Presented here is a detailed account of the Reading Room's history from initial discussions in 1852 against a background of the temperance movement, and its opening ceremony at a "fruit soirée” in 1856. Read about the rules (reflecting Victorian morality), the role of the committees, the selection of books, and a centenary dinner in 1952 followed by a sad decline to the building we see today.
A photograph that appeared in the local press in 1952.
On
Friday January 16, 1852, the Association for Suppressing Drunkenness held its
monthly meeting at 6 York Place in Edinburgh. At
the meeting a proposal was adopted that stated:
“… this Association, being of the opinion that it would tend to elevate the tastes and pursuits of the working classes, and thereby greatly diminish the force of temptations to intemperance amongst them, were public institutions and other places of interest thrown open to the community, on fixed days, without any charge …”
A letter was read indicating that Major Robert Baillie of Eildon
Hall had purchased 500 copies of the poem “Will and Jean” for distribution as
the Association saw fit.
“Will
and Jean”, or to give its full title “Scotland’s Scaith or The History of Will
and Jean” runs to about 70 pages and it tells how the lives of Will and Jean
were ruined by intemperance. The author of the poem was Hector MacNeill a
complex and some would say hypocritical character.
In
the late 1700’s MacNeill had travelled from Scotland to the Caribbean to take
up a position with a merchant in Jamaica. There, he was at the centre of the sugar
and rum trade. His livelihood depended on the success of both industries which is at odds with his
concern for the evils of strong drink.
Additionally, he had written a pamphlet defending the abuse of the
chattel slaves that harvested the sugar and distilled the rum yet he was
concerned for the welfare of the people of Great Britain.
Within
weeks of that January meeting, Major Baillie approached the residents of
Earlston with an offer of 53 volumes of books to start a reading room and
lending library. The offer was gladly accepted and in June the Earlston Reading
Room and Circulating Library, with a
management committee of villagers, was instituted.
As
a member of the Association for Suppressing Drunkenness, Major Robert Baillie
supported its views on the role of public institutions in combating
intemperance and these views would shape how the Earlston Reading Room
Committee was to conduct its business.
THE BEGINNING
In
time, committee members, including the Reverend Edmonstone, blanket manufacturer Mr Wilson, and others approached Major Baillie expressing the wishes
of the villagers that the Reading Room and Library be established on a
permanent basis.
The
Major mentioned these wishes to his father, George Baillie, 10th Earl of
Haddington, who agreed to fund the building of a dedicated reading room and
library on land he owned in the Market Place in Earlston.
And
so on June 27, 1856 the Earlston Reading Room and Library was inaugurated. At a
“fruit soiree” held in the church hall that evening to mark the occasion, Major
Baillie congratulated the villagers on the event of the day, trusting that the
establishment of such a scheme would be the means of doing incalculable moral
good, and of reclaiming many from a life of idleness, uselessness, or
intemperance. (Kelso Chronicle July 11, 1856).
The
Reading Room and Lending Library Committee now had a permanent
home for the library which had grown from the initial donation of 53 volumes to
over 500 books and a membership of around 120, with about 60 books issued each
week.
The
new Reading Room was a large public room to allow for public meetings. It also
had a stage which allowed the Committee to organise a series of lectures to be
held over the winter months. The first lecture, “Northern Italy and the Alps”,
was delivered by William Malcolm of Langholm, in December 1856.
LOCAL REACTION
It
would be naïve to think that the Reading Room would meet with universal
approval. In 1859, "The Southern Reporter", covering a monthly meeting of the
Committee, reported the frustration expressed by a Committee member who
said:
“We regret that there is not more interest manifested in the existence and prosperity of so useful an institution especially by the young men who, night after night, are found loitering about the streets, frittering away the precious hours in idleness and frolic, which might be both pleasantly and profitably spent acquiring useful knowledge from the literary stores which, by this association, are brought with reach at the trifling cost of sixpence per quarter.”
In
fairness to “the young men” of Earlston the titles of the books purchased by or
donated to the Committee would not be considered “popular”. Perhaps the
Committee’s aim to educate rather than entertain was turning away potential
members.
