Torrance
—
Hand made Quilt, Torrance - Clara Gillespie
—
1950
One of a number of beautiful Torrance Girl Guide related objects brought to Trails & Tales, in this case, a gift to Clara Gillespie, one of the 'Rangers'. It was a tradition set up by Miss Pirie - the much loved 'Captain' - that when any girl in the company was married, the other members of the group would make a hand made gift. In this case a beautiful patchwork quilt. Made from fragments of blouses and aprons, and other clothing no longer used. Miss Pirie worked to bring all the elements of the collaboration together, with added crocheting, backing and finishing work to form the finished piece. The word 'Captain' is clearly visible in the embroidery, along with the names of all the girls who contributed, including 'Clara' herself. The quilt was 60 years old on the 1st September 2016. Shena Pirie was the daughter of the artist Sir George Pirie and she lived in Wardend, Torrance - her memory and presence in the Torrance community extends beyond Guiding and she is warmly remembered by many. The Torrance Girl Guide log books have been accessioned into the Archive of East Dunbartonshire and offer amazing insight to the changing times and community of Torrance and the wider areas that the Guides explored.
Maker/Manufacturer: Torrance Rangers
Location of Origin: Torrance
Location Now: Torrance
Date: 1950
Size/Dimensions: 8' by 6'
Materials: Fabric, recycled material
Locations:
Torrance Church Comfort Funds Poster
—
1945
The poster belonged to and was most likely made by Mr Julius Cook a resident of Torrance. Born in 1892 he lived in Torrance all of his life. Mr Cook was also the photographer behind a number of local Torrance photographs now in local studies, which document many local people, places and events. He also used to write reports about the village for the Kirkintilloch Herald, again related to what was happening in the village. He was involved in the Comforts Fund along with a number of other residents, including the school headmaster and minister amongst others. This group was instigated during the war years by the famous Torrance resident, Miss Shena Pirie. She served as a nurse during the war and encouraged the Comforts Fund group to raise monies to allow packages to be sent to the troops, and also to allow homecoming events and parties which would celebrate the return of people to the village and also provide them with a blanket and £5.00. The poster was brought to the timeline by Alison Graham, Torrance, who was passed the poster by Mr Julius's family.
Location of Origin: Torrance
Location Now: Torrance
Date: 1945
Materials: Paper/Poster
Links:
Locations:
Composite drawing of dog heads (foxhound) by Sir George Pirie
—
1863 – 1946
George Pirie was born at Campbeltown in 1863. He studied at Glasgow University, the Glasgow School of Art, the Slade School, and the Academie Julian in Paris. He moved to Wardend, Torrance in 1901, where he had a large studio.
Pirie is distinct from othert artists of the Glasgow School, with the exception of Joseph Crawhall, in that the majority of his paintings are of animals (an Animalière).
He became a member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1923, and was elected President in 1933. In recognition of his artistic achievement he received a Knighthood in 1937. He died at Wardend in 1946.
Bryce B Morrison
—
1890s
On the back of this photo from the Morrison Family collection is written the caption "well dressed young local man of the 1890s – Bryce B Morrison".
The Morrison Family of Torrance collection includes family documents, photos and presscuttings mostly relating to J Morrison JP and precentor (someone who leads the worship) of Baldernock Free Church.
Torrance Station
—
c 1900
Torrance Station lay on the Kelvin Valley Railway which was opened in 1878. It became part of the North British Railway in 1885. The line carried both passengers and freight. It closed in 1966, and parts of the old line are now a walking trail. The route ran from Kilsyth, through Twechar, Torrance, Balmore, Bardowie, Summerston, and on to Maryhill.
Toll Road, Torrance
—
c 1910
The signpost in this photograph points to the road to Balmore and Milngavie. In the background to the right is the Wheatsheaf Inn, still open in Torrance today.
