30 May 1923 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

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]