Transcripts and notes on 20th Century Scottish history
Author: rumblingclint
Archivist, interests include Dr John Stewart Muir 1845-1938) of Selkirk, general practitioner, and Seton Paul Gordon (1886–1977), naturalist, author and photographer
Dull mild damp sunless S.W. Feeling better today. Cycled to Forest Road, Ettrickbank Mill, Dunsdale + Curror Street. Made out accounts in afternoon. Got Lilliesleaf, Yarrow + Ettrick P.C. [parish council ?] screws [sic]. Helen1 went to the Picture House with Matron Waugh.2
1 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
2 Nurse, more correctly Matron Waugh was Marion Gentleman Waugh (1877-), born Craigbank, Slamannan, Stirlingshire, the daughter of Allan Waugh, seed merchant, and Christina – sometimes Christian – Turnbull Waugh née Dodds, married 1872 at Muiravonside. Matron Waugh and her mother were recorded at Viewfield Nursing Home, Selkirk in the 1921 Census.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
Mild. dry. S.W. Sunny in forenoon. dull after. Walked to Dunsdale +c. Was kept at Viewfield (Mrs N Wood1) too late to get to Communion so walked to Shawpark.2 Was not out again till evening service. A Mr Baird preaching!3 Supped at Wellwood.4 Felt my indigestion so after getting home with Nancy5 I walked up the Loan + beyond Smedheugh to try + work it off.6
1 Assume Jane Wood née Thwaits (1887-1952) who had married Newton Wimpenny Wood (1885-1963), millworker, in 1911 at Selkirk [1911, 778/ 4, Selkirk].
A lovely cloudless calm day like the day four years ago – Armistice Day.1 Paid my Feu Duty + fire Insurances. Strange to say I have got none of the Parochial + other salaries due at this date. Nor has David2 given me the Viewfield rent.3 I went up to Innerleithen to the opening of a new Hall – a War Memorial4 – on the invitation of Prov. Mathieson.5 I was introduced to MacDougall of Raeside6 + some other people. I was on the platform. The Hall was declared open by Sir H Ballantyne7 whose uncle has given the site.8 There was a programme of singing + speeches. Helen9 motored to the meet at Riddell10 with Nancy and Barbara.11
1 Armistice day “News that the armistice between the allies and Germany had been signed at 5 O’clock this morning was received here about 11 & there was great rejoicing. The church bells rang. Flags appeared as if by magic at windows & in the streets. The mills closed and everybody congratulated everybody as if in harmony with the glad tidings. The sun shone ? in an unclouded sky , after a sharp frost. There were services in all the churches at 3. Dav., Jean, Helen & I shared a pint of fizz. D. & I made 40 town calls. I did Sunderland Hall & in the afternoon Dav. went to Ettrick Shaws and Shaws. I am thankful I have been spared to see this glorious day.” [Dr Muir’s diary for 11 November 1918, Scottish Borders Archives SBA/657/21].
2 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
3 Dr Muir purchased Viewfield for £1800 plus £54 9 0 of expenses paid also for Duty etc. on 11 November 1919 with the intention of renting it to the new Muir and Graham medical co-partnership [see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 11 November 1919.
4 The Memorial Hall was built in 1922. A Roll of Honour on the auditorium wall commemorates everyone from Innerleithen Parish who served in some capacity during World War I. In 1919, Henry Ballantyne, the managing director at Waverley Mill, purchased the adjoining house (Home Villa) and donated the building and grounds to the burgh for council use. Funds were raised locally by public subscription to pay for the building of the hall [Past Innerleithen ‘Memorial Hall’].
5 Provost Mathieson is Robert Mathieson (1861-1941), druggist and Provost of Innerleithen for forty years [for full details see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 4 November 1922].
6 MacDougall is not yet identified.
7 Sir Henry Ballantyne (about 1855-1941), tweed manufacturer and sometime Provost of Peebles, son of David Ballantyne (1825-1912).