Macfarlane's Castings catalogue
—
c 1910
This is the 7th Edition Volume 1 trade catalogue of Macfarlane & Co, also known as the Saracen Foundry. The business was founded by Walter Macfarlane (1817-1885) who was born in Torrance.
Remembrance card
—
1918
The inside of the card reads:
In Loving Remembrance of our dear brother Duncan Miller Morrison, 6th Seaforth Highlanders, who was killed in action in France on Friday 22 March 1918 aged 20 years.
"Until the day break and the shadows flee away."
The card with the lock of blonde hair enclosed, was discovered by a family in Canada. They believe Duncan must have meant something to someone in their family although they are not sure who. The card and keepsake are now safely preserved in the Archives.
Torrance school class photo
—
c 1920
This photograph from the Lilias Morrison papers shows the girls' cookery class and the boys' gardening class with Miss Shaw the cookery teacher. The names of the pupils are: Back row - Andrew McNicol, Robert Jackson, Andrew Mitchell, Andrew Moodie, John Ferns. Second row - Mary Marshall, Mary McNiven, Lizzie Laird, Greta Craig, Betty Jackson. Front row - Agnes Kelly, Lizzie Cameron, Nancy Greenlaw, Lizzie McLeod, Lily Morrison.
Campsie Road Torrance
—
1920
This photograph shows Campsie Road looking west. On the left of the photograph just past the horse and cart is the Caldwell Halls, now in community ownership and operating as the Caldwell Halls Trust.
Location of Origin: Torrance
Location Now: East Dunbartonshire Archives, William Patrick Library, Kirkintilloch G66 1AD
Date: 1920
Archive Reference Number: GD180/16
Links:
Locations:
Torrance Girl Guides log book
—
1924
Torrance Girl Guides were founded in 1924 and are still running today. Their log books provide an interesting written and visual account of Torrance Guides, as recorded by their founder 'Captain' Miss Sheena Pirie of Wardend, Torrance. There are twelve volumes in total. The log books contain writing, photographs, postcards and drawing relating to Torrance Guides events, outings and activities. They are a reflection of Miss Pirie's remarkable contribution to the Guides and the community. She held practically all of the offices open to a Guide leader and served for over 40 years. Daughter of well-known Scottish artist and president of the RSA, Sir George Pirie, she clearly inherited some of her father's creative talent, evident in the illustrations in the log book margins. Miss Pirie’s entries are accompanied by the date, a description of the weather and an illustration.
Campsie Show poster
—
1987
This poster comes from the Campsie, Strathblane and Baldernock Agricultural Society collection. The purpose of the Society is to promote agriculture in the community. This includes a popular annual one day show on the first Saturday in June every year at Bogside Farm, Torrance.
Maker/Manufacturer: Campsie, Strathblane and Baldernock Agricultural Society
Location of Origin: Torrance
Location Now: East Dunbartonshire Archives, William Patrick Library, Kirkintilloch G66 1AD
Date: 1987
Archive Reference Number: GD204
Links:
Locations:
Torrance Girl Guides Objects and Banners
—
1930
Brought to Trails and Tales as part of the Torrance Girl Guide celebrations of their 90th anniversary. Trails and Tales had worked with the Torrance Girl Guides to explore the history of their much loved Captain, Shena Pirie. Artworks produced by the Guides were on show, as well as an array of Miss Pirie related objects – many that had been given as gifts by Miss Pirie to many people there on the day and others that had been kept safe by the Guides over many years. These included original embroidered banners and flags, representing the Robins and the Nightingales, two of the Torrance patrols, as well as hand stitched quilts, early uniforms, badges, books and the many gifts given to individuals in the Torrance community from Miss Pirie herself. T&T worked with the Torrance community exploring women's histories and digitised the many company log books from Shena Pirie's time as Guide leader - now accessioned into the EDLC Archives.
Maker/Manufacturer: Torrance Girl Guides
Location of Origin: Torrance
Location Now: Torrance
Date: 1930
Materials: Cotton
Locations:
...