A perfect day. There has not been such uninterrupted sunshine since April ‘19 when Nancy¹ + I cycled to Gordon². David³ asked me to go to Mirlelees [sic] for him to see Agnes Hope⁴. I motored there + called at Craighill⁵. It was very hot + glaring + I had to use by [sic] dark specs. Got back at 1. Something went wrong with the Swift⁶ + it had to be taken to Paterson’s⁷. I sat + read in the Tennis Green all afternoon + had my tea there, all the rest went to Wellwood⁸.

¹ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

² The Editor has not been able to identify a trip to Gordon at the time Dr Muir refers to

³ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s co-partner, the son of the Reverend Dr John Anderson Graham (1861-1942), founder of Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong, West Bengal

⁴ It is unclear who Agnes is but Walter Hope, shepherd, was Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house at Merelees, Ettrick in 1922; he had married 1919 at Cacraside, Ettrick, Helen Amos, housekeeper [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/365, Selkirk County, page 365 of 611; marriage: 1919 Statutory registers 774/B 2]

⁵ Craighill, Ettrick, just above Ettrick Kirk and Manse, grid reference NGR NT259,145, where John L Anderson, shepherd, was Inhabitant Occupier not rated [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/364, Selkirk County, page 364 of 611]

⁶ The Swift Motor Company made Swift Cars in Coventry; it is not clear which model Dr Muir owned of this small motor manufacturer’s many products but it had been the ‘workhorse’ car for the practice since Dr Muir had acquired it some time before August 1914

⁷ Paterson is unidentified

⁸ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir, Dr Muir’s second daughter, and their children Barbara, Jock, Louise, Stewart and Tim

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Less wind + warmer: moderately clear: calm + charming in evening. I had literally nothing to do except a visit to Mrs Gallocher¹, Forest Road: so we arranged our excursion to the Eildon Hills. Frank² drove his car + took his wife³, Nancy⁴ + me. We had a fine walk + pretty good views but the Cheviots were almost + the Ettrick hills quite obscured by heat haze. We took our tea at the roadside at Bowden Moor + came back through Melrose. We had David⁵, Norah⁶, Dr Graham⁷ + Mrs Passy (Peggy)⁸ at dinner.

¹ Mrs Margaret Gallocher née Wood, widow, was tenant of a house and garden at 68 Forest Road, Selkirk; her husband Hugh Gallocher, shoemaker, had died 12 April 1921, aged 44, at the City Hospital, Edinburgh, of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, usual residence 139 Forest Road, Selkirk, they had married in 1903 at Galashiels and had five children William (1905-), Jane Glover (1907-), Jessie Wood (1909-), David Wood (1910-) and John (1916-) [333]

² Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer and managing director, and Dr Muir’s nephew, for more detail see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 5 June 1922

³ Dorothy Muir née Armitage (1873-1943)

⁴ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

⁵ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s co-partner, the son of the Reverend Dr John Anderson Graham (1861-1942), founder of Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong, West Bengal

⁶ Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971), wife of Dr David Charteris Graham

⁷ The Reverend Dr John Anderson Graham (1861-1942), founder of Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong, West Bengal who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1931 and had been widowed in 1919 when his wife Catherine ‘Kate’ Graham née McConachie died suddenly in 15 May 1919 in India

⁸ Margaret Alexandra ‘Peggy’ Passy née Graham (1893-1973), one of Dr Graham’s sisters, for more detail see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 4 June 1922

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Monday 5. Still cold but dry: rather dull. Saw one or two walking + motored to Clifton Road – Hospital, Heather Mill, Buccleuch Road, Henhouse + Castle Street. Drew £200 pounds [sic] from the Firm which makes £250 from for 21/-22 + my balance at bank £357.14.8. Made out some accounts in afternoon. Frank¹ + Dorothy² + their kiddies Diana³ + Margt⁴ arrived from Chollerford (where they came on Thursday last the same day that I was there⁵). After dinner I was called out to see Ross Glenlora’s girl⁶ . Nancy⁷ came to dinner + Frank went down to sleep at Wellwood⁸ .

