September Events in Earlston in Times Past

What was making the news in Earlston  in September in Times Past?   Below are some items from the local press.   They are important in giving us  a picture of life at the time, as written at the time. So read on about  War Weapons Week in 1941, in 1933 a Rugby Sevens match, opinions on new street lighting,  a devastating 1874 fire,  a public affray  in 1850 - plus advertisements of the day. 

 

80 YEARS AGO in 1941 - WAR WEAPONS WEEK 

In 1941 War Weapons Week was held across Britain as a major national fund raising campaign to provide for the replacement of weapons lost in the evacuation from Dunkirk.

Each town was given a figure to raise. Earlston's target was £8000. In fact "the patriotic investors of Earlston" raised £23.006, 18 shillings and 4 pence - a phenomenal amount and equivalent to over £1 million pounds today. [Source: Measuring Worth]

 Southern Reporter:  4th September 1941

The fancy dress parade included a float depicting Mary Queen of Scots and her the Four Mary's - Peggy Betts, Ella Montgomery, Lizzie Burrell, Mary Young and Mame Weatherstone.

Voluntary organisations were  on parade, including nurses and the Home Guard.  

Earlston Home Guard, drilling at Carolside. 

 

 

 88 YEARS AGO IN 1933 - EARLSTON RUGBY SEVENS

 

Berwickshire News:  5th September 1933 

The Earlston Team who fell at the second round to Gala.  

 

 

ALSO 88 YEARS AGO IN 1933 - ELECTRIC STREET LIGHTING A DISAPPOINTMENT

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

 

Berwickshire  News: 5th  Sept. 1933 

 

120 YEARS AGO IN 1901 - ADVERTISEMENT

 

Southern Reporter:  1st September 1901

Note the early telephone number - 13. 
 

140 YEARS AGO IN 1881 - RAILWAY BETWEEN EARLSTON AND LAUDER? 

                                     Southern Reporter:  22nd September 1881

 

 

 147 YEARS AGO IN 1874  - DEVASTATING FIRE 

 The Southern Reporter of 17th September 1874 reported the news of a devastating fire in Earlston at the joiner's  workshop of John Wallace. 

"The inhabitants of Earlston were at nine o' clock on Thursday last,  alarmed by the unusual and ominous cry of "Fire".    A cry which turned out to be all too true; the workshop, a wooden erection of Mr. John Wallace, joiner being discovered to be in flames. 

Plenty of willing workers, men, women and even children rushed to the scene, but all saw at a glance that  the shop and  its contents were doomed.......Hardly had some of the men withdrawn when part of the shop fell with a crash thereby endangering the dwelling house of Mr Wallace which forms one of the range of two storey houses known as New Street.   So imminent the danger that at this time most of the dwellers  had removed their household goods and chattels. And that with such a hurry and confusion to cause no  little damage.

During  the dire struggle  to save the house, the fire spread in another direction. and caught hold of a stable in the adjoining property belonging to Mr David Jameson, grocer. All that could be done was done to save it, but the flames gained their mastery, but not before, however, the livestock were got out.  

The damage sustained by Mr, Wallace  is estimated as fully £500,  and is not covered by insurance.  The workmen in his employment have also lost all their tools.......  [£500 in 1874 is equivalent to £41,500 today}

Great sympathy is expressed by the public to Mr. Wallace. and his men.....and a public meeting was held in the Corn Exchange  on Thursday night ......  A subscription was at once opened ....on Monday the sum  amounted to upwards of £140." 

Seven  years on in the 1881 census, John Wallace was back in business, described as master joiner employing 5 men.

 

171 YEARS AGO IN 1850 - A SERIOUS AFFRAY IN EARLSTON 

"A serious disturbance took place in the village of Earlston between the hours of six and eight o'clock in the evening of Sunday last.  A number of Irish shearers on leaving some of the public houses in the village, where they had been drinking during the day, commenced to quarrel and fight with one another, and latterly to interfere with the  villagers, who turned out in considerable  numbers, and after some fighting, succeeded in expelling the Irishmen from the village.  One or two of the villagers were cut  rather severely with the reaping hooks in the possession of the opposite party, and several of the Irishmen did not escape altogether  from injury."   (Caledonian Mercury, Edinburgh:  12th September 1850.)

 

178 YEARS AG0 IN 1843  - ADVERTISEMENT

  

Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh) :  29th September 1843

 

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

 

Note:5 shillings is equivalent to  approx. £15 today. 

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178 years later from this coach advertisement above  saw the opening of the Borders Railway in September 2015 when part of the Waverley Line re-opened for 35 miles south of Edinburgh into the central Borders at Tweedbank.   

 Arrival of a steam train into Tweedbank, September 2015 

 

 

With thanks to Auld Earlston members 

for finding these little gems on life in Earlston in times past. 

Sources: 

• FindMYPast  - British Newspapers Online
• British Newspaper Archive 
• Measuring Worth
• Photographs from the Auld Earlston Collection  

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