Torwoodlee Fort 1955, Galashiels

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... Read more