Earlston Reading Room - Its Past and Present

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.

BACKGROUND

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.

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."

COMMITTEE ROLES

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

 

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