That
same year, Captain Mitchell of Carolside donated the complete works of fiction
of Sir Walter Scott which ran to 25 volumes. The
Committee appeared to focus on titles that would educate on the heritage of the
village, the Borders and Scotland. In 1897
a selection of books deemed worthy included “Life of Doctor MacLeod”, “History of England 1839 to 1874”,
“Memoir of the Prince Consort”, and “The Romance and Prophecies of Thomas the
Rhymer”.
AN EXTENSION PLANNED
Towards
the end of the 1890’s the Committee recognised that it needed larger premises.
At the Annual General Meeting held in January 1897, a proposal to extend the
building was discussed. It was agreed that Committee members Rodger, Wallace
and Kerr inspect the building and develop a draft proposal, with costs, for an
extension and improvements.
A
week later a special meeting was convened when the plan of the extension was
tabled for approval. The major changes were to lower the ceiling in the reading
room in order to create space above for a recreation room and install a new
staircase to connect the floors. Other modifications included improvements to
the librarian’s accommodation on the ground floor.
The
Committee had previously secured a fifteen year lease which had four years to
run so it was agreed to request a perpetual lease from the building owner, the
Earl of Haddington. The Reverend Mair was tasked with conducting the
negotiations on behalf of the Committee and the Earl’s representatives.
In
May the Committee had received the approval of the Earl for the extension on
condition that the purpose of the building was to remain as a reading room and
library and, the finances needed for the building work had to be guaranteed
before the work could commence. The Earl agreed to the perpetual lease at a
feu-duty of 5 shillings (25p) per year.
CONDITIONS IMPOSED
The
perpetual lease, or Feu Charter, which was drawn up and signed on December 27,
1897 was a simple contract with five “burdens” or conditions of which two are
the most relevant to the conduct of the Committee in regard to maintaining the
building and its purpose.
Burden
2 placed a duty on the Committee to:
“maintain building both internally and externally in good tenantable and suitable repair and keep rooms comfortably and neatly furnished and equipped and with the entrance, passage and stairs, clean and tidy and keep building and content constantly insured against loss by fire for stated sums as revised by Earl of Haddington, pay premiums, exhibit receipts.
To restore or rebuild in the event of destruction within one year.
All insurance money to be used for restoration.”
Burden
4 related to the use of the building and stipulated that:
“Use as a Library and Reading Room for literacy, educational and scientific purposes and meetings during each week except a Sunday and part to be used as a dwelling house by the Librarian and Caretaker;
The feuars may permit draughts, chess, dominoes, backgammon, billiards and bagatelle but no other games and all games of chance, playing for money or stakes and betting prohibited.
No intoxicating liquors to be sold, used or consumed or brought into the property
If
in doubt refer to the Earl”
The
Committee was now recognised as the building proprietor and as such responsible for local taxes and so the
Committee with a named elected official appeared in the Valuation Rolls (a
fore-runner of business rates and council ta. 0n registered in what
is now the National Land Register, thereby giving the Baillie-Hamilton’s a
state-backed guarantee of ownership.
The
work was completed by the end of 1897 allowing the 1898 Annual General Meeting
to be held in the newly extended building,
just 12 months after the proposal was first discussed.
In
May of 1898 a bazaar was held in the village to raise funds for the extension
works. The target was to raise £200, enough to cover the cost of the extension
and improvements. As it turned out, over £370 was raised.
COMMITTEE ROLES
A MINISTERIAL DISPUTE
Occasionally
the Committee made the news for the wrong reasons. In 1897 an outburst by the
Reverend Mair, who was not only Vice-President of the Committee but also the
Moderator of the Church of Scotland, was widely reported.
