Holiday Time in Earlston

A nostalgic look back at holidays in the past, 

with day trips, camping, and dooking to enjoy.  

Happy choir members from Ercildoune Church on their trip to the Trossachs in 1936.

A 1866 Directory commented that few holidays were held in Earlston,  but by the 1870's local newspapers reported on public meetings held in the Corn Exchange to decide on a date for the Annual Holiday and  to arrange special excursion trains. 

 - Berwickshire News and General Advertiser:  9th July 1889 

A newspaper report of 1909 noted that

"The holiday was observed on Saturday last when all work was suspended and the shops all closed, the bank only  being open from 9 to 11 for the convenience of he public.  There was a railway excursion to Edinburgh with cheap fares to Glasgow Perth, Dundee, Dunfermline, Stirling, Berwick, Hawick, Galashiels (for the agricultural show)  and Jedburgh (for athletic games).  Several spent the day nearer home fishing,  bowling,  and golf at Caldie's Hill, with a golf gymkhana at Melrose popular.  The factory hands also had Monday as a holiday."

By  1935,   people were travelling further afield, "even going as far as Wales, but Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Berwick and Spittal  claimed the majority  of those taking advantage of the cheap railway facilities..  Earlston shopkeepers put  up their shutters from Saturday to Monday inclusive.  Motor buses were also well patronised". 

                      Berwickshire News and General Advertiser:  13th August 1935.

                                                      

 IN THE WATER 

 

Dooking in the Leader Water near Carolside 

UNDER CANVAS

 

ON A DAY TRIP

1907 and  Earlston Parish Church Choir  set  off from the Red Lion Hotel to drivwe to Yarrow Manse.    Hopefully it would be a dry day as there was no protection from the elements?   It is a bit surprising that they did not choose to take the train from Earlston to Selkirk, via Newtown St. Boswells and then by waggonette to Yarrow. 

Day trip to Carlisle 1947

 

A bus trip to St. Andrews, 1948 

Off on the Spittal Trip, c.1960

OUT FOR A QUIET DRIVE

 

 How the A68 road looked c.1930's

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Read the entertaining article  by Inez Polson who shared her memories of the Spittal Trip by Train  in the 1920's.


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Auld Earlston would be delighted to feature short articles

 from contributors on memories of the village's past.    

Please contact:  auldearlston@aol.com