Earlston in March in Times Past

What was making the news in Earlston  in 100, 150 and 175 years ago?  Below are some items from the local press - and beyond.  They make interesting reading, not just  for the content,  but also for the wordy style of journalism - quite a contrast to today's punchy press. They also are important in giving us  a picture of life at the time, as written at the time.

So read on about the cow that entered a watchmaker's shop; the sow who escaped to the roof, the entertainment on offer at the Corn Exchange; the popularity of penny readings and a ball organised by "the gentler sex", plus concerns at dancing being introduced  at the Hiring Fair.

100 YEARS AGO IN 1920

Local residents enjoyed:

• "A Ball, organised and conducted  under the  auspices of the gentler sex came off with brilliant success on Wednesday night in Earlston Corn Exchange. There were 50 couples in attendance and the dancing went on from 8.30pm to 3.30am  to the  music of Galashiels Town Band.  The MCs were Miss Lochhead, Mrs McNair, Mrs Jane Kerr and Mrs J. MacDonald".   (Berwickshire News:  2nd March 1920) .

You had to wonder how many of the dancers had to be up early for work the next morning! 

• "Mr. Andrew Letta and his concert party gave an entertainment in Earlston Corn Exchange on Thursday evening. The programme consisted of conjuring, a ventriloquist,  and singing, with the  Joy Jumblers  giving a new and humourous jumble of harmonious snapshots  including songs, standard and popular musical interpretations, duets, trios and quartettes,  besides Letta's new age programmes of mystery and mirth".(Berwickshire News:  2nd March 1920) .

• "The first of five lectures on gardening, was given by Mr, Stuart of Edinburgh and East Scotland College of Agriculture.  The subject was digging and manuring of the garden ground, with Mr Stuart illustrating his remarks with blackboard sketches which contributed much to the perfect comprehension of the instruction." (Berwickshire News:  2nd March 1920)

• "The choir of Earlston United Free Church held its annual social in the Corn Exchange Hall.  Dancing commenced about 8pm  to the fine music of Miss Ruth Wallace (violin), Mr Henry Wallace (piano) and Mr Adam Hewitt (cornet) .  An excellent tea was served by the ladies and thereafter dancing  was resumed and carried on with zest until about 2.30am."

 The Corn Exchange, prior to 1920. when the pump well on the right was demolished to make way for the War Memorial.

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150 YEARS AGO IN 1870 

A spate of animal stories made the news in this year: 

• The Strange Adventure of a Cow:  
  The Southern Reporter:  3rd March 1870 recounted  a story when "A cow entered  the shop of Mr Dryden, watchmaker,  and first of all took a survey of the fancy stock.......

• A week later it was a sow that made the headlines in The Southern Reporter:   10th March 1870:
  

  "EARLSTON. Strange Adventure.- -One day last week the dwellers in New Street were started by the cry of "A sow on the house-top!"

    This story was picked up by the Chester Chronicle of 19th March  1879 and The The Staffordshire Advertiser:  26th March 1870 with:
  

  "An amusing episode occurred in Earlston,  when a sow found herself cribbed, cabined, and confined and made her escape onto the roof".

  You cannot help wondering   - was this just one animal incident, where the details changed in the retelling!

• Dancing at the Hiring Fair?
  
  Hiring Fairs, held in the Market Square,  were important events where farm  workers would gather to bargain with prospective farmers for work, and hopefully secure a position for the following 6-12 months.  Hiring Fairs were also social occasions with a rare opportunity for friends and family to meet and enjoy side shows and stalls.  
  
   
  However The Southern Reporter:  26th March 1870 expressed the concern by  some parties at the introduction of dancing in the Corn Exchange on the day of the  Hiring Fair, with:

"A diversity of opinion prevailed as to the propriety of letting the hall for this purpose, but there is no doubt, if it had  not been for the dancing, there would have been more drunkenness and the whole affair seemed to be under judicious management  and conducted throughout with peace and order."


               

Earlston Hiring Fair, 1909

• An Evening of Penny Readings was reported in The Berwickshire News:  8th March 1870.

"A crowded Corn Exchange Hall enjoyed the fourth of a series of Penny Readings  where a lengthy but select programme of readings, songs and recitations were gone through in a most admirable and pleasing  manner ........ This was one of the most successful meetings of its kind to be held in the Corn Exchange."

• The new village clock featured in The Scotsman:  1st March 1845.
  
  
  
   

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175 years ago in 1845 

The references to Earlston in March 1845  all featured clothing advertisements which included "beautiful Earlston Ginghams".  These appeared in The Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh), The Scotsman,  and The Witness (Edinburgh) - and further afield  in The Wolverhampton  Chronicle. 

 

The Scotsman:  26th March 1845. 

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Sources: 

• British Newspapers Online 1710-1963
• British Newspaper Archive