One
newspaper, "The Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney
& Zetland Islands"(possibly the longest newspaper title) covered the story
as follows:
"SCENE WITH THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH MODERATOR — Dr Mair, Moderator of the Established Assembly, on Thursday night presided at a meeting of the Committee of Earlston Reading Room and Library, of which he is vice president. After the meeting had lasted fully an hour, a motion and amendment was formally moved and seconded. When a vote was being taken, Dr Mair asked a show of hands for the motion, but several members urged that the amendment should be taken first, as that was the usual course at public meetings, and Mr Pringle, the mover of the resolution, insisted that the business should be conducted in a proper manner. Dr Mair—l have presided at the highest Church Court in the land, and when there was a motion and amendment before the House, I always put the motion first. Mr Pringle—Yes, and you got hissed for it—(Sensation). Dr Mair, who seemed utterly astounded by this remark, sat in amazed silence for a second or two, then rising, and taking up his hat, he simply said—" Good evening gentlemen," and left the meeting. Another member of committee was then voted into the chair, and when this had been done, Dr Mair re-entered the meeting, and going up to the secretary said— Put in the minutes. “At this stage the chairman left the meeting," for I will not be responsible for what follows. He then again withdrew, and the business was proceeded with the amendment being first voted upon."
A number of sub-committees were set up, responsible for specific tasks. Some of the sub-committees were short
lived, such as a sub-committee tasked to review and revise the rules for the
use of the billiard room. Other sub-committees were permanent, albeit that
members were elected each year at the Annual General Meetings.
RULES
Looking
at the work of the Sub-comittee that undertook the review of the rules, an undated copy of the Reading Room
and Recreation Rules stated:
Reading Room Rules:
• That
the inhabitants of Earlston and its vicinity be invited to become members,
without distinction as to religious denomination, or political opinion,
and whether they do or do not belong to any abstinence or temperance society.
• The
Reading Room and Recreation Room shall be open every day except Sundays and New
Year's Day from 9am to 10pm. Visitors shall be allowed to use the Reading Room on payment of 6d per
visit.
• That
the newspapers and other publications shall be such as may be generally useful
and acceptable. Works gifted or loaned should be of a good moral tendency
and be approved of by the committee.
• That
no intoxicating liquor be consumed on the premises on any pretence
whatever.
• Members
will not be allowed to whistle or sing or make any undue noise or run up and
down the stairs or rooms, or quarrel with one another or use bad
language to the annoyance of other members.
Recreation
Room Rules
• Members
under sixteen years of age shall not be permitted to play Billiards or
Snooker, and any person under that age found handling cues or balls, or
touching the table...will be prohibited from entering the Recreation Room for
three months.
• Betting
or playing for money is strictly forbidden.
• A
fine of £2 will be exacted for cutting, tearing, or burning the cloth or
billiard table.
• Players
will not be allowed to smoke. They must also see that their hands are
clean. Members will not be allowed to use the billiard table while
wearing overalls.
• Players
on no account are allowed to get on the table. They must have at
least one foot on the floor.
However,
at the Annual General Meeting in January 1902, it was reported in the
Berwickshire News and General Advertiser on the 14th of the month that:
“Some discussion took place as to the right of those who only pay the admission fees of strangers and visitors to use the billiard table, when it was agreed that such payment only admitted to the use of the reading room, and not the recreation room. A complaint was made that youngsters, when using the billiard table, annoyed those in the reading room by making quite unnecessary noise at their games; the superintendent of the room was instructed to enforce the regulations strictly, whereby such a disturbance would be prevented.”
Perhaps the rules were adequate but the enforcement of them was lacking.
The
Recreation Sub-committee was formed to oversee the smooth running of the new
billiard room which would prove to be a good source of additional income. A
Billiard Club was formed which competed in a local league.
In
time, requests were made to the Sub-committee for playing cards. Mindful of the
condition of the lease, the Committee wrote the Earl seeking his approval since
playing cards could be used for games of chance, playing for money or stakes
and betting which were prohibited. In the event, the Earl gave his approval.
It
wasn’t all plain sailing for the Recreation Sub-committee. It received
complaints that damage had been done to the billiard table. At a meeting in
January of 1915 the Committee noted that:
“Complaints having been made of damage having been done in the billiard room Wednesday afternoons (the shop-keepers’ half-holiday), it was Agreed by 7 votes to 5 votes that the billiard room should be closed on Wednesday afternoons in future.”
