Author: rumblingclint

Bright morning: mild: dull in afternoon: very slight drizzle once. We had 5 cases of tonsils + adenoids at the Home + then I motored to Caddonlee (Riddell¹), Caddonfoot (Stenhouse²), Bogle House + Fairnilee. In the afternoon got message to see Linton³, Oakwood + motored there. Made up [time] on David⁴ at Colin’s Bridge. He had Norah⁵ + 2 dogs with him on his way to Deloraine. Sister Waugh + a friend, Miss Sellars came to supper.

¹ Presumably the home of Walter Riddle, oddman, at Caddonlee, Caddonfoot, 1920 Valuation Roll

² Thomas Stenhouse (1865-1929), gardener, and his first wife Christina Boa Stenhouse née Brown (1871-1926) lived at Allanlea, Caddonfoot, Selkirkshire, 1920 Valuation Roll

³ There was a well-known family of Linton at Oakwood, Selkirk at earlier dates but it is not clear where they are by 1920

⁴ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner

⁵ Norah Graham née West (1887-1971)

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

Dull day no sunshine to speak of + just a tendency to rain at night. Had to go down to Mrs Ballantyne¹, Mavisbank + saw 2 or 3 others. Was to have met David [Graham, Co-partner] at Miss Scott’s, Bridgelands at 10.45 but he was called to Mrs Tweddle², Deloraine. I cycled to Miller’s Laundry, Gib. & Lum., Faldonside + Fairnilee. At 6 Mrs Anderson³, Craighill came down with [illegible]. I took her over to Viewfield + under Chlor[oform] cleaned out a lot of rotten molar [?]. Then I dined at Wellwood Elmbank. Erskine⁴ + Vera Brown⁵ there + Barbara + Jack⁶.

¹ James Ballantyne was ‘Tenant Occupier’ of a house at 5a Mavis Bank, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

² Not identified

³ John L Anderson was ‘Inhabitant Occupier, not rated’ of a house at Craighill, Ettrick, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁴ James Erskine Harper (1887-1953), barrister, son of Ebenezer Erskine Harper, sheriff substitute, and Agnes Harper née Watson; at this time he was in the process of divorcing Gladys Gilroy whom he had married 1914 at Liverpool

⁵ Vera Watson Brown (1900-), daughter of William Brown, banker, and Henrietta Brown née Watson

⁶ John ‘Jack’ Roberts, Dr Muir’s son-in-law, and one of his daughters Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts

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

Another fine day but hazy like yesterday. I felt more tired after yesterday’s 68 than I did after 98 on August 23^rd . The climb from Garvald is awful + even going down Whiteadder¹ there was constant up + down. Nevertheless I rode from beyond Newstead to Mauldsheugh without dismounting. Today I saw a dozen r so in town + cycled to Faldonside². It was very pleasant in the garden in the afternoon + at night the moon was brilliant.

¹ Dr Muir had cycled south across the Lammermuir Hills on 23 September and over the Tweed into Northumberland a month earlier

² Dr Muir had been making regular visits to see Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside; she suffered head injuries in a car accident between Gordon Arms and Tushielaw during the summer

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

Splendid day, wind S. Not clear like yesterday.

Breakfasted at 6 + motored to Gala to get the 7.26 for Tynehead¹ whence I cycled to Costerton, Humbie, Long Yester, Danskine, Garvald, Cranshaws, Ellemford², Duns, Greenlaw, Gordon [and] Earlston = 67.5 miles. I made a mistake in going to Upper Keith³ via Costerton + I landed in a muddy unrideable lane + had to walk about a mile mile. From Humbie to Garvald I went by unknown but very interesting roads with some bad hills⁴. Lunched between Newlands⁵ + Garvald. From the latter it is a very trying⁶ road till near Cranshaws⁷. Had tea in a wood overlooking Cumledge⁸. Front tyre punctured near East Morriston⁹. Mended it with the help of Young + Henderson¹⁰. It cost me 50 minutes + I went straight to Mauldsheugh¹¹ to dine. Mrs Mackintosh + Helen who had been in Edin[burgh] went from the station. Had hot bath when I got home at 10.

¹ Tynehead Railway Station served Pathhead, Midlothian in the previous life of the Waverley Line but did not reopen in 2015

² Costerton Mains is at grid reference NGR NT433,626, Humbie NT458,627, Long Yester NT545,652, Danskine NT569,672 Garvald NT589,708 Cranshaws NT690,619 and Ellemford NT727601

³ Upper Keith, on the east edge of Humbie, NT454,626

⁴ Dr Muir has followed the road directly under the edge of the Lammermuir Hills and it is steep in places such as the climb north from Newlands Bridge

⁵ Newlands, grid reference NT569,664

⁶ Dr Muir climbed the steep hill past White Castle Fort NT613,685 to join the upper reaches of the Whiteadder Water

⁷ Dr Muir has cycled through the Lammermuir Hills crossing the 400m contour south of Moss Law

⁸ Cumledge, grid reference NT789,563, just before Dr Muir reached Duns

⁹ East Morriston, grid reference NT609,419, between Gordon and Earlston

¹⁰ Not identified

¹¹ Dr Muir was dining with David Charteris Graham his co-partner at his home Mauldsheugh, Yarrow Terrace, Selkirk (the house name is spelled incorrectly on the Valuation Rolls at this time)

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

Dense fog + hoar frost this morning followed by a magnificent day, very clear. Saw a few town cases + cycled to Yarrowford + Thirladean. Motored with D. [Dr David Graham, co-partner] in afternoon to Faldonside (temp. toward normal twice) + on to St Boswells to Division meeting at which Blair gave report of Representative meeting + Davidson, Kelso read [a] paper on acute appendicitis.

