Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes

About the coldest day this month. Quite dry except a very slight drizzle in the morning + a most bitter N.E. wind + not a ray of sun. [word deleted] Got a wire from H.¹ to say the party was coming. In forenoon walked down left bank of Tyne + saw the wonderful remains of the Roman Bridge.² Gathered a bouquet of blue wild Hyacinths, Cowslips + Forget-Me-Not which I arranged on our table. Helen + Nancy³ with Mrs Mack⁴ + Miss Waugh⁵ arrived when I was in my room + Nancy, thinking I had gone to meet them, came to meet me. They came by Humshaugh instead of Barrasford.⁶ After lunch we saw the camp of Cilurnum⁷ + motored to the height beyond [illegible words].⁸ Came back to tea + they left about 6. I went as far as 5 Lane End⁹ + walked back.

¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

² Dr Muir has walked upstream on the south east bank of the River North Tyne and reached Chesters Bridge, the Roman bridge over the River North Tyne and very close to the Hadrian’s Wall fort of Cilurnum (Chesters).

³ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

⁴ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

⁵ Miss Waugh was Marion Gentleman Waugh (1877-), matron at Viewfield Nursing Home, Selkirk.

⁶ The route from the A68 to Chollerford via Humshaugh on the west of the River North Tyne is longer than the route via Barrasford lying on the east.

⁷ Chesters (Cilurnum or Cilurvum), on Hadrian’s Wall immediately E.S.E. of Corbridge, is most complete Roman cavalry fort in Britain.

⁸ The Editor would welcome feedback on the identity of this location.

⁹ Five Lane Ends, grid reference NGR NY951,745, where the road from Chollerton meets the A68.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

A fine clear sunny morning which seemed to promise a fine day but in the afternoon the N.E. wind brought up mist + drizzle + blotted out the distant views. I wrote the Cremation Sec.¹, Fanny Mackenzie², Rabagliati³, Ivor Roberton⁴ (who had written one when sending Agnes Logan’s book about Aunt Maria⁵). Then with some sandwiches I walked 3 miles along the Carlisle road + had a look at the Wall + strolled south over a moor getting back at 5 for tea.⁶ There was a crowd of motorists + motor cyclists.⁷ Had a good dinner + read Dorothy Foster⁸ + Mothersole’s Roman Wall.⁹

¹ On 2 May 1923 Dr Muir had noted that he had “Got prospectus of Cremation Society in Glasgow.”, see 2 May 1923 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk.

² Frances Gordon Ord ‘Fanny’ Mackenzie née Rennie (1864-1948), daughter of the Reverend James Rennie and Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir, thus Dr Muir’s niece.

³ Andrea Carlo Francisco Rabagliati (1843-1930), M.D., F.R.C.S.E., medical practitioner and dietician, author of ‘Air, Food and Exercises; An Essay on the Predisposing Causes of Disease”, 3rd Edition, 1914. Rabagliati was a near contemporary and long-time friend of Dr Muir.

⁴ Assume the Reverend Ivor Johnstone Roberton (1865-1948), M.A., studied at the University and New College, Edinburgh, ordained at Ratho, 1891, translated to Ladhope, Galashiels, 1898 and at St Giles in the Fields and Bloomsbury St George, London from 1911. His brother was Alexander Logan Roberton which strongly suggests a family connection somewhere, almost certainly through the Greig family – Roberton’s mother was a Greig as was Agnes Logan’s (see footnote 5) [sources include: Ecclegen: Ewing – List of Ministers: R].

⁵ The book is so far unidentified but assume Agnes McIver Logan (about 1848-1928), daughter of Alexander Stuart Logan (1810-1862), advocate and Sheriff of Forfarshire and Agnes Logan née Greig (about 1813-1891), thus Dr Muir’s cousin.

⁶ It looks as if Dr Muir walked towards Carrawburgh along the section of the Carlisle (military) road from Chollerford which passes north of Chesters and is rich with evidence of the Roman Wall, however his route southwards and back to Chollerford is not obvious.

⁷ The Roman Wall attracted large numbers of visitors from its rediscovery onwards.

⁸ Perhaps ‘Dorothy Foster’ by Walter Besant, London, Chatto and Windus, 1884.

