Blyth Bridge, Peeblesshire

Torwoodlee Lodge until we emigrated to Canada

I spent many summers at Torwoodlee Lodge with my Nanny (Jessie Scott Stewart) and a great uncle, Robert Brockie. As soon as school was out Mum, one of my brothers and myself would pack and catch the train to Glasgow, another to Edinburgh and finally board the bus headed for Galashiels. We'd get off at Torwoodlee Lodge which was within walking distance of Galashiels. What great times we had there. No running water, no flush toilets, and no electricity.  Cooking was done on the fire and baking in the oven above. The best scones ever came out of that oven and the rabbit stew and roasted potatoes never tasted better. But somehow this was never a hardship. Washing clothes in the wash house, filling the tub with water and starting a fire under it to heat the water to do the wash. Collecting pails of water from the well. Chopping wood, stacking it; skinning rabbits; collecting hazelnuts; picking wild strawberries, raspberies and goosberries along the wayside as we went for an eveing stroll.  We'd go for walks to the Barr Farm and visit the pig stys always lots of piglets.  We'd also buy cream from the farm. We'd have a weekly visit from the Bakery Van - Dalgleish I believe, I can still conjure up the smell of all the goodies.  Nanny would buy bread and treat us to a cake or tart. I recall watching the braw lads and lassies on their horses passing by our front door. What a sight it was. I often would go with Uncle Bob to tend the sheep that were is his care on the Pringle Estate. We visited the groundsman and his family at the Torwoodlee Golf Course. There were a few beehives across the burn, so when we saw the smoke we'd scurry over and chew some honeycomb.  
We'd catch the bus to Galashiels or if Nanny felt like it we would walk to town, and pass by the mill with that strong smell of wet wool or dye, I am not really sure but the odour was distinct. Nanny had a few acquaintances along the way and we'd stop in for a quick visit. I always remember having my first taste of coffee - Camp coffee with milk and brown sugar and petit fours ... man, life was SO good. There was a cafe opposite the bus terminal and that was where we'd stop for coffee. What memories.
I have lived in Canada since 1956. My plan is to visit in 2010, God willing.

A London Evacuee's Memories of Midlem.

I was evacuated from London before the German bombs started falling. I think it was in 1939 or 1940 that I arrived at The Manse. I was evacuated to Midlem, Selkikshire TD7 4QE modern postcode, on the Scottish Borders. The address was:-
The Manse
Russell Place
Midlem
SELKIRK
TD7 4

I think that "Russell Place" and the modern postal code are correct.

The Manse was (is) in fact a large 'stand alone' house, situated in quite large grounds, and was occupied by the Hunter family. The Hunter family were: Jack  and his wife May, and their three sons Billy, Jim and John. Annie was the maid. John and I were the same age. Billy and Jim were older. They had a dog called Tinker and pet rabbits. Jack, I believe had a high powered job in the police force. He frequently had to travel to Edinburgh.

I believe that the maid, Annie and Mrs Hunter (May) did not 'love' me - poor poor me! I remember once that I was quarantined in a bullying fashion. I suppose that I had some kind of contagious illness. During my quarantine, I once caused the paraffin lamp to go out and this caused May and Annie to give me a terrible bollocking. On another occasion, I accidentally knocked over a box which John was constructing with hammer and nails in the kitchen doorway. He absolutely lost his temper and struck me over the head with the hammer, causing me to bleed profusely. Annie, the maid quickly arrived. She treated my injury but showed absolutely no concern for my plight. John was her favourite.

Billy and Jim attended school in Selkirk. They had to get there by bicycle. John and I attended the primary school opposite The Manse. Later, we attended a school in Lilliesleaf, which was a car's journey away.

During the hours of darkness, the house, like all of the other houses in the village, had to be blacked out. No light was permitted to show. Sometimes the village policeman would come to the front door to inform the household about a chink of light showing.

We often would see military vehicles trundling through the village.

The house boasted one of those old fashioned iron ovens and hobs with swivelling platforms to place hot pots on. I cannot remember there being any electricity. Lighting was by paraffin and candles. There were pullcords in each of the rooms which were set up to a indicator board in the kitchen, in order to attract the maid's attention. The radio was battery driven. I cannot recall having a telephone.

I remember that Mrs Hunter (May) used to go to a the nearby towns of Hawick and Selkirk to help prepare food parcels for British prisoners in German POW camps. The whole household used to be glued to the radio during news bulletens.

I can only remember one or two surnames from that time:-

Begbie.
Young - farmer who lived opposite "The Manse".
Riley, Mrs -  who taught in the local school.

In 1944 (I was aged 8 and a half) and after the 'invasion' scare was over, the Hunter family moved to Edinburgh. I accompanied them and lived with them in Edinburgh for a few months.

I was in Edinburgh in November 2007 and decided to visit Midlem some 63 years later, expecting it to be vastly different. I could not have been more surprised. It was almost as I had remembered it. The village smithy was still there but not in use. Outside of the smithy was a steel cartwheel tyre and a number of rusty horseshoes, one of which I 'stole' and later refurbished.
However, I did notice that opposite the smithy a new street called Castle Terrace. It seemed rather misplaced.
My goodness! The smithy was always busy and there was always a goup of kids watching the goings-on of the blacksmith - forging horseshoes and 'shrinking' metal tyres onto the cartwheels and the like.

I did not see a single soul in the village. It seemed deserted. Perhaps they were observing me and my partner from behind their curtains. I tentatively entered the grounds of the Manse, but unfortunately, no one was at home.

I hope to make another visit and next time I shall perhaps knock on a few more doors.

Incidently, a very good picture of Midlem in 1938 can be found here :-

http://flickr.com/photos/williamlaidlaw/19810764/sizes/o/

A lovely and historical summer.

My wife and I spent two months living in Melrose the summer of 2001. It was our home base as we travelled throughout the borders and the rest of Scotland. We chose Melrose for it's charm and convenience and rented Bow Cottage off Abbey Street, from Louise Buchanan, Jimmy Johnston's daughter. The cottage was perfect. My paternal side of the family is from the Borders and lived in many villages in Roxburghshire and Berwickshire. My GGG grandparents George Short and Janet Scott were married in Melrose in 1805 and she is buried in Gordon in St. Michael's churchyard. She passed away in 1825 and the headstone is still intact. George Short was the Miller at Stitchell Mill for many years. My Great grandfather John Hope Short was born in Eccles in 1844 and immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1860's. It was a wonderfull experience to spend time seeing all of the family's old homes and villages from the past and then to also enjoy the present and the people who now live there. If all Postmasters were as cordial and efficient as your postmaster John Collins, the world would certainly be a far better place.
We returned for a visit this past October (2007)for a fortnight and stayed with friends in Ancrum and also visited back and forth with a cousin who lives in North Berwick. We were able to visit Melrose several times and enjoy some meals at Burt's. The time past to quickly. A part of my heart will always remain in Melrose and I hope that I am fortunate enough to return again.
Al Short, Bainbridge Is., Washington State, USA