60 Trinity Church - by Crawford Fulton
This photo was taken by George McMaster. A view of the western 'face' of the ancient Burgh, taken from Fullarton Street at the end of the 60s/beginning of the 70s. All three villas in this photo were demolished shown depicted in this image (centre and right) were demolished shortly after this shot was taken. Two of the town's three major skyline features can be seen here: the steeple of the Town House (1862) on the extreme right, and Trinity Church (1862-96) just to the left of centre. On the extreme left of this image is the western end of Bridgegate (all of these properties met a similar fate to that suffered by the villas, within a few years of this date).
Bridgegate (circa 1971) - by Crawford Fulton
This image is taken from George McMaster's Collection. You can clearly see that businesses are starting to relocate in readiness for the demolition of the north side of the street. My thanks go to William Strannigan for these comments: '(this) photo contains, in the centre, a cafe owned by Joe Bramanti , run by a Benedetti who's brother I think was Giovanni Benedetti , who's became a millionaire from industrial cleaning clothes, and industrial rags. His daughter is the famous renowned violinist Niccola Benedetti . I spent a lot of time in that cafe, it was across the road from my grandfathers other bakery shop , J.Short and Sons.'
I. like many Irvinites, had a deep love of the mutton pies which you could buy, piping hot, in Short's bakery.
