Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes

Not quite so cold N.W. + S.W. [wind]. Some sun in afternoon. Feeling very dyspeptic + fagged. Cycled to Viewfield, Halliday’s Park, Dunsdale, Hospital + Shawpark.¹ Boylan improving. Was in town all afternoon + took only a cup of Bovril for lunch. Letter from Norman Grieve² in which he says he knows A G Bradley.³ Had a meeting of cyclists on Tennis Lawn where a Committee was appointed to draw up rules. They afterwards met in the dining room.⁴

¹ Shawpark, Selkirk, home of John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer, an acquaintance of Dr Muir who was present when Boylan had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.

² Norman William Grieve who appears to have moved to (or taken an interest in property in) the Selkirkshire and Roxburghshire areas around 1911. It is feasible that he is the Norman William Grieve (about 1852-1936), born Hawick, who worked in tropical agriculture and as the director of public companies (rubber and tea companies according to A Hawick Word Book), he left £308,574.

³ Assume Arthur Granville Bradley (1850-1943), colonial agent and author many books including ‘The Romance of Northumberland’, Methuen and Co., London, 1908.

⁴ The bowling green was adjacent to Dr Muir’s house in Scott’s Place, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Not much wind but N.E. to E. + no sun. Some rain at 7 p.m. Walked to Yarrow Terrace, Dunsdale, Curror Street + Goslaw Green seeing 9 cases. Went to a meeting of Visiting Committee at Hospital about fees for outsiders [and ?] economy in food + gas + man for ground. Then to the annual meeting of the St Andrew Ambulance Association in Town Hall at which were present Chas. Roberts¹, Menzies², Johnston³, Sam Steel⁴, Chalmers⁵ + self. We resolved to get some alterations made on the ambulance.

¹ Assume Charles Henry ‘Charlie’ Roberts (1877-1954), born New Zealand, tweed manufacturer, of Thornfield, 25 Scott’s Place, Selkirk.

² James Morris Menzies (1871-1926), M.B., Ch.M., M.D., medical practitioner, of Ettrick Lodge, Selkirk.

³ Johnston is unidentified.

⁴ Samuel ‘Sam’ Strang Steel (1882-1961), 1st Baronet, M.P., J.P., T.D., Lord Lieutenant of Selkirk 1948-1958.

⁵ Perhaps James George Chalmers (about 1860-1943), solicitor, at Selkirk at least 1903-1942.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Wind N.W. + some sunshine. Some rain up Yarrow about 2. I had just gone to bed at 12 when Dav.¹ rang me up to say they had come for him for Mrs Archie Cockburn², thinking I was still from home.³ However I went down + soon got her over⁴, getting back to bed at 1.40. I saw 1 or 2 town cases + cycled to Yarrow Hall⁵ returning by Dunsdale + Hospital. It rained all the way back from Yarrow Hall to near Selkirk. There was a turnout of 47 cyclists for a run to St Boswells + Leaderfoot.⁶ Nancy⁷ walked to 3 Brethren + Broadmeadows Hill.⁸

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

² Assume May Turnbull Cockburn née Buckham who had married, 12 September 1913 at Selkirk, Archibald Cockburn, woollen millworker (in 1921 described as a woollen drawer working for Edward Gardiner & Co., woollen manufacturers).

³ Dr Muir had got back from his holiday in Northumberland late on 2 June.

⁴ James Cockburn (1923-1982), born 5 June 1923 at 28 Ettrick Road, Selkirk, the son of Archibald Cockburn and May Turnbull Cockburn née Buckham (the parents did not register the birth until 10 December that year).

⁵ The Editor cannot locate Yarrow Hall unless Dr Muir is referring to Yarrow Feus Hall, grid reference NGR NT343,262.

⁶ A cyclists group had been started in Selkirk, see for example see Dr Muir’s diary entries for 14 and 18 May 1923.

⁷ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter.

⁸ The Three Brethren, NT433,319, and what must be Broomy Law, NT414318, or Foulshiels Hill, NT427,302 (no hill named Broadmeadows is evident).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Wind back to N.E. but slight + not so cold. Dull sunless day but no rain. Made 13 town calls walking including Gib. + Lum.¹ + Hospital where 2 fresh cases of Scarlet from the same family have been admitted during my absence.² Dined at Elmpark³ [for] Mrs Mack’s birthday. John⁴ + Charlie Roberts⁵ were there [and] Nancy⁶ + Helen.⁷

¹ Gibson & Lumgair, St Mary’s Mill, Level Crossing Road, Selkirk.