⁹ Hadrian’s Wall was a book-length illustrated archaeological travelogue by Jessie Mothersole (1874–1958), artist and archaeological author, published in 1922.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Another showery day with N.N.E. wind but no such heavy falls as yesterday. I waited a bit + then started along the Newcastle road, the old road with its ups + downs.¹ I went about 7½ miles + then turned to Corbridge + back by Bridgend + Simonburn² returning by a little road with gates on it + came out on Wade’s Road above Walwick.³ Had a read at the Scotsman in the drawing room after dinner + got to bed at 10.30. 28.75 [miles].

¹ Dr Muir was staying at Chollerford on the River North Tyne, see his disry for 25 May 2023..

² Dr Muir evidently headed out on the south side of the River Tyne before crossing to Corbridge, NY989,644 and returning on the north side of the river to reach Simonburn, NY872,736.

³ The best guess is probably the road that runs southwards directly from Simonburn through NY876,726 before hitting General Wade’s Military Road opposite Walwick Fell, then turing eastwards again to hit Walwick itself en route for Chollerford and dinner.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Had a splendid night’s sleep. Breakfasted 8.30. It was a bright morning but during the day there were heavy showers + some peals of thunder. In the forenoon I cycled to Hexham¹ by the road on the left bank of the Tyne passing Wall + Alcomb [sic].² The Tyne at Hexham is a fine river. Saw the Cathedral.³ Got 2 illustrated papers + returned by Warden + Chesters.⁴ Before starting I walked to Chesters + saw the museum.⁵ After lunch I cycled to Errington (by mistake) + struck Watling Street which I followed to 5 Lane + from there I went about 2 miles on the Stamfordham road : turned north to Hallington + on till I struck the Rothbury road + back to 5 Lane + Chollerton.⁶ I was lucky to get into a shed at Errington during a [word deleted] thunder plump of hail + rain.⁷ It was a delightful run but very up + down. Altogether I put in 20 miles. Had a very good dinner + a tankard of ale!

¹ Hexham, grid reference NGR NY936,642.

² Wall, NY917,690 and Acomb, NY929,664.

³ Hexham Abbey.

⁴ Warden, High Warden and Nether Warden, area of NY913,670, on the opposite side of the River North Tyne from Acomb, and Chesters, NY910,703.

⁵ Chesters museum, now known as the Clayton Museum at Cilurnum or Cilurvum was a fort on Hadrian’s Wall mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum. It is now identified with the fort found at Chesters near the village of Walwick, Northumberland, was commissioned in 1895 and opened in 1903. Grade II* Listed, it was designed by Richard Norman Shaw and displays part of John Clayton’s collection of Roman finds.

⁶ Dr Muir took an anti-clockwise loop east of Chollerford via Errington, NY959,716, Dere Street (not Watling Street!) through NY960,735, Five Lane Ends, NY951,745, towards Stamfordham, NZ080,721, Hallington, NY985,759, the Rothbury road (the B6342) through NY975,784 and Chollerton, NY933,721.

⁷ A heavy downpour of rain, a deluge, “the heavy shower that often succeeds a clap of thunder” [Source: Dictionar o the Scots Leid].

¹ Helen.

¹ Nancy.

¹ Jack.

¹ 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]

… 1.15 this morning¹ before I got to bed. Rose at 6 + breakfasted at 7. It was a perfect morning : [word deleted] sent my box to Hawick with the case for the 8.42. Left at 8. Went via Horn’s Hole [sic] to the Newcastle road : Bonchester Bridge, Note o the Gate + Saughtree² + down to Wark, Barrasford + Chollerton. Took my lunch at a bridge that crosses the Tyne to a town called Gowanburn³ between Kielder + Plashetts 36½ miles. Stopped at Wark for a W. + S. + got to Chollerford at 5.10 rather tired.⁴ Had tea + hot bath + dined at 7.50. Wrote Bryson⁵ + Helen⁶ + a P.C. [post card] to David⁷ [?]. Total distance 63.9.

¹ This entry continues directly from Dr Muir’s diary entry for the day before.

² The Editor once cycled, as Dr Muir records doing here, from the River Teviot to Barrasford via Note o’ the Gate and Kielder and, as well as the distance involved, it is a relentless series of climbs from 99 metres at Hawick through 373 metres in Wauchope Forest and a final ascent to 346 metres beyond Singdean.

