Headlines on Earlston

Old newspapers make fascinating reading for anyone interested in local history, as they  reflect life,  in all its aspect, as it was at the time.  Here are some random snippets on Earlston from the local press.

• NEW COACH EDINBURGH TO JEDBURGH VIA EARLSTON  
  Calling at Pathhead, Carfrae Mill, Lauder, Earlston, Leaderfoot.
  To Jedburgh In Five Hours. 
  Fares to Jedburgh only 5 shillings outside;  6 shillings inside.
  Caledonian Mercury:  29th September 1843
  
  
  FIRST CAR SIGHTED ON EARLSTON HIGH STREET
  Southern Reporter: 24th March 1898
  
  

  "A motor car passed through the village on Sunday morning.  The two gentlemen who were driving it left Newcastle-on-Tyne the previous day en route for Edinburgh. In this neighbourhood one of the tyres got damaged  and it was resolved to put up at the Red Lion. 

  
  

  This was done and the  car when it reached the hotel, being stopped for a little while was quickly surrounded  and examined with no small degree of curiosity, this being the first time  such a machine  has been seen  in operation here. "

  
   A REBUKE TO THE CONGREGATION

  "The Rev. Dr. Mair, Moderate to the Established Assembly, when preaching on the Sabbath Day in Earlston Parish Church, stopped in his discourse and severely rebuked members of the Congregation, who had not being paying attention to the sermon."

  
  
  

  • 

The State of the Village was of concern, with reports on  street paving, water supplies, and street lighting.

A NEW SUPPLY OF WATER.  Berwickshire News:  7th January 1879

 

PAVING OF THE STREETS:  Berwickshire News:  17th  January 1871. 

"A Public Meeting of the inhabitants of Earlston was held in the Reading Room Hall on Wednesday evening to consider the subject of making pathways on each side of the main street. Wm.  Colesworth,   Esq. of Cowdenknowes was called to the chair. As all agreed to the necessity of these pathways and the great comfort and convenience  to have them, he hoped that the efforts to obtain them would be successful. This was carried unanimously.  Thereupon a large committee was appointed with Mr Colesworth and Charles Wilson, manufacturer as joint conveners, and Mr Balfour as Secretary who was charged with canvassing the town for subscriptions. Messrs Rodgers, Wallace, Wood and Murdison  to report on the various modes of making such pathways as would be suitable. "

ELECTRIC STREET LIGHTING A DISAPPOINTMENT - Berwickshire  News: 5th  Sept. 1933

The change from gas to electric was not welcomed, with the lamps too high, the power too weak and the lamps to far apart.

Looking towards the West End High Street, c.1910

PROFESSIONAL TRAMP NUISANCE
Robert Smith Earlston  Inspector of the Poor sent a letter to the press deploring the "Professional Tramp Nuisance"  in the village.   Berwickshire News:  22nd February 1906.

FIRST AID LECTURES - Berwickshire News:  23rd February 1893

                                     

Thank

GRAND BAZAAR Berwickshire News:  October  1910

OTHER ADVERTISEMENTS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE - Berwickshire News:  June 1919 

CHILDREN ENTERTAIN  

Southern Reporter: 6th March 1906

"Kinderspiel" was a German term often used in this period, meaning a play or piece of musical theatre performed by children.
 
EARLSTON JUNIOR TOWN BAND IN CONCERT  -  Berwickshire News: 14th January 1919 - with the  reporter waxing  eloquently in a colourful account of a school concert where:

"The finale  was the performance of Earlston Junior Clown Band, trained by Miss Gill, one of the teachers, and her pupils did her infinite credit.  This  was thought to be the crowning performance of the evening and caused a great sensation.   Their grotesque garments and equally grotesque musical  performance  made the bandsmen the heroes of the hour, the observed of all observers, the cynosure of every eye.  Their contribution to the evening  was a veritable  triumph  and was rewarded with tremendous applause."

You do wonder what their "grotesque musical performance" sounded like! 

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With grateful thanks  to Jeff Price and Richard Smith, members of the Auld Earlston Group,

for their contributions to this post.