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Selkirk
Selkirk maps
Historic maps of Selkirk and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Selkirk maps
Selkirk photos
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Abbotsford| Galashiels| Darnick
Selkirk area books
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Memories of Selkirk
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Selkirkshire memories
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... Read more
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
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... Read more
Happy Holidays
Spent many, many years visiting grandparents in Caste Craig then in West Mains with my parents John and Pam Watson. My father John was the only child of Hugh and Maggie Watson, whom we went to visit each year. We spent time visiting relatives in Biggar, Largs, Sea Mill, infact we spent time travelling all over the Border area, and always going to Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street. The photograph of the telephone box in Blyth Bridge bought back happy memories of walking down to the phone box with my sister and brother to wait for my parents to phone, (as we travelled up by train in later years, without 'mum and dad') house phones were not around then, going into the village shop to buy sweets and the daily newspaper. Waiting for the local mobile shop to come round on a weekly basis, no grocery shops around.
In later years visiting on my own, taking my grandparents to the Old Mill Restaurant, now not in use, such a shame.
Grandparents
My grandfather, Peter Brown, was born in Coldstream in 1875. His parents, John and Mary Ann Wallace lived in a cottage on the Hirsel estate. Peter was a joiner, as was John. Peter emigrated to New Zealand and was the first person to build a house up one of Wellington's hills. He was allowed to name the street and called it Lennel Road. I am interested in the Lennel Kirkyard in Coldstream, and wonder if John and Ann are buried there.
Born at Cothill Farm And Schooled in Duns
I was born at Cothill Farm in 1947, about 4 miles from Duns. I attended Duns Primary School and Berwickshire High School. My father (James) retired in 1965 when he and my mother located to the west coast to Tighnabruaich, Argyll. My father died in 1981 and my mother in 2009. I emigrated to Canada in 1965 and have lived here since. I have returned many times to Scotland and I always make an effort to re-visit my 'calf country' as my dad called it. It still draws me, the local countryside is truly beautiful. I remember when as a child my sister and I played constantly in the glen on the farm, usually in the burn (Kirk Burn) building dams, swimming in it in the summer and and playing in the bracken etc. We had a very free lifestyle on the farm, I have found it quite interesting when I relate to the farmers of Saskatchewan (I am working in SK) how similar are the thoughts, attitudes and type... Read more
My Year in Chirnside
After leaving school I worked for one year at James Butler Electrical Engineers in Chirnside which I enjoyed. The electrician I enjoyed working with was Barry who taught me so much. I do not remember his surname. After that year I joined the Health Service and trained as a Nurse.
Edward (Eddie)
