Musings from the Merse
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
D Day
So today we take formal possession of our Duns property starting the slow and protracted (I suspect) metamorphosis from Huttonian to Reluctant Dinger-the reluctance pertaining more to leaving Hutton than actually being in ye olde towne of Dunse-as it was known until not too long ago-1882 to be exact. We will be spending a bit of time in a more or less empty house as various improvements are made and to sustain us for those long hours waiting for tradespeople to arrive we will gradually transfer the basic necessities of a nomadic existence: teabags,coffee percolator, kettle, 1938 Wisden, two teaspoons, 4 knives, forks and spoons, string, two Mugs -both 'Mugs from Muswell Hill--that was from yet another house ago.And to begin the paper work back ground reading we will have at hand the 'Transcript of the Minute Books of the Bailie of the Burgh of Barony of Dunse' just published by the Reiver Press of Galashiels.
A villager (from here) asked if I knew that Dunse was granted a charter of Burgh and Barony by James IV in 1490. It had slipped my mind. She muttered something about it going down hill ever since being one of those locals who regard Ber Wick as their town of choice with its Sir Morrisons and now Marks and Sparks. Duns just boasting a Coop, and praise the pigs for that small mercy. But even in 1490 it was a considerable place with 38 Cordiners, 49 Hammermen, 33 Skinners and Glovers, 16 Tylers (roof workers not Cockney suit fitters) and 28 Weavers. Just try finding even one Cordiner in sophisticated Berwick now a days. And in 1490 not a Polish plumber in sight.
So we start today the transition from incomer to indweller as a certain Alison Maxwell was described in August 1753. She was in deep manure with the Burgh Highheidyins for daring to 'cutt timbers, firr lopps' belonging to one Alexr Hay of Drummelziar and had to abstain in future entry into his enclosures-otherwise a penalty of Ten Pounds Scots mony would be handed down from the bench. Whatever happened to her descendants one wonders? The Hays are still there -in the Castle with, we hope, their firrs unlopped and their timbers resolutely uncutt.
No, Curious of Coldstream the image is not of our new house. This is the Hay's pad-Duns Castle-not the original pile but a Victorian McChateau
Comments:
All the best for the future in your new home. I just hope you're not expecting too much from the Coop down the road. It may be within walking distance but don't forget to build into your shopping trips the considerable extra time required by the aisles blocked with stuff which should already be on the shelves, the only till open being the ciggy/alcohol counter, and the snails pace staff.
# posted by 
: 6:18 PM
: 6:18 PM
will probably be shocked to hear that Duns doesn't feature on the VisitScotland map of the Borders so I wonder if it even really exists....just kidding of course. However, and just as fascinating from a historical perspective is the way the town is described in the depths of their web site.
Duns is a small market town in Berwickshire
Robert the Bruce built a castle here in 1320 nowadays its grounds are a park and a bird sanctuary. Duns became county town of Berwickshire, thriving thanks to its livetsock market. The hill of Duns Law stands to the north of the town, topped by the Covenanters Stone.
I wonder, is a livetsock market one where the locals bought socks of a particular shade of green?
Duns is a small market town in Berwickshire
Robert the Bruce built a castle here in 1320 nowadays its grounds are a park and a bird sanctuary. Duns became county town of Berwickshire, thriving thanks to its livetsock market. The hill of Duns Law stands to the north of the town, topped by the Covenanters Stone.
I wonder, is a livetsock market one where the locals bought socks of a particular shade of green?
No. Misprint. they were 'live socks'-not being changed too frequently gave them a certain animation.
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