Exhibition on Earlston at Work and Play

Auld Earlston's recent exhibition and slide show at the Church Hall has been voted a great success by organisers of the local heritage group.  
 

The theme of "Earlston at Work and Play" drew a large audience throughout the two days, with the four slide shows attracting full houses. Visitors also had the chance to browse through information panels and extensive displays of vintage photographs on working lives - at farms, mills, blacksmiths, shops, trades  and as carters and posties, whilst "Earlston at Leisure" saw features on the local cinema, dances, fetes, socials and shows, plus fun outdoors, sporting activities and setting out for trips away.

Visitors enjoyed reminiscing over tea and coffee, whilst also completing a short survey "Share a Memory of Work and Leisure in Earlston." 

 

Auld Earlston Chairman,  Sheila Mckay said " We were delighted at the response and thank all who came along to support our event to make it such a success. We were encouraged by the length of time many people took to look around and see what our Auld Earlston Group is  doing to keep Earlston’s past alive."

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See Earlston at Work and Play at our October Open Days

AULD  EARLSTON

Valuing the History of our Village
for Future Generations

 

YOUR COMMUNITY HERITAGE GROUP
is holding 

Open Days in October on the theme

EARLSTON AT WORK & PLAY

Saturday Oct. 29th, 10am-3pm
Sunday Oct. 30th, 12noon-4pm

in the Church Hall.

·   New Slide Show - previously unseen images
  Sat. 11am & 1.30am.     Sun. 1pm & 2.30pm

·         Exhibition of Photographs and Memorabilia

Admission £2, Children Free.  Including Tea/Coffee

ALL WELCOME

Tel. 01896 848240.  E-Mail: auldearlston@aol.com

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 AT WORK

Simpson & Fairbairn Mill

 AT PLAY

Happy choir members from Ercildoune Church on their trip 
to the Trossachs in 1936.

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Railway Photographs on Show around the Village

 Take a look around Earlston and you will now see  

old photographs of Earlston's Railway 

displayed in 22 shops and venues in the village. 

They are the result of Auld Earlston's  recent project "Remembering Earlston's Railway 1863-1965" .  

 

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An accompanying  notice outlines the railway's history:

The Berwickshire Railway through Earlston served the village 1863-1965. and was one of many lines lost in railway history. 

It provided the link between the east coast Edinburgh - London line and the Waverley Route through the central Borders via Newtown St. Boswells. The cross- country railway was built in three stages - to Duns in 1849, westwards to Earlston in 1863 and the final stage two years later in 1865 with the completion of the Leaderfoot Viaduct across the River Tweed.

Devastating floods across Berwickshire in August 1948 meant that passenger services were suspended, with only freight services continuing on part of the line.

Closure came without ceremony on 16th July 1965 - marking the end of the 102 year old line of the Berwickshire Railway through Earlston.

      Auld Earlston acknowledges project funding from Scottish Borders Council's                    Borders Railway Celebration Fund and the Community Grant Scheme. 

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Auld Earlston on Track with Open Day & Exhibition

The Open Day and Exhibition held last Saturday  by Auld Earlston attracted a large audience throughout the day at the Church Hall.

The main focus of the exhibition was the launch of the group's latest project "Remembering Earlston's Railway (1863-1965)", with forty photographs, both framed and laminated, which will shortly go on show in shops and other venues around the village. Adding to the display were information sheets on the history of the railway, contemporary accounts from old newspapers  and contributions from primary school children who were involved in interviewing grandparents and older residents on their railway memories. 

 One of the information displays on the railway project. 

 Steam train crossing the Leaderfoot Viaduct, c. 1959

Photograph by the late Rev. John Duncan of Earlston

Visitors also had the chance to browse through extensive displays of vintage photographs on the village, watch a slide show and chat over tea and coffee. 

Chairman Sheila Mackay said " We were delighted at the response and thank all who came along to support our first open day and exhibition,to make it such a success. We were encouraged by the length of time many people took to look around and exchange reminiscences. It was good to meet people we had not seen for many years and some folks who had travelled from far and wide to see what our group is doing to keep Earlston’s past alive."

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DIARY DATE - Saturday 27th Feb. Open Day & Exhibition in the Church Hal 10am-3pm

REMEMBERING EARLSTON'S RAILWAY (1863-1965)

Saturday 27th February 2016

OPEN DAY & EXHIBITION

in the  Church Hall, Earlston 

10am-3pm 

Admission £2 incl. tea/coffee - children free

View the railway photographs to  be turned into display pictures for  show at venues throughout the village, as part of our project "Remembering Earlston's Railway". 

Read memories of the railway gathered by children at Earlston Primary School who have  been interviewing older residents in the village.  

Browse through an exhibition of vintage photographs of Auld Earlston. 

Watch a rolling slide show.

Chat over tea/coffee and meet members of your local heritage group. 

If you missed our main evening event last October, here is the daytime  opportunity to find out more about the activities of Auld Earlston.

DO COME ALONG - ALL WELCOME  

 

 Auld Earlston acknowledges project funding from Scottish Borders Council

Borders Railway Celebration Fund and the Community Grant Scheme