8 Henry Ballantyne (1842–1928), manufacturer, of Tweedvale House, Walkerburn.
9 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
10 Riddell, Lilliesleaf.
11 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter, and Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996).
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
Everything was very wet this morning but it was fair all day + beautifully mild. David2 had 2 operations ([illegible] Miss Watson3 + fat Mrs Ray4) which took from 11 till 2. There were no messages + I spent the afternoon concocting some remarks for tonight. I took the place of Prov. Crichton5 at a concert to raise funds for a club. for ex-soldiers.6 I had to introduce Lord Dalkeith7 who was there with his wife The Duchess + a party from Bowhill : the Scott Plummets8 were present. Every item on the 2nd half of the programme was encored!
1 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter, had stayed at Thorncroft while her husband John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966) was away in London, see Dr Muir’s diary for 2 November 1922.
2 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
3 Miss Watson is so far unidentified.
4 Mrs Ray (possibly Roy) is so far unidentified.
5 Prov. Crichton is Baillie William Crichton (about 1854-1934), printer and publisher.
6 Selkirk Ex-Soldiers Association advertised an Armistice Concert, chairman the Earl of Dalkeith, in aid of a fund for a club for Selkirk ex-Servicemen [Southern Reporter, 2 November 1922].
7 Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott (1894-1973), 8th Duke of Buccleuch, succeeded 19 October 1935, the eldest son and heir to the Buccleuch dukedom and known at this time as Lord Dalkeith; he had married, 21 April 1921, Vreda Esther Mary ‘Molly’ Lascelles (1900-1993), later the Duchess of Buccleuch.
8 Assume Charles Henry Scott Plummer (1859-1948), of Middlestead and Sunderland Hall, J.P.; Lord-Lieutenant of Selkirk, and his wife Muriel Grace Plummer née Johnstone-Douglas (1874-1961).
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
Having to go to see Tom Stenhouse, Caddonfoot.1 I cycled round by Dunsdale + Cannon Street + from Caddonfoot to Clovenfords, Blackhaugh, Ferniehirst, Stagehall, Stow, Lauder, Leaderfoot + Gattonside.2 It was a nice calm day + sunny in forenoon: dull after + raining at night. The run was a little over 40 miles + I had not been between Blackhaugh + Ferniehirst, nor from Stow to Lauder for many years.3 The roads were very heavy in places. I saw snow on Windlestraw Law.4
1 Thomas Stenhouse (about 1865-1929), gardener, living with his first wife Christina Boa Stenhouse née Brown (1871-1926) at Allanlea, Caddonfoot, Selkirkshire [1920 Valuation Roll].
Nice mild day + sunny till afternoon. Raining at night. David1 was shooting at Fairnilee. I cycled to Hospital, Dunsdale, Heather Mill, Harewoodglen (where I had a long crack with May Lang2), Broadmeadows Cottage (John Scott whose wife recognised me, she being a Hawkins3 once at Hermiston4), Fauldshope + over the hill to Dryden. = 22.45. I made it 4.8 from Huntly to Ashkirk.5
1 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
2 Margaret Graham ‘May’ Lang (1861-1958), daughter of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham; born Largs, Ayrshire, died Selkirk; a cyclist [see diary entry 13 May 1916], Miss Lang was Tenant Occupier of the mansion house, stable and grounds at Harewoodglen, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/326, Selkirk County, page 326 of 611].
3 John Brown, known as Scott (about 1877-1923), ploughman, had married Maggie Elizabeth Hawkins (1878-1933) on 10 June 1904 at the Manse, Lilliesleaf.