The
Book Sub-Committee was responsible for the purchase of books, periodicals and
newspapers. The selection of books still followed the aims of the Feu, that is,
that they served a literacy, educational and scientific purpose. However the
titles were becoming more accessible. Like the Recreation Sub-Committee, the Book Sub-Committee had to deal with bad
behaviour too. In 1915 the Librarian complained that someone had taken away a
copy of one of the monthly magazines and had “forgotten to return it.”
Obviously shocked, the Librarian also reported that “A page had also been cut
out of an illustrated paper seemingly out of meanness and wanton mischief.” It
was agreed that “such conduct is not only highly reprehensible, but may prove
dangerous to the perpetrators.”
By
1926 the selection of authors included Ruby M. Ayres, J. M. Barrie, Marie Corelli,
Guy Boothby, Rex Beach, Charles Dickens, A. Conan Doyle, Alex. Dumas, Zane Grey, Peter B. Kyne, Patrick McGill, A. E. W. Mason, E. P. Oppenheim, Baroness
Orczy, Joan Sutherland, Margaret Pedler, W. M. Thackeray, J. Laing Waugh, H. G.
Wells. Nonetheless the General Committee would maintain control of the
“suitability” of books until the 1940’s.
During
the 1930’s and 1940’s the Reading Room had competition from Aikman’s, a
confectionary shop in the premises that is now occupied by Tom Davidson’s
Gallery. There was an obvious market for novels that would be classed as best
sellers rather than the “educational” titles that the Reading Room Committee
thought were appropriate, so Aikman’s started a lending library that charged
subscribers 2d (about 1p) per book.
A PUBLIC LIBRARY INTRODUCED
In
1944, the Committee reached an agreement with the Berwickshire County Librarian
that a public library for Earlston should be located in the Reading Room. The
Committee agreed that “First Class” members were given first choice of new
books. Five years later the range and
number of books available had greatly increased with the addition of 236 adult
general, 1498 adult fiction and 598 juvenile volumes.
The
County Librarian’s Report for the year 1948-49 highlighted why the dogma of
purchasing books based on their educational and scientific merit was not the
best approach. The Librarian also gave some insight as to what lay ahead for
the Reading Room with the following observation:
“Educationalists may at first sight tend to deplore the fact that the reading of fiction is so predominant over the study of more serious books. It should be remembered that in Berwickshire the trades and crafts most widely pursued are not those readily learned from books, and that recreational reading is a factor of no mean importance when the varied trend of so many young people is towards the city with its more varied entertainments. The value of the library service in rural areas may well be judged from its ability to provide entertainment as well as instruction and some measure of its success gained from whether or not the people of the district are content with country life.”
A
Property Sub-Committee was formed to ensure that responsibilities of Burden 2
of the Feu Charter were being met. For example, in 1920, the Sub-committee
increased the fire insurance policy value from £800 to £1600. In 1945 the Southern Electric Supply Company
was approached regarding the installing an electrical supply to the building. A
contract for the installation, valued at £50-15s, was awarded to the Earlston
firm of J Readman and Sons in February the following year. Then, in 1947, the
Sub-committee wrote to Berwickshire County Council, raising concerns that the
heavy traffic using Tait’s Close (also known as Chisholm’s Close) was causing damage
to the building. Tait’s Close has now gone, having been built over by the
Hanover Close development, but at that time Tait’s Close, the “Postie Close”
and “Mathies Close” served as access lanes between the High Street and the
“Back Road”. The route of the Back Road
was followed when Summerfield Road was built.
