24 February 1904 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

Another day like yesterday. Roads better than they have been all winter. Cycled to Hospital, Linglie Mill, Broadmeadows +c. + after lunch had a very tiring ride to Newhouse + (via Ashkirk) Hartwoodmyres.¹ The Woll Road is in an awful state. Felt very fagged when I got home at 6. Got message to see Mrs Dart, Hangingshaw.² Mrs Meek is home. Meek is determined to keep her here for her confinement but I suspect she will get her way.³ Mrs Lang keeping better.⁴ It was snowing slightly as I came back from Hangingshaw.

¹ Dr Muir crossed what is now the A7 from Newhouse to reach Ashkirk where he ascended the long climb over Woll Rig to reach Hartwoodmyres at grid reference NGR NT433,248.

² Christina Dart née Rosie (1857-1928) was the housekeeper at Hangingshaw, Yarrow. Born Canisbay, Caithness, she does not seem to have stayed with the Meek family for long and died in Gloucestershire.

³ John Croil Meek (1847-1914) and Emily Winifred Gough Meek née Bristowe (1882-1953). Mrs Meek got her way and their daughter Margaret Scott Meek was born later in 1904 in Middlesex. The 1901 Census records John Meek’s place of birth as Walkerburn, Peeblesshire but in fact he was born at Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

⁴ Margaret Pattison Lang née Graham (1821-1914), widow of Hugh Morris Lang (1817-1900), banker and landed proprietor, of Largs, Ayrshire and later Broadmeadows, Selkirk. She was a close friend of Dr Muir.