5 The Editor assumes that Dr Muir is referring to Inner Huntly, grid reference NT415,248, the point at which, after leaving Fauldshope, he would have turned left and climbed steeply past Hartwoodmyres and along the Cross Borders Drove Road and Woll Rig before dropping to Ashkirk.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
A better day + no rain. Sunny up till mid afternoon + quite mild. David1 was to have had several operations but 2 of them had to be deferred. He opened a cervical abscess in Muriel Yellowlees2 + took out a tonsil for Isa Beattie.3 Nancy4 + I had a nice walk to Gala Rigg, Greenhill + back through Haining.5 Helen6 cycled to Gilmanscleuch.7
1 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
2 Assume Muriel Yellowlees (1913-2010), born 29 May 1913 at Whinfield, Selkirk, the daughter of Alfred George Yellowlees, timber merchant, and Helen Violet Yellowlees née Dunn who had married 5 June 1907 at Selkirk.
3 If the reading of Beattie is correct then, even assuming this refers to a younger person, there are two Isabella Beattie children recorded in the 1911 Census.
4 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.
5 Dr Muir and Nancy walked to Gala Rigg, ESE of Selkirk then southwards to Greenhill, area of grid reference NGR NT484,253 and back to Haining and Selkirk, probably via Braw Gates (the Braw Yett), NT479,261 and across the Hartwoodburn Road at NT474,268.
6 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
7 Helen could be visiting a number of different households at Gilmanscleuch, Kirkhope. but the likeliest are the Linton family or Miss Lizzie Elliot, teacher and Tenant Occupier of the Schoolhouse and Garden [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/374, Selkirk County, page 374 of 611].
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
Drizzling nearly all day and very wet at night. Saw a few town cases + gave Chlor[oform] to Miss [illegible]1 for an operation on her toe + to Thos. Murray2 for a laparotomy which revealed – poor chap – a Fibro Sarcoma of liver.3 Spent the afternoon mostly in concocting remarks for the toast of “Our Noble Selves”4 which I gave at the Greetin’ Supper5 in the Railway Hotel.6 It passed off very well + in the usual way.7 I recited ‘Kirkbride’8 + told the Sir [illegible] Lawson story.9 Walked home with Baillie Dodds.10
1 The Editor would be pleased to have suggestions as to the name here.
2 Thomas Murray (1866-1922), woollen pattern weaver, of 3 Tower Terrace, Selkirk, died December 1922, at 26 Hillside Terrace, Selkirk, the home of John Murray, cycle engineer; Thomas was the son of John Murray, millwright, later engineer, and Barbara Murray nee Inglis, married 1865, Selkirk. aged 56, of Fibro Sarcoma of liver 2 months as certified by John S Muir [1922 Statutory registers Deaths 778/ 88]. In 1911 he was head of household at 3 Tower Terrace, Selkirk with his mother aet 70 and sisters Lizzie 40 and Maggie 30.
3 A rare sarcoma of high malignancy and poor prognosis.
4 Our Noble Selves is quoted frequently, including in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, but the Editor cannot identify Dr Muir’s source.
5 The greetin’ supper’, described in the Southern Reporter as “The Provost’s Supper Party”, is given by the Lord Provost to the Council (an event at which Dr Muir arrived egregiously late the previous year through his misreading of the time of the dinner, see his diary entry for 31 October 1921).
6 By Railway Hotel Dr Muir is referring to the Station Hotel, Station Road, Selkirk, Canmore ID 100365 and grid reference NGR NT46663,28769 (still standing).
7 Provost Crichton presided with Walter Ingles as croupier and a variety of toasts were given “interspersed with songs and recitations” by Baillie Findlay, Councillors Park, Bell, Brownlee, Dodds, Munro, Smith and Snowden, Mr T Beattie, Burgh Surveyor, Mr Brydon, Librarian, W D Connochie, Veterinary Inspector and Dr Muir. Mr Brydone was the accompanist.
8 Assume Kirkbride (“Bury me in Kirkbride, | Where the Lord’s redeemed anes lie; | The auld kirkyaird on the grey hillside, | Under the open sky … ”) from Robert Reid ‘Rob Wanlock’ (1850-1922) ‘Poems, Songs, and Sonnets’, Alexander Gardner, Paisley, 1894.
