken when local historians surveyed the carvings in the 1950s, the detail on the face of the cross-bearing figure can be seen to be in sharp relief.

Compare this with the later image shown below, taken in 2006, only some 50+ years later, where the detail of the face is all but lost.

The face of the figure bearing the cross has been largely lost within a period of less than 60 years, indicating the relative softness of stone. While this softness is probably one of the reasons the carvings were made, it also means they will not survive.

!!!!!The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS)
>>font-style=italic class=indent<<
Blantyre Priory\\
Type of Site: Rocks: Sculptured\\
A group of carvings, including the Passion, Crucifixion and Deposition (or Entombment?), have been cut into the rock face below the site of the Priory. These were executed by a local man, c.1956. Other carvings include one of the head of David Livingstone.\\
Information from Mr R J Smith, 1996 (NMRS MS 1771).
>><<
->&copy; [[Main/TermsAndConditions#crownc | Crown Copyright Extract]]

!!!!!As found in 2006
%lframe height=150px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv02.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv02.jpg"Figure Bearing Cross"]] | Figure bearing cross
%lframe height=150px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv01.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv01.jpg"Crucified Figure"]] | Crucified figure
%lframe height=150px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv04.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv04.jpg"Carved Symbols"]] | Carved symbols
%lframe height=150px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv03.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv03.jpg"Reclining Figure"]] | Reclining figure

!!External links

* [[http://lmid1.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.details_gis?inumlink=257549 | RCAHMS entry]]
* [[http://www.blantyre.biz/ | Blantyre web site with much local info]]

!!!Location details/map are not available

[[!Remains]]

Dating back to 2003, an exchange in a Blantyre forum noted they were carved by Bud Hawkins of Strathnore Avenue, Blantyre, but gave the date as the 1970s, which is definitely inaccurate, as are dates that suggest the 1700s, due to the existence of monks and Blantyre Priory (itself dating back the 15th century).

''See the RCAHMS entry referenced below, dating the carvings c.1956. We've left our original text above, since it suggests our guesstimate based on our old black and white pictures wasn't so far off''

%lframe height=150px margin-top=3px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv00.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv00.jpg"Detail of Cross Bearer"]] | Detail of cross bearer[[<<]]circa 1950s
Taken from a black & white photograph taken when local historians surveyed the carvings in the 1950s, the detail on the face of the cross-bearing figure can be seen to be in sharp relief.

[[<<]]
'''As found in 2006'''

(:Discuss:http://secretscotland.org.uk/forum/m-1152205972/:)

A series of '''carvings''', with a religious theme, exist in Blantyre.

''See the RCAHMS entry referenced below, which claims 1956 for the actual carving. We've left our original text above, since it suggest our guesstimate based on our old black and white pictures wasn't so far off''

%lframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv00.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv00.jpg"Detail of Cross Bearer"]] | Detail of cross bearer[[<<]]circa 1950s

Compare this with the later image shown below, taken some 50+ years later, where the detail of the face is all but lost.

!!2006 imagery
The face of the figure bearing the cross shown below has been largely lost over a period of only 50 to 60 years, indicating the relative softness of stone. While this softness is probably one of the reasons the carvings were made, it also means they will not survive.\\\

%lframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv02.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv02.jpg"Figure Bearing Cross"]] | Figure bearing cross

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv01.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv01.jpg"Crucified Figure"]] | Crucified figure

%lframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv04.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv04.jpg"Carved Symbols"]] | Carved symbols

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv03.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv03.jpg"Reclining Figure"]] | Reclining figure

!!!
>>font-style=italic<<
'''The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS)'''\\

&copy; [[Main/TermsAndConditions#crownc | Crown Copyright Extract]]

!Links
* [[http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/ | The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS)]]

!!!Location details/map are not available.

!!!Location details are not available.

Not vsible, this is the text from the Blantyre Forum, but it makes little sense unfortunately.

%lframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv00.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv00.jpg"Detail of Cross Bearer"]] | Detail of cross bearer

%lframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv01.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv01.jpg"Crucified Figure"]] | Crucified figure

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv02.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv02.jpg"Figure Bearing Cross"]] | Figure bearing cross

%lframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv03.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv03.jpg"Reclining Figure"]] | Reclining figure

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv04.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv04.jpg"Carved Symbols"]] | Carved symbols

A series of carvings, with a religious theme, exist in Blantyre.

![[http://www.blantyre.biz/ | Blantyre web site with much local info]]

The only information that has come to light in recent years is the name Bud Hawkins of Blantyre, who may have been responsible for the carvings. The exact date of the carvings is unknown, but black & white pictures dating to late 1950s or 1960s exist, and these show the  carvings in sharp relief, before any significant weathering or erosion had taken place.

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv01.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv01.jpg"Crucified Figure"]] | Crucified figure

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv03.jpg | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv03.jpg"Reclining Figure"]] | Reclining figure

In order to preserve the site, no details are available of the location.

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv01.jpg"Crucified Figure" | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv01.jpg]] | Crucified figure

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv02.jpg"Figure Bearing Cross" | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv02.jpg]] | Figure bearing cross

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv03.jpg"Reclining Figure" | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv03.jpg]] | Reclining figure

%rframe width=200px wikilink% [[http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv04.jpg"Carved Symbols" | http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y235/Section1/swiki/bpcrv04.jpg]] | Carved symbols