A fascinating journey through postal history

Local history enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy seeing a fantastic collection of old postcards from the area in a newly published book by a local man.
Jimmy Crawford with his new book of old postcards.Jimmy Crawford with his new book of old postcards.
Jimmy Crawford with his new book of old postcards.

Jimmy Crawford (75), from Milngavie, has devoted the last 40 years to collecting old postcards with pictures of places in Milngavie and the surrounding area on the front of them.

Twenty years ago he published a book which features his collection of postcards of Milngavie and now he’s put together a new book of postcards which depict the surrounding areas of Old Mugdock, Balmore, Baldernock and Bardowie.

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Jimmy’s love of collecting began with stamps 65 years ago and he says he accidentally ‘fell into’ collecting postcards years later.

Craigallion HouseCraigallion House
Craigallion House

It all started when a member of the stamp club sent him a bundle of postcards of Milngavie because Jimmy was initially just interested in the postmarks.

However, when he saw the pictures on the front he loved them and realised they were a wonderful record of the history of the area.

The cards he’d been given had been sent by a young lady who had gone into service at a doctor’s surgery in Milngavie in 1907 to her parents in Larkhall and they spanned another six years.

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In preparation for her return home she asks her parents to arrange for John the carter to meet her at the train station because she’s collected so much stuff during her time in Milngavie.

Swimming pool created by the Carbeth HuttersSwimming pool created by the Carbeth Hutters
Swimming pool created by the Carbeth Hutters

Jimmy said: “The postcards were a fantastic social history and family archive with lots of little comments about Milngavie.”

Jimmy’s got over a thousand cards in his collection now . The book cost £10 and is available from Mugdock Country Park’s gift shop, Besotted, Elba Artisan Gallery and Baxters newsagent - all in Milngavie.