5 July 1920 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

Left Buttermere at 9 in their Ford taking some other people’s luggage for whom the car was to return. Nancy + Timmy¹ went as far as the end of Whitehaven road + intended walking back to Loweswater. I had about an hour to wait at Cockermouth + took a walk round. Got a “Scotsman”. When we left Cockermouth at 10.30 we went as I thought away from Carlisle² and so we did till we came to Brigham, where the engine took the other end of the train + we turned back to Rosegill where we found the main Carlisle to Maryport railway. I had more than an hour to wait in Carlisle + got to Hawick at 2.38. Baptie³ met me with Swift⁴ + I got home to tea about 3.30. There was a great accumulation of correspondence + accounts which I tackled + a good many people were in at night. David⁵ has had a pretty busy time. Jack⁶ looked in + took Mousey⁷ to the Pictures.

¹ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005), Dr Muir’s grandson

² The old L&NWR Cockermouth and Workington line headed westwards from Cockermouth following the River Derwent; Dr Muir’s train has turned back, presumably at or near Brigham Station, joined the Maryport & Carlisle Railway, Derwent Branch at Brigham Junction, crossed the River Derwent immediately, and eventually joined the Maryport & Carlisle Railway at a junction in a loop of the River Ellen east of Rosegill [Roseghyll] Colliery (grid reference NGR NY088,381) [Sources: Ordnance Survey Six Inch Cumberland Sheets LIV.NE (Cockermouth – Brigham Junction – Derwent Branch), LIV.NW (Brigham Station) and XLV.NE (Maryport & Carlisle Railway and Derwent Branch junction), all published 1900]

³ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

⁴ The Muir and Graham medical practice’s car; the Swift Motor Co. made Swift Cars in Coventry, England from 1900 to 1931 Swift Motor Co.

⁵ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁶ John Roberts junior ‘Jack’ (1876-1966), mill owner and three times Provost of Selkirk, Dr Muir’s son-in-law

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]