² This is another example of the sporadic outbreaks that had been occurring in Selkirk since the major problem with Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever that occurred during 1921-22.

³ Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946).

⁴ Perhaps this refers to John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner and Provost of Selkirk, and Dr Muir’s son-in-law, though Dr Muir has invariably called him Jack in his diary.

⁵ Assume Charles Henry ‘Charlie’ Roberts (1877-1954), born New Zealand, tweed manufacturer, of Thornfield, 25 Scott’s Place, Selkirk and the brother of Jack Roberts junior.

⁶ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter and Jack Roberts’ wife.

⁷ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Fair in forenoon : some big [?] showers in afternoon. Was not at church. Saw a dozen cases in town motoring. Did some writing + loafing. Jack¹, Nancy², John Roberts³, Barb.⁴ + Mrs Mack⁵ came to supper. Wind slight N.W. Also called for Miss Scott, Bridgelands.⁶

¹ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner and Provost of Selkirk, and Dr Muir’s son-in-law.

² Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter and Jack Roberts’ wife.

³ John ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950), Dr Muir’s grandson.

⁴ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996).

⁵ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

⁶ Assume Agnes Cockburn Scott (1868-1946), recorded living at Bridgelands, Selkirk (1921 Census) with her brother William (1861-1930) and sister-in-law Isabella Scott née Dodds (about 1869-1930). The siblings were the children of John Scott, farm servant, and Agnes Scott née Scott and were both born at Coldstream, Berwickshire. Agnes died 17 April 1946 at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, usual residence Ashton Cottage, Bowden, Roxburghshire at which time she was described as a ‘fundholder’.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Left Chollerford at 9.35 having first dispatched my box to Hawick where Baptie¹ is to call for it. It turned out the finest day since I came on Thursday week. Slight N.E. wind + bright sun. I had a terrible experience at Woodburn² where the wire of the variable gear broke + the pedals wouldn’t revolve. Mercifully a mechanical postman [?] was able to do the repair but the sticking of the cranks I couldn’t understand. Unfortunately the gears didn’t work well + I lost the use of the low gear where I required it next. I got eggs + beer at Horsley³ + tea at Jedburgh. Walked about 30 hills before Elishaw. The repair at Elishaw cost me 1h 15m + lunch probably ¾ + other stops 30 minutes. It was nearly 5 when I reached Carter⁴ but I only took an hour to Jedburgh + 2½ 2 hours home. Mousey⁵ had a nice meal awaiting me + after a hot bath I felt quite fit.⁶

¹ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

² Dr Muir probably had the problem whilst descending the steep hill that is West Woodburn, grid reference NGR NY893,869, before continuing to Elishaw, NY860,952, at the junction with the A68.

³ Horsley, NY845,967, about halfway between Elishaw and Rochester.

⁴ Carter Bar, NT701,068, the Scottish border and the high point of Dr Muir’s journey.

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁶ Remember that Dr Muir is 78 at the time of this particular adventure.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Weather exactly the same + not a ray of sunshine : but there was less of the N.E. wind. Spent the forenoon writing to Patrick¹ + Helen² + after lunch had a delightful run via Wall, Bridgend, Corbridge, where I crossed the Tyne, Dilston, Riding Mill, Bywell (lovely place with old castle + 2 old churches), Aydon Castle, Halton Castle³ + home by the Via Romana.⁴ An old army man + his wife in the hotel were very pleasant. He told me knew Fanny Maxwell Scott.⁵ Began packing for my return home tomorrow.

¹ Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902.

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

³ Wall, NY917,689, Bridge End, NY910,661, Corbridge, NY990,646, Dilston, NY975,633, Riding Mill, NZ018,614, Bywell, NZ048,615, Aydon Castle, NZ001,663, and Halton Castle, NY997,679.

⁴ The Roman Road.

⁵ Fanny Maxwell Scott is unidentified.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Another sunless day + the same N.E. wind. Breakfasted7.45 + left at 8.45 cycling via Warden to the Hexham – Carlisle road : turned to the left before Haydon Bridge + shortly after took a side road by mistake which took me through gates.¹ It cost me fully a mile extra + I missed Langley Castle. At Staward Station² there is the most magnificent view down into the Allen with lovely wooded crags. The colouring of the budding oaks + other trees was surpassing. Very steep descent to Cupola Bridge with 3 hairpin turns.³ Then past Whitfield⁴ + after that a steady pull of 3 or 4 miles to the Cumberland March + down to Alston.⁵ It was fair day + a cattle sale. Got a “ham tea” between 12 + 1 in cosy little parlour + then mounted over [?] Hartside Cross⁶ another four miles steady rise but all rideable. Awfully rough + steep descent to Renwick⁷ (1889 to 740 [feet] in 4½ miles) then a run along the foot of hills through [illegible] villages past Talkin Tarn to Naworth. Then against the wind + many hills to Greenhead (W. & S.), Haltwhistle, Haydon Bridge + here. 77.15 miles. After Hartside X [Cross] splendid views of Lake Mountains : Solway : Criffel, [illegible] + a high hill beyond. Had Dinner + hot bath. Pretty tired.