³ There is a footbridge shown crossing the North Tyne in the area of kilometre square NY64,91 (precise locations are difficult because the Kielder Reservoir lies across the old route of the North Tyne at this point) but the footbridge itself appears to be that visible as F.B. on Ordnance Survey six inch Northumberland Sheet nLIV, published 1924, quite near milepost 32 on the North British Railway Border Counties Section.

⁴ This is by no means the first time Dr Muir has combined whisky and cycling, on one occasion making matters worse by not eating “Had a whisky & soda at Bridgend & got home very tired at 6.30.” which he regretted the next day noting “The whisky & soda at Bridgend was a mistake. I had too little food having eaten nothing after breakfast at Moffat till I got home but a single biscuit at Borland.” [Dr Muir’s diary entries for 9 and 10 September 1915].

⁵ Perhaps Walter Bryson (1872-1941), motor car hirer at Selkirk or conceivably Mungo Bryson (about 1869-1941), M.B., C.M., medical practitioner, at Thornhill, Morton, Dumfriesshire whose roles included Medical Officer for Upper Nithsdale Combination Poorhouse, Medical Officer for the Scottish Education Department and Secretary of the Local Medical and Panel Committee of Dumfriesshire.

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁷ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

¹ 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]

A showery day. Walked about the town + got everybody seen that needed. Met Mrs [illegible]¹ who came to lunch + waited till Mrs Tom Anderson² called to take her to Shaws. Cycled to Hospital + Shawpark. Was busy getting my preparations made for leaving home. It was late at night before I began my actual packing³ and it was [continued as entry for 24 May 1923].

¹ Joan Anderson (see footnote 2) was recorded in the 1921 Census and the 1923 Valuation Roll but in neither of those sources is there anyone with a name that remotely corresponds to that of the woman who had lunch at Dr Muir’s and a lift home to Kirkhope.

² Joan Scott Anderson née Shaw (about 1857-1936), widow of Thomas Scott Anderson (1852-1919) of Shaws, and daughter of Thomas Shaw, Wooriwyrite, Australia and Catherine Shaw née McLaughlin.

³ Dr Muir was off travelling the next day.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

My dyspepsia very bad last night + all morning but the cycle run put me right

Wind back to E, dry but dull + cold. Gave Chlor[oform] for Dav. to a Mrs Anderson, Backrow¹ for curetting. Then cycled to Green Terrace, Forest Terrace, Mill Street, Dunsdale Cottages, Hospital + Shawpark. Jean² + Nurse Campbell³ who nursed Geo. Roberts⁴ + at Philip⁵ + Ashiestiel came for the day this being Empire Day. Jean got a car to meet them at Gala + came round by Rink + Yair. They left by the last train. I cycled in the afternoon to Ladhope, Yarrow Hall + Henderland.⁶ Saw 11 Char-a-bancs + numerous cars +c in Yarrow. Jas. Mitchell much better. Got some tea.

¹ Mrs Anderson is as yet unidentified.

² Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s widowed eldest daughter, living and working in Newington, Edinburgh.

³ Nurse Campbell is as yet unidentified.

⁴ Assume George Roberts (about 1842-1910), who had died 19 May 1910 at Dandswall, Selkirk, aged 68.

⁵ The abbreviation is unclear so this could be Philiphaugh, Philipburn or perhaps another location.

⁶ Henderland, Megget, north of St Mary’s Loch, grid reference NGR NT232,233, where Dr Muir had been attending the Mitchell family, James in particular, since late 1921.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Bonar Law resigned Premiership¹

Much better kind of day. Strong W.S.W. wind raising dust : not warm but plenty sunshine. Cycled round the town. Dav.² operated (local anaesthetic) for a small tumour in Mrs Dunn’s breast³ but I didn’t stay. Message to see Boylan⁴ Found with a slow hand pulse + drowsy. Spoke to him about Viewfield⁵ Isa Brydon, Netherbarns⁶ called to say good bye. She is leaving Netherbarns to live at 1 Darnaway Street, Edinburgh.⁷ Carlotta Rodger⁸ called to pay account. Saw Boylan a 2 time after dinner.

¹ Andrew Bonar Law (1858-1923), Conservative politician and Prime Minister October 1922 to May 1923, was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer and, no longer physically able to speak in Parliament, resigned on 20 May 1923.

