Blackfriars Street

Blackfriars Street was orginally known as Blackfriars Wynd and Preaching Friar's Vennel after the Dominican Monastery.  It was widened after the City Improvement Act of 1867 by demolishing the eastern side and building new tenement housing in the 1870s.

George MacKay's Bowling Green Maker shop operated on this site from 1808 for 200 years.  The building is on the site of Cardinal Beaton's 'palace'.  He was the Archbishop of Glasgow from 1509 - 1522.  

My nana was born at 45 Blackfriars Street in 1910.  The great and the good had long since moved to the New Town by then.