¹ Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer and managing director, born 21 Feb 1877, Edinburgh, the son of Gavin Struthers Muir (1846-1927), presbyterian minister, and Helen Drysdale Muir née Wilson

² Dorothy Muir née Armitage (1873-1943), wife of Frank Muir

³ Diana Marianne Muir, later Greener (1910-2015), daughter of Frank Muir, Dr Muir’s nephew, and Dorothy Armitage [Births Sep 1910, Bucklow, 8a 172]; married, Apr Quarter 1939, William M Greener [Apr 1939, Bucklow [Cheshire] 8a 559]

⁴ Margaret Helen Muir, later Greener (1913-2010), daughter of Frank Muir and Dorothy Armitage [Births Jun 1913, Bucklow, 8a 310]; married, Dec Quarter 1940, Richard H Greener [Dec 1940, Bucklow 8a 630]

⁵ Dr Muir went through Chollerford on the North Tyne during his cycling run to the Roman Wall on 22 May 1922

⁶ Sinclair Ross, solicitor, and his wife Alison Spottiswoode of Glenlora, Viewfield Park, Selkirk had several children but a tentative identification is that this is Alison Spottiswoode Ross (1916-) [birth: Ross, Alison Spottiswoode, 1916, 778/ 62, Selkirk]

⁷ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

⁸ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace home of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and their children

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Much colder: the W. wind felt quite chilly + there wasn’t much sunshine except in the morning. I had only one patient that really required a visit viz. girl Cook, Tait’s Hill¹ which I did + went with Dora² to Morning Service. Was not out again till I went with Helen³ to tea at Mauldsheugh⁴ where I met David’s⁵ father⁶ + a sister, Mrs Pass⁷. Dr G. sen^r is a fine man every way. He showed me a lot of photos of Kalimpong⁸. Walked back by Hospital to see a new case of S. xx After supper had to go to Wollrigg to see Mrs Dewar⁹.

¹ Presumably a daughter of Mrs Jane Cook, charwoman, who was Tenant of a house at Tait’s Hill, Selkirk [1922 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/276, Selkirk Burgh, page 276 of 644]

² Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁴ Dr Graham junior Dr Muir’s co-partner was tenant occupier of house and grounds at Mauldsheugh, 23 Yarrow Terrace, Selkirk – see Ordnance Survey 25 inch Selkirkshire Sheet XII.5, published 1899

⁵ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner, the son of the Reverend Dr John Anderson Graham (1861-1942), founder of Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong, West Bengal

⁶ The Reverend Dr John Anderson Graham (1861-1942), founder of Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong, West Bengal who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1931 and had been widowed in 1919 when his wife Catherine ‘Kate’ Graham née McConachie died suddenly in 15 May 1919 in India

⁷ Dr Muir has misheard the married name of Dr Graham’s sister Margaret Alexandra ‘Peggy’ Passy née Graham (1893-1973), born 21 July 1893, married Frederic Harry Burn Passy, Indian Army in 1914 at Kidderpore, Bengal, India; they later lived at Blachford, Cornwood, Devon and she died at Cornwood in 1973 [sources: FHL Film Number: 527909; 1939 England and Wales Register; Deaths Sep 1973, Passy, Margaret Alexandra, Plymouth 7A 1616]

⁸ Dr. Graham’s Homes at Kalimpong, India, described on the homepage of the UK Committee for Dr. Graham’s Homes as a “children’s village in the Himalayas” was founded by The Reverend Dr John Anderson Graham and “still faithfully fulfils the original vision to give a future to impoverished, mostly Anglo-Indian, children from greater Calcutta” [Kolkata, West Bengal]

⁹ William Dewar, manager, was “Inhabitant Occupier not rated” at Wollrig, Ashkirk; his wife’s name may not become apparent until the 1921 Census is published later this year [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/355, Selkirk County, page 355 of 611]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Nice cool day. Wind still N.W. Cycled to Hospital Linglie Mill, Cutcarwood + Bengerburnhope. Called for Charlotte Rodger ¹ at the Sandbed ² where she has gone for 3 months while Bridgelands is let to the Turners ³. Went on from Bengerburnhope to Elibank + Ashiestiel. Took my tea by the burnside below Bengerburnhope. Dined at Elmpark for Mrs Mack’s birthday tomorrow ⁴.

¹ Elizabeth Charlotte Rodger née Eck (about 1848-1928), born Chile (British Subject), daughter of Frederick A Eck and Janet Eck née Alexander, and wife of George Rodger (died 1910), shipping merchant, married Apr Quarter 1872, Kensington, Middlesex [Kensington 1a 241], she lived at Bridgelands, Selkirk until her death 15 Dec 1928 at Selkirk, though evidently with gaps in that stay

² Sandbed is presumably the property referred to as part of the series of properties around Hangingshaw and Lewinshope (Yarrow) referred to in the 1922 Valuation Rolls VR011700009-/391, Selkirk County, page 391 of 611 but not yet located on the Ordnance Survey mapping

³ Nobody called Turner is recorded in the Valuation Roll as being at Bridgelands around this time but this would not necessarily be expected for a short tenancy

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Feeling rather stiff especially in the extension of the legs. Message to Mrs Dees, Faldonside¹. Motored there by Mavisbank and Hospital, Gill Ettrickhaugh Road² , Howden Moat³ + Henhouse. Willie Laidlaw⁴ rather feverish. Helen⁵ cycled to Scaur Neuk⁶ to call for Ann Scott⁷. It was clearer today with a N.W. wind. Cool.

