Earlston Reading Room - Its Past and Its Future

Earlston's Reading Room occupies a prominent place in the Market Square, but sadly this once important building is now unoccupied, unused and presents a dilapidated air, with many of the artifacts of paintings and books still in place but fast deteriorating. 

  

A public meeting, to be chaired by Council Convenor David Parker, is to be  held on Tuesday April 26th 2016  at 7pm in the Church Hall to discuss its future.  So it seemed an appropriate time to look back at its past.   

 

The Reading room on the left to next to the Corn Exchange with its belfry tower. The photograph predates 1921 when the pump tower on the right was demolished to make way for the war memorial. 

BACKGROUND

In the 19th century Reading Rooms were a symbol of  Victorian self-help and the  desire for education.   They were warm, dry and largely free,  where you could read newspapers, and borrow books.   

Auld Earlston holds  "Earlston's Reading Room and Library - Rules and Regulations", written in 1955 by Mr. R. Smith  at the request of the Reading Room Committee.  Importantly  it includes a brief history. 

The document presents a fascinating read with details of the behaviour expected of users.  Newspapers of the day regularly reported on the Reading Room Committee Meetings and give us an insight into the discussions and  the choice of reading material purchased - with the emphasis on books of a "high moral tendency". 

HISTORY

Major Baillie of Mellerstain was the instigator.   In 1852 a meeting was held in the village  to gauge support for a Reading Room  at which the Major offered an initial donation of fifty  books for the library.  His offer was unanimously accepted, a committee formed with Major Baillie as President  and a Librarian duly appointed as manager. 

Prominent  members of the local community   were willing  to serve and included over the years,   Mr Colesworth and later Colonel Hope of Cowdenknowes.  Mr Aitkenhead (headmaster), Rev. Mair,(minister), Robert Riddle (surgeon),  Charles Wilson (manufacturer) and Adam Rodger (builder)  

 Major Baillie set down the following conditions:

• 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.  

The Recreation Room, too, had its strict 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. 

Seven years later, a  report in the "The Southern Reporter"  of 7th April  1859 noted:

118 people have availed themselves of the privilege of membership   and that it was gratifying to note the success of this useful institution which affords so many advantages at a very moderate cost. Members have access to the Library of up to 700 volumes, and to the reading room which has a regular supply of daily and weekly newspapers and periodicals, all for the all but nominal charge of 7d per quarter."

Newspaper reports listed items added to the library and they included such erudite titles as Dyers "History of Europe" - 5 volume,  Blaikie's "Life of LIvingstoun", "The Haigs of Bemersyde",  "Life in Fiji" by C.F.G. Cumming,  "The Life of the Prince Consort", Farrar's "Life of Christ", Marshman's "History of India", and Cameron's "Across Africa".  

In 1877 thanks were given to  "Mr Colesworth of Cowdenknowes for his handsome gift of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and  transactions of the Geographical Society".

Funding
The Reading Room remained a private subscription library, not supported by  any charitable grants  The early subscription of 7d per quarter had risen by 1955  to 10 shillings per annum. 

Old newspapers were sold each quarter  and events regularly took place for fund raising - these included whist drives, concerts,  and in 1924 "a theatrical and  vaudeville entertainment".  In the latter years, the Camera Club regularly held meetings there. 

The Southern Reporter of 5th May 1898 reported on a major bazaar:

 "To meet the expenses of considerable improvements to the building and to buy new books. To increase the house accommodation of the librarian and create a larger and better recreation room."  

A Centenary Celebration was held in Red Lion Hotel on 17th June  1952 at  which the President the Earl of  Haddington presented a framed  copy of the *National Covenant with the signatures of the people of Earlston, who signed it  in 1638. at Greyfriars, Edinburgh.  It was also  noted that the Library had a number of valuable possessions including  a lock of Sir Walter Scott's hair and his autograph;  and that the Reading Room had risen from a humble two roomed, thatched building to the impressive building occupying a central position in Earlston Square.

The Latter Years  
The 1970's saw the opening of a Public Library in the school offering a new free facility to local readers. With the death of Reading Room secretary, John Weatherly, and all the Trustees, no-one was left to take on the management of the facility. Hence its sorry state today.

Enjoying a break in the  Reading Room c.late 1960s

UPDATE

A  packed public meeting on April 26th 2016  heard a presentation from Council Convenor David Parker on the current legal position regarding  the ownership of the Reading Room and  outlined options for the whole community to work together on a way forward. A steering committee is being set up to look at revitalising this once important symbol of Earlston's heritage.