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

³ Agnes Ralph Dunn née Waldie (1858-1926), daughter of Charles Waldie, woollen dyer, and Jane Waldie née Middlemass, born 1858 at Langholm or Staplegorton, Dumfriesshire, she married, 1887 at Earlston, Richard Hewat Dunn (about 1846-1899), woollen manufacturer.

⁴ John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer, of Shawpark, Selkirk, an acquaintance of Dr Muir who was present when Boylan had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.

⁵ In other words Dr Muir has suggested that his friend move to Viewfield, the Muir and Graham medical co-partnership’s nursing home.

⁶ Isabella Thomasina ‘Isa’ Brydon (1868-1946) was recorded at Netherbarns, Galashiels (where she was born) in the 1911 Census, living with her father Adam Brydon (about 1836-1919), farmer. She did indeed make the move Dr Muir refers to (probably, at least in part, to be near her brother James Hastie Brydon at Rutland Street, Edinburgh) and the 1930 Valuation Roll for Edinburgh records Miss Isabella Brydon as proprietor occupier at 1 Darnaway Street [1930 Valuation Roll, VR010000619-/184, Edinburgh Burgh, page 184 of 218].

⁷ Darnaway Street, Stockbridge, near Moray Place.

⁸ Elizabeth Charlotte ‘Carlota’ Rodger (1884-1970), daughter of George Rodger, shipping merchant, and Elizabeth Charlotte Rodger née Eck. Born Cheshire, she was at Bridgelands, Selkirk, 1901 Census and was a wartime V.A.D. (Voluntary Aid Detachment) with over 1000 hours’ service, of Bridgelands [see ‘Selkirkshire V.A.D.s.’, the Southern Reporter, 6 April 1922].

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Wind S.W. but not genial. Very little to do. Have heard or seen nothing of David yesterday or today.¹ Walked to Hospital, Dunsdale Cottages, Mill Street + Backrow. I went to morning service. A clergyman from Stockton on Tees was preaching.² Barbara³ + Miss Wallace⁴ came to supper.

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner. By 1923 he was developing a habit of going missing.

² This preacher did not appear to have merited comment in the Southern Reporter.

³ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s eldest grandchild, fairly recently returned from New Zealand.

⁴ Miss Wallace may be Miss Jane Wallace (1874-), sometime nurse to the Roberts children, Dr Muir’s grandchildren [see diary entries for 6 April 1915, 22 October 1916 and 7 April 1918 and 1911 Census]. She was born at Langbarns, Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire. Neither Jane Wallace nor the Roberts family appear on the 1921 Census. The Editor’s suspicion is that a section of Ettrick Terrace has been missed off the 1921 Census transcript by ScotlandsPeople, because the Roberts family, in Selkirk at this time for the Common Riding, has not been documented (see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 17 June 1921, two days before Census night).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Not quite as cold + wind S.W. Some rain in afternoon + evening. Cycled to Cannon Street, Buccleuch Road, Mill Street, Hospital, Raeburn Meadows + walked to Shawpark.¹ Good many accounts being paid² Helen³, Barbara⁴ + Miss Wallace⁵ went to a performance of “Maritana” in the Victoria Hall.⁶

¹ Shawpark, Selkirk, home of John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer, an acquaintance of Dr Muir who was present when Boylan had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.

² Thomas Baptie, Dr Muir’s driver and handyman, had been delivering the local accounts on 14 May 1923.

³ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s eldest grandchild, recently returned from New Zealand.

⁴ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁵ Miss Wallace may be Miss Jane Wallace (1874-), sometime nurse to the Roberts children, Dr Muir’s grandchildren [see diary entries for 6 April 1915, 22 October 1916 and 7 April 1918 and 1911 Census]. She was born at Langbarns, Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire. Neither Jane Wallace nor the Roberts family appear on the 1921 Census. The Editor’s suspicion is that a section of Ettrick Terrace has been missed off the 1921 Census transcript by ScotlandsPeople, because the Roberts family, in Selkirk at this time for the Common Riding, has not been documented (see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 17 June 1921, two days before Census night).

⁶ Maritana, A Grand Opera in Three Acts by William Vincent Wallace, was toured extensively in Scotland during 1923 by the Carl Rosa Opera Company.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]