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

Streets + slates wet but there was no rain during the day + a fair amount of sunshine: but a very cold east wind. I saw a doz. town cases + Forest Mill. Motored to Faldonside in afternoon + came back to Railway Hotel under the impression that there was a meeting of the Panel¹ Comm^ttee but I found I had been misled by a old circular of a meeting on July 21^st! Mrs Mackintosh² called to consult me about Erskine³ + his wife. The latter is seeking a separation.

¹ The Medical Panel normally met at The Railway Hotel, St Boswells

² Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk, whose home was known by Dr Muir as ‘the Magic Cave’

³ Mrs Mackintosh’s son James Erskine Harper (1887-1953) had married Gladys Gilroy in 1914 at Liverpool

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

It was fine today + clear + sunny up till 4 when it rained. Coldish W. wind. Met David [David Graham, co-partner] at Clark¹ the dentists + gave him (D.) gas to have 2 teeth removed extracted. His gestures gestures when coming out were most ridiculous! Cycled to Faldonside after making 9 town visits. Got back at 2. Climbed the hill above the saw mill on Faldonside + enjoyed the view. Helen [Muir] had lunch + tea at Elmpark² + went to the Picture House with Mrs Mc. after. That kind lady sent me a lot of the late Mac’s socks³: a bunch of paper + some pears.

¹ Thomas Raeburn ‘T Raeburn’ Clark (c.1880-1943), dental surgeon at 8 The Green, Selkirk, and of Ettrickbridge, 1920 Valuation Roll; married to Isabella Watson, he died, 9 July 1943, aged 63, at 153 Morningside Drive, Edinburgh, usual residence Elburn, Ettrickbridge.

² Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk, whose home was known by Dr Muir as ‘the Magic Cave’ on account, it would seem, of her generosity

³ Agnes Mackintosh’s second husband Andrew Macandrew Mackintosh had died in 1917

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

A very pleasant day with a good deal of sunshine + a slight but sharpish N.W. air. It had rained during the night + the roads were heavy so I motored to Faldonside¹ after seeing half a dozen town cases walking + returned via Kilncroft + Heatherlie. Then I walked to Castle Street + Southport [sic] coming over by reservoir². Went to evening service + saw Mrs Scott’s child³ (Hawthorn Cottage) after. Read for a while in the bower. Jack came up for maps of Cumberland + Lancashire for his father⁴.

¹ Presumably to see Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920), daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside

² There are two reservoirs for Selkirk Town Council waterworks, above Marion Crescent and behind Rosebank Quarry; either way Dr Muir appears to have taken a diversion

³ Assume Jessie Kemp Scott née Colledge and her son Francis Napier Scott (1914-1976), living at Hawthorn Cottage, Dovecot Park, Selkirk [1920 Valuation Roll]

⁴ Sir John Tonkin Roberts (1845-1934), C.M.G., businessman, politician and Mayor of Dunedin was evidently over in the U.K.; born in Selkirk he settled in New Zealand in the late 1860s, married and had a son John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (later Dr Muir’s son-in-law) who travelled the other way and was a businessman and three-times Provost of Selkirk

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

Dull misty morning. Sunny forenoon: heavy rain + hail at 1 – pretty local – Yarrow Show. Helen went with Nancy¹. Tom Alexander² left this morning. David [Graham] had to go last night to Deloraine hope [sic]³ + he went again this morning + on to Borthwickbrae to shoot. I motored to Yarrowford and Faldonside + was in the house in afternoon till 5 when I walked to Smedheugh to find Mrs Dagg⁴ had gone to see me but she never turned up.

¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), two of Dr Muir’s daughters

² Not identified

³ Delorainehope, Kirkhope, grid reference NGR NT341,187

⁴ Elizabeth Malcolm Dagg née Gardiner (1886-1927), whose husband Alexander Dagg (1885-1920), farmer, had died by drowning on 26 July 1920 at the Moss Pond, Smedheugh Farm, Selkirk; she died at Cathcart, Glasgow in 1927

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

Streets wet this morning but kept fair all day. Very cold: fair amount of sunshine. David [Graham] went to Yarrowford in Swift¹ + I took it to Faldonside. Miss Dees² i.s.q.³ Signed lunacy cert. for the woman Turnbull⁴ who has been such a nuisance bawling + preaching in the Market Place. Tom Alexander went up to Thirladean after lunch + Baptie⁵ went for him before dinner. Agnes Farquharson⁶ came to tea. We had a fowl for dinner from the Magic Cave⁷.

¹ The Swift was a car used by the Muir and Graham medical practice

² Phyllis Mary ‘Fiff’ Dees (1899-1920) had suffered a head injury in a car accident 24 August 1920; she was the daughter of Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) and Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson, the new (1920) tenants at Faldonside

³ In Status Quo

⁴ Turnbull x x see diary entry for xxx xxx

⁵ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

⁶ Agnes Farquharson (1865-1946), presumably the same referred to by Dr Muir in a diary entry of 14 February 1918 “We had a gathering here to cake wine & coffee after. Agnes Farquharson was there: It was delightful having all my dear lassies beside me.”

⁷ The Magic Cave was Dr Muir’s name for Elm Park, Selkirk, the home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946) who made regular and generous gifts of food and drink to Dr Muir

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