              

 Earlston Reading Room - April 2016 

 *  The National Covenant
"The signing of the National Covenant has been called the biggest event in Scottish history. In essence it was a document, a contract with God, signed by the Nobles, Ministers and thousands of ordinary Scots, who pledged themselves to defend Scotland’s rights by stating what they would and wouldn't agree to in matters of Kirk and state.  The Covenant demanded a free Scottish Parliament and a General Assembly, free from the King’s interference, and specifically, it demanded the abolition of bishops." (Source BBC Scottish History)

The copy donated to the Reading Room by Lord Haddington in 1952 is now in the care of the Heritage Hub, Hawick. 

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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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Life in Earlston in the Late 19th Century

                 What was everyday life like in Earlston 
                             in the late 19th century?

We get a sense of this from old newspapers, They are fascinating documents. The reports enable us to "experience" events, as they were recorded in the press of the time. It is not textbook history in the conventional manner, but is full of vigour, recording many varied aspects of the lives of ordinary people.
 

Take a look at these random snippets of "Headlines on Earlston" drawn from the local press - the first of a regular series.

A NEW SCHOOL 
EARLSTON. The property known as the Thorn House, has been purchased by The Misses Scott, Dunbar, for the purpose of establishing a high class boarding and day school for young ladies. 10 June 1879 - Berwickshire News and General Advertiser.

TEACHER WANTED 
FOR the SCHOOL of REDPATH, Parish of Earlston. Applicants for the situation must be qualified to Teach thoroughly all the Ordinary Branches of Scottish Education. A Salary is given. The School is at present in a highly prosperous condition. 
15 July 1864 - Kelso Chronicle

COALS FOR THE POOR  


EARLSTON.The Kirk Session meeting on Thursday evening resolved to distribute about 35 tons of coal among or poor people in the parish. The coals are to be supplied by Mr William Gray, Coal-Agent, Earlston Station. 
9 November 1878 - Berwickshire News and General Advertiser


WORKING WEEK REDUCED TO 57 HOURS A WEEK             

EARLSTOUN. Short-Time Movement.— Last week Messrs (Chas. Wilson & Sons intimated to their employees that they should henceforth have one hour each meal instead of three-quarters formerly, thereby reducing the time of labour for the week to fifty-seven.  10 November 1871 - Kelso Chronicle.

 

Rhymer's Mill 

WEATHER - (Sounds familiar!)

Since the snow disappeared. a  considerable quantity of rain has fallen, which has saturated the soil with moisture and delayed the work of seed sowing. A favourable change, however, set in on Saturday, which was a good drying day,[

09 April 1872 - Berwickshire News and General Advertiser

PAVING THE STREETS A public meeting of the inhabitants of Earlston was held in the Reading Room Hall, on Wednesday evening, to consider the subject of making pathways on each side of the main street of Earlston, 17 January 1871 - Berwickshire News and General Advertiser.

DEATH OF LANCELOT WATSON:  11th April 1918 - Hawick Advertiser.

But  who was Lancelot Watson, with Earlston, Hawick and American connections?  
More research called for here!

And Finally: 

AN INSTANCE OF BEING FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLYING.

There died the other day at East Morriston a man named John Middlemass, at the very advanced age of 93. He was the father of 11 children. He had 70 grandchildren, 138 great-grandchildren, and 4 great, great  grandchildre , making in all 223 descendants. 17 May 1881 - Berwickshire News and General Advertiser.

So John Middlemass must have been born c.1788, just before the time of the French Revolution, and 75 years before the railway reached Earlston in 1863. 

Also Take a Look At

Life in Earlston in the 1790's 

Life in Earlston in the 1830's
 

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Earlston Railway Cuttings 1 - Celebrating the First Sod

11th October 1862 was a local holiday in Earlston to mark the cutting at Greenlaw of the first sod for the Berwickshire Railway, with shops and businesses closed for the day.  

An article in "The Southern Reporter" 23rd October 1862 gives us a contemporary and entertaining  account of the celebrations  on that occasion:

"Villagers were put on the "qui vive" by the arrival of the brass band of the 2nd Selkirkshire Volunteers who reached here between 8 and 9 o'clock, and after partaking of refreshments and discoursing several spirit stirring tunes, proceeded onwards to the centre of attraction.