¹ Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson (1872-1948), daughter of the Reverend Canon Dr. James Henderson and Jane Lowrey and wife of Robert Irwin Dees; Dees had inherited approximately £90,000 in 1908 on the death of his uncle Robert Richardson Dees of Wallsend and they had taken the tenancy of Faldonside in 1920

² There was more than one Gill family living at Ettrickhaugh Road around this time, see Valuation Rolls, but this would not necessarily be expected for a short tenancy

³ The Editor is reasonably confident that this is the property at Motte which is more closely associated with Brownmuir and is identified as Moat (occupier William Arnot, shepherd) in the 1886 Valuation Roll [for more detail see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 30 May 1922]

⁴ William Braid Laidlaw (1902-1985), whom Dr Muir had been attending for what may have been Diphtheria; the son of John Laidlaw, saw miller, and Agnes Laidlaw née Taylor, brother of John Laidlaw (1904-) and Robert Braid Laidlaw (1906-), all living at Henhouse, The Haining, Selkirk at the 1911 Census

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁶ Scaurneuk, Yarrow

⁷ Assume Annie Scott, lived at Greenwells, Yarrow [Feus] in 1911 Census, aged 61, with her husband Robert Scott, retired shepherd, aged 70; she was born in Dumfriesshire and died 30 March 1924 at Greenwells, Yarrow, aged 74, daughter of John Kirk, shepherd, and Mary Kirk MS Carruthers, death certified by D Charteris Graham

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Cycle run across the border. Motored to Hawick. Clear sharp morning: caught the 6 train for Newcastleton where I breakfasted at the Grapes Inn at 7.30¹. Excellent ham + eggs + fresh baps for 1/6. Left a few minutes after 8 + took the road for Roan’s Green + on through Bewcastle². Fearfully hilly + rough roads especially near the White Lyne³: but they improved after Shopford⁴. Went through 8 or 9 gates. Joined the Gilsland Road about 6 miles west of it. Had a drink at Gilsland + then to Greenhead where I joined the Carlisle to Newcastle road via Chollerford⁵. Awfully steep + cut up for a bit out of Greenhead but after this a fine broad but little used road. Very straight + some stiff hills mostly rideable. Too hazy for distant views. Saw the Roman Wall + Vallum. Turned left before Humshaugh + went through Wark to Bellingham where I had tea + got a train at 5.36 reaching Hawick at 6.55⁶. Cycled from there without dismounting in 64 minutes. Total distance 62 miles a very nice run but too hot. Nothing much wanted but had to walk down to Dunsdale to see Matt Wallace’s kid⁷.

¹ This is almost the complete reverse of the trip Dr Muir was to make on 1 June 1922 including a stop at the The Grapes Inn at Douglas Square, Newcastleton

² Roan’s Green or Roansgreen, grid reference NGR NY508826 and Bewcastle, NY564746

³ Dr Muir was close to the White Lyne (river) at NY548,745

⁴ Dr Muir’s reference to Shopford just east of Bewcastle may explain why he referred to it after his 1922 trip in the opposite direction

⁵ Dr Muir has taken the Roman Road from Gilsland, NY635,664, via Greenhead, NY659,653 to Chollerford, NY918,706

⁶ Dr Muir has turned up the west bank of the North Tyne through Humshaugh, NY919,712, Wark, NY861,772 and Bellingham, NY840,835

⁷ This probably refers to Mary Wallace (1907-1908), who died on 27 June 1908 at 8a Dunsdalehaugh, Selkirk of acute Hydrocephalus 6 months certified by Dr John S Muir M.B. etc; the family in 1911 comprised Matthew Wallace, woollen yarn dyer, and his wife Elizabeth Wallace nee Linton living at 8^a Dunsdalehaugh with children Elizabeth (1895-), Maggie (1897-), Helen (1899-) and Matthew (1908-) [1911 Census 778/7/15, page 15 of 20] but sadly Maggie had had a twin sister also named Mary (1897-1897) who died 22 September 1897 at seven weeks of “Gastro-intestinal catarrh 6 days” also certified by Dr Muir

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Hawthorn coming out. Whin¹ still fine up Yarrow