Earlier, the Committee had acquired another property to manage. In 1926, a local
farmer, John Fairbairn of Fens, St. Boswells, had gifted the “Old Skinnery” or “Skin Works”
to the Committee to do with as it saw fit. Mr Fairbairn, mindful that his gift
carried with it an annual feu duty of £6, also donated 50 shares in the
Earlston Corn Exchange Company to cover this cost. The property, which
consisted of a house and stable, was occupied by a Mrs Jane Tully and the rent
would provide a modest additional income (in 1931 the rent was increased to £20
per annum). However the house, “Burnside Cottage” was, as the name suggests,
built on the banks of the Turfford burn and therefore liable to flooding. The
Committee sent numerous letters to Berwickshire County Council, urging that
remedial work be undertaken to prevent future flooding but no effective action
was taken. The Turfford burn is still a source of flooding almost a century
later.
The Reading Room pre-1921 showing Tait’s Close, the gap
between the Reading Room and the building on the extreme left of the
photo. The building to the right of the Corn Exchange was demolished in the
early 1950’s.
A CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT STYLE
In 1939,
the Earl of Haddington, who had traditionally held the Committee presidency,
became Honorary President. This indicated a lighter touch was being adopted by
the Earl, and one, it could later be argued was too light a touch.
Ladies
had, for many years been members of the Reading Room and Library (in 1913 the
Book Sub-Committee began to provide copies of “Woman at Home” magazine) and
now, in 1947, it was agreed that ladies should be represented on the General
Committee. The choice of ladies was at the discretion of the Chairman and
Secretary and it appears from the
Minutes of Meeting that Mrs Lloyd and Miss Vera Davidson were the first lady
committee members.
READING ROOM CENTENARY 1952
At
the Annual General Meeting held in January it was agreed that the Earl of
Haddington be elected as President and Chairman for the year. The other elected
officials were Vice-president Mr H W Kerr; Secretary Mr W Halcrow, and
Treasurer Mr J McQuillin. The committee comprised Mrs Lloyd, Miss Davidson,
Miss Hood and Messers Wm Scott, J F Turnbull, W Kerr, R Smith, R Scott, W
Milton, G White, R Wilson and J Lamb.
It
was noted that this was the second occasion when the Chair had been occupied by
a member of his Lordship’s family, the first being the inaugural meeting held
in a two roomed thatched building on June 16, 1852.
In
June 1952 the centenary was celebrated with a dinner at the Red Lion Hotel. At
the dinner the Earl of Haddington presented a framed copy of the National
Covenant which had been signed by the people of Earlston in 1638.
When
he proposed the toast of “The Reading Room and Library”, Sir James Fergusson,
Keeper of the Records of Scotland, described the Covenant as “something
which should be hung in the public eye … an immensely valuable
possession.” “It represented”, he said,
“one of the great moments in the history of Scotland when almost all the nation
was united.”
The
Committee appealed to everyone in Earlston and district to support the
institution in this very important year. Sadly
the centenary marked the zenith of the institution.
SLOW DECLINE
Despite the Earl
donating 180 books to the Reading Room the following year, over the next fifty
years there would be a slow, terminal decline in the Reading Room and Library.
In
the late 1950’s the Earlston Junior and Secondary school was modernised. The
new buildings included a library, so the County Library books, held in the
Reading Room, were transferred to this new location. Consequently the Reading
Room became less relevant to the villagers.
In
the 1960’s the billiard table was so badly damaged that the cost of repairs
were beyond the means of the Committee and so the recreation room was closed.
Enjoying a break in the Reading Room - late 1960s
Some
organisations continued to use the Reading Room as a venue for their meetings,
most notably the Camera Club. However when a leak developed in the roof, the
Camera Club was forced to hold a fund raiser event to finance the repairs. The
situation was not sustainable.
Exhibition held in the Reading Room, wth John Weatherly in the foreground.
THE CURRENT SITUATION
With
the death of the last Trustee, secretary John Weatherly, there was
no-one left to take on the management of the building - hence its sorry
state today. Concerned residents were urging action to rescue the remaining
artefacts stored there.
The
future of the Reading Room and Library is now included in the Earlston Community Action Plan,
being taken forward by Earlston Community
Council in
liaison with interested bodies - the aim to safeguard the collections
stored in what was once an important symbol of Earlston's heritage
***************