¹ Presumably Dr Muir has taken the left turn at grid reference NGR NY848,640 going past Threepwood instead of straight on up the A686 past Langley.

² Staward Station, NY806,596.

³ The road travels a series of hairpins as it loses height quite dramatically (perhaps 110m) from Staward Station to reach Cupola Bridge at NY800,591.

⁴ Whitfield, area of NY776,563.

⁵ Alston, NY717,465.

⁶ Hartside Cross viewpoint is at NY646,418.

⁷ From Hartside Cross Dr Muir has dropped westwards off the main road, losing 350 or so metres to reach Renwick at NY597,434 before heading northwards towards Talkin Tarn, NY545,587, Naworth, area of NY559,625, Greenhead, NY659,654, and back to Chollerford along the main roads.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

A sunless day : wind still N. but very slight + consequently it didn’t feel so cold. Wrote Dora¹ : Helen², Andrew Wright³ (whose wife died on Sunday⁴) cycled to Haydon Bridge and Melkridge where I turned N. + came back by Stanegate + Newburgh.⁵ The valley of the S. Tyne is lovely + at one place the display of Myosotis, Endymia + Lychisis was as fine as I ever saw.⁶ By side roads I came to the camp of Vindolanda⁷ + travelled the Roman Road, Stanegate. The number of fine houses is wonderful + I noted where the Allen meets the Tyne.⁸ Got back at 4.20 very early for tea as I had nothing since breakfast. Ordered Hadrian’s Wall by Jessie Mothersole⁹ as a birthday present for Mrs Mack.¹⁰

¹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was living and working in Egypt.

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

³ Assume Andrew Wright, tailor’s cutter, of 6a Clifton Road, Selkirk.

⁴ Isabella Wright née Johnstone (about 1874-1923), died 26 May 1923, aged 49, at 6a Clifton Road, Selkirk. She had been operated upon 5 January 1923, when Dr Graham went to Edinburgh to observe her surgery, and went home on 4 February 1923 when Dr Muir recorded her return from the Edinburgh [Royal?] Infirmary .

⁵ Haydon Bridge, grid reference NGR NY844,647, Melkridge, NY739,639, Stanegate, through NY831,680, and Newbrough, NY874,679.

⁶ Myosotis, flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae, Endymion or Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Lychnis or Lychnis chalcedonica.

⁷ Vindolanda is a Roman auxiliary fort south of Highshield Crags on Hadrian’s Wall, grid reference NY770,663.

⁸ The River Allen, travelling north, debouches into the River Tyne just east of Bardon Mill at NY801,647.

⁹ Hadrian’s Wall by Jessie Mothersole, see Dr Muir’s diary for 27 May 1923.

¹⁰ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

A much nicer day though still N.E. wind. Slight sunshine till 2 o’clock when it clouded over. Left at 9.15 + cycled to Hexham, Allendale Town, Allenhead, St John’s Chapel, Stanhope, Blanchland, Staley, Hexham + home.¹ What a county for hills! Coming out of Stanhope it was like a mile + a half of the Old Bridge Road!² Allendale is beautiful, very wild between Stanhope + Blanchland³ + the road in + out of the latter are precipitous! Got home at 7.50 having run 60.35 miles but it was equal to double that on our side of the border. Got dinner + a hot bath + read in bed.

¹ Dr Muir has run south to Hexham and the Xxx before ascending to Allendale Town, NY838,559, Allenheads, NY860,453, St John’s Chapel, NY884,379, Stanhope, NY992,394, Blanchland, NY965,503, and Slaley, NY977,577.

² Old Bridge Road, Selkirk, the very steep road which drops off Ettrick Terrace immediately opposite Halliday’s Park and hits Dunsdale Road near Forest Mill.

³ Assuming the Dr Muir took the direct route over Edmundbyers Common he was in very open country and skirted the 500 metre contour below Horsehoe Hill.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]