They were quickly followed by the majority of our male population in carriages, gigs and omnibus, and not a few in long carts - the occupants making every village and farmstead they passed resound with their oft repeated and hearty "hurrahs".

Of what passed at Greenlaw it is unnecessary to to speak here, suffice to say that the whole of our sightseers arrived home between 6 and 7 o'clock in the evening, all highly gratified by the proceedings, not from what was seen or heard, but from the fact that they had had a period [a stop] put to their desponding fears, and had witnessed the realisation of their ardent hopes. The commencement of the railway will open up a ready means of communication in every direction.

Towards night, rain began to fall which to a great extent marred the effect of a large bonfire on the Western Green, the materials for which had been kindly contributed by Messrs Wood, Gasworks; Smith, merchant; Brownlie. wood-merchant.

The Messrs Wilson, manufacturers, not only closed their factory, and placed their horses and carts at the disposal of their employees. but forwarded a liberal supply of refreshments and had also secured in Greenlaw a private room for their reception."

 A goods train from Earlston travelling between Gordon and Greenlaw.

Copyright  © Bruce McCartney.  All Rights Reserved.  

 http://www.geoffspages.co.uk/monorail/bmcc01.htm

 

This article is the first in a series of newspaper clippings 

on the railway through Earlston.  

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Earlston Women at Work

Women's Worktime Fashions is the theme for  our latest post - from munitions to mills, housework to farming.

                     Earlston Munitions Workers at Charlesfield, St. Boswells.

Around 950,000 British women worked in munitions factories during the Second World War, making weapons like shells and bullets. Munitions work was often well-paid, but involved long hours, sometimes up to seven days a week. Workers were also at serious risk from accidents with dangerous machinery or when working with high explosive material.  Some munitions workers handled toxic chemicals every day. Those who handled sulphur were nicknamed ‘Canary Girls’, because their skin and hair turned yellow from contact with the chemical. [Source: My Learning.Org ]

 Nurses  in the Second World War

                             

Housewives at the Travelling Co-op Van  

I remember my mother wearing this kind of pinny with a handy front pocket for dusters etc. . She made them too for many a sale of work. 

Workwear at the Egg Packaging Station at Georgefield Farm

                     

               

 

 

       

   At Simpson & Fairbairn's Rhymer's Mill, Earlston 

                                                                   Haymaking
                                                                                           

 

 Bondagers

Bondagers were female farm workers in south east Scotland and Northumberland. As part of their husband's contract (or bond) with the farmer, he would undertake to provide another worker (usually his wife) to help as and when required. The women wore a distinctive dress with bonnet, described as the "last remaining peasant costume" in Britain.

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Thank you to everyone who has  donated or loaned old photographs for scanning. 

For more photographs on village life,  
look at our associated Facebook page  Lost Earlston

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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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Fire at John Wallace, Joiners in 1874.

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.......

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.  

It is but fair to Mr. Wallace  to say that he had  insured the property up to two years ago, but not only the office with which he had been insured,  but another to which he applied, refused to undertake the risk on any terms.   

The stable and property belonging to Mr Jamieson was insured.  

[Note:   £500 in 1874 is equivalent to £41,500 today - website Measuring Worth]

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

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The Wallace family remained very grateful for the generosity of the Earlston people.  John Wallace's daughter Isabella was 20 years old at the time of the fire.  She never married keeping house for her brother George, also a joiner. She  died in 1920 and  In her will, after bequests to her nephews and nieces and to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary,  left the sum of £3240 to Earlston Parish Council "For the purpose of improving the amenities of the Town of Earlston including footpaths, paving and lighting and similar objects."

Council records held at the Heritage Hub, Hawick confirm that the Isabella Wallace Fund was used for the provision of lighting, the upgrading of the square, with railings around the War Memorial. the removal of the air raid shelter and a gateway and railings at the riverside park of Mill Meadow, where she is still remembered today.   

 

Background to Searching Old Newspapers
The Heritage Hub at Hawick holds microfilm copies of old Border newspapers.  However these are not indexed, and you do need to have a good idea of a date to search for a specific item i.e. month and year.  

Three websites (subscription or pay as you view) feature searchable British Newspapers including Border titles:   

• British Newspaper Archive
  Berwickshire News, Hawick News, Kelso Chronicle,   and Southern Reporter
• Find My Past
  Berwickshire News, Hawick News, Kelso Chronicle,  and Southern Reporter
• Genes Reunited
  Hawick News, Kelso Chronicle, and Southern Reporter
  
  

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