9 Lawson is not yet identified and the Southern Reporter does not record the individual performances but the Editor wonders if this reads Wilfrid and thus refers to Sir Wilfrid Lawson (1829-1906), 2nd Baronet, English temperance campaigner and radical, anti-imperialist Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1859 and 1906 and was “a wise and witty orator: a valiant and far-seeing reformer” [his memorial, Victoria Embankment Garden, WC2].
10 Baillie Dodds of Selkirk is so far unidentified.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
Heavy hoar frost almost like snow which soon disappeared. The wind was S.W. + it was hardly so cold. It rained gently from about 2 o’clock. I walked before church to Kirkwynd, Dunsdale + Backfeus. Went to morning service + after saw 2 [patients]. Had to [go] over to Home after lunch to “do” Peter1. Nancy2 + Helen3 motored to Moffat to see Tim4.
1 Peter Allan [sic], evidently a charge of Dora’s, is Peter Muir Spurgeon Allen (1914-2005), who was at Thorncroft, Selkirk, aged 7, in the 1921 Census [taken 19 June 1921], born 4 June 1914, Chorlton [Lancashire], the son of the Reverend Willoughby Charles Allen and Catherine Ellen Allen née Green; a head teacher (retired), he died 16 February 2005 at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, usual residence Hope Cottage, Stenton, Dunbar, East Lothian.
2 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.
3 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
4 George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005), Dr Muir’s grandson, later a mill owner, was at school at Moffat.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
Clear frosty day + quite dry N.W. sharp wind. Saw a town list of 7 walking. Helen1 had letter from Mrs Mack2 who is living in the Central Station Hotel3 with a crowd of politicians.4 Nancy5 + Helen walked to Bluecairn.6 I wrote Guy7, Mary8, Miss Taylor (formerly Mount Benger + now Tongland9) + accepted invitation from Prov. Mathieson10 to opening of War Memorial Hall at Innerleithen.11
1 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
2 Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.
3 It is not clear why Mrs Mackintosh would have been staying at the Central Station Hotel unless it was to support her son Erskine Harper (1887-1953) who was chosen as the National Liberal candidate for the Gorbals Division of Glasgow.
4 The Poll held on Wednesday 15 November 1922 elected George Buchanan (Labour) with 16,478 votes (54.5%), with James Erskine Harper (National Liberal) second with 8,276 (27.4%) and John Maclean (Independent Communist) third with 4,027 (13.3%).
5 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.
6 Bluecairn, Bowhill, Selkirk.
7 The Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother.
8 Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-1933), one of Dr Muir’s sisters.
9 Miss Jessie Taylor (fl.1921), teacher, of Mountbenger School, Yarrow, and tenant at the schoolhouse, Mountbenger, 1921 and later at Tongland, Kirkcudbright [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/340, Selkirk County, page 340 of 611].
10 Probably Robert Mathieson (1861-1941), druggist and Provost of Innerleithen for forty years, born New Machar, Aberdeenshire, he had two shops, at High Street and Waverley Road, an aerated water factory at Chapel Street and a house and garden St Serf’s, 2 Buccleuch Street, all Innerleithen; however though he may have been an antiquarian of sorts he was not related to and should not, as Ted McKie notes, be confused with, Robert Mathison (1832-1891), master builder, antiquarian and builder of The Glen [sources: 1921 Valuation Roll, VR011200022-/169, Peebles County, page 169 of 255; 1911 Census 762/1 2/ 14, page 14 of 31; 1941 Statutory registers Deaths, 762/1 10; Past Innerleithen: Robert Mathison].
11 The War Memorial Hall, Leithen Road, Innerleithen, Canmore ID 299249, grid reference NGR NT33218,36861, originally acquired by Innerleithen Burgh Council by donation from Henry Ballantyne in 1919 “for the behoof of the community of the said Burgh” … “for the purposes of a Town Hall and other Buildings as a Memorial for those who have fallen in the War.” [source: Scottish Borders Council, Common Good Property, Innerleithen].
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 