Today I revisited the scenes of my disastrous run on June 22 1908² after which I was ill + had to leave off work for a month. I rose at 4 + motored to Hawick for the 6 train. Breakfasted at Bellingham³. It was a lovely morning, calm + sunny. Leaving Bellingham at 8.35 I cycled to Wark + on to Nunwick, Humshaugh + Chollerford⁴. The latter is very pretty + there is a bridge over the Tyne, at that place a fine river. The wild flowers, the bird cherry, wild apple all in profusion. At one place before Wark the wild hyacinths were like a blue sea. Then I went along the Roman Road to Greenhead, stopping at one point to see the wall + looked over the valley of the Tyne to Nunwick + Chipchase⁵. Had some lunch at “Twice Brewed”⁶. Some awful hills. Heat haze spoiled the view. From Greenhead to Gilsland, Kirkhambeck⁷, where by a mistake I went on to the Stopford Road⁸. Got to Newcastleton at 6 + had tea at the Grapes Inn⁹ + then home by Hermitage + Slitrig¹⁰. Awful bit of road on summit. Found a preliminary of the Common Riding going on in Hawick + was stopped a bit by the crowd but rode home without dismounting which I couldn’t do on May 19’.¹¹ It was 11 when I got home. H. + D. were getting rather anxious¹². 85.9 [miles]

¹ The Gorse Ulex europaeus is known as Whin in Scotland

² The Editor intends to publish this journey as a supplementary post on this platform on 2 June 2022

³ Bellingham, grid reference NGR NY840,835 and Wark, NY861,772

⁴ Dr Muir has travelled down the west side of the North Tyne to Chollerford where the river is crossed by the substantial bridge referred to

⁵ From Greenhead, NY659,653, Dr Muir is looking back roughly in the direction he had previously travelled and seeing Nunwick by Simonburn at NY879,741 and Chipchase Castle the other side of the river at NY882,757

⁶ Twice Brewed, NY751,668, a famous inn on the Roman Road

⁷ Gilsland, NY635,664 and Kirkcambeck, NY534,690

⁸ Dr Muir appears to have taken the minor road to Bewcastle (Shopford is a little was south and east of there at approximate grid reference NY570,743)

⁹ The Grapes and the Liddesdale Inn are next to one another in Douglas Square, Newcastleton

¹⁰ Dr Muir has travelled back to Hawick the direct route past the road end at Hermitage and down the river of Slitrig probably enteringg Hawick adjacent to the Tower Hotel

¹¹ Dr Muir had a tiring journey past Mosspaul, en route for Hawick and home, after a round trip through Ettrick over Tima and up the Ewes Water on 19 May 2022

¹² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s youngest daughter and a nurse

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Magnificent day: warm + sunny + clear. S.W. wind most pleasant. It was a joy to be out among the greenery + lavish blossoming. I saw a few town cases + did the anaesthesia at Viewfield for a case of webbed [?] fingers + 2 cases of tonsils + adenoids. After lunch motored with Dora¹ to Philiphaugh Saw Mill, Howden Moat² + Henhouse. We walked through the wood to Howden Hill + pulled a lot of crab apple blossom.

¹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s youngest daughter and a nurse

² The Editor is reasonably confident that this is the property at Motte which is more closely associated with Brownmuir and is identified as Moat (occupier William Arnot, shepherd) in the 1886 Valuation Roll [for more detail see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 30 May 1922]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Another grand day: brilliant calm morning with a S.W. wind as the day went on but delightfully warm. Saw some town cases in Backrow, Southport, Chapel Place + then cycled to Clifton Road, Raeburn Place + Forest Mill. Got a message to Howden Moat¹ where I haven’t been since 1910 when the girl had measles. Walked to the top of Howden hill + back by a walk through a wood. The wild apple blossom + violets lovely. Helen + Dora² down at Elm Park³ for tennis + croquet.

¹ Howden Moat is not identified independently of Howden (just short of Middlestead and Oakwood, to the south west of Selkirk) in any contemporary records that the Editor can find except for a reference to a property at the Motte itself, at approximate grid reference NGR NT458,268, which is visible as The Mote south of Howden Hill on Ordnance Survey 6 inch Selkirkshire Sheet XI.SE, published 1900 and John Thomson’s Atlas of Scotland, published 1832 and is recorded as Canmore ID 54204 Howden, Motte where P Fenton, 1957, notes “Motte, Howden, An oval rocky knoll, which protrudes from the back of a ridge 700 yds ESE of Howden farmhouse … bordered almost all round by a low earthen bank … together with a number of similar banks which verse the top of the motte it is most probably connected with the occupation of a cottage whose ruins overlie the ditch at the W. apex.”; note however that the 1886 Valuation Roll links a property named only Moat (occupier William Arnot, shepherd) with Brownmuir, as part of the Haining estate of the Pringle Pattisons [1886 Valuation Roll, VR011700006-/472, Selkirk County, page 472 of 513]

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s youngest daughter and a nurse

³ Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946)

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]