The Proceedings (or history) of the Berwickshire Naturalist Club

If researching in the Scottish Borders, the Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalist Club is well worth a read.  Although mainly written by hobbyists in the area  - they should not be dismissed, the local and oral history of the time is invaluable. The volumes which begin in 1834 provide details about places, people, geology, flora and fauna.  The volumes 1834-2000 have been digitalised by the Biodiversity Heritage Library   The Centenary volume published in 1933 is a must as it contains an index for journals written between 1834 - 1933

Below is an example of two journal articles written after a club excursion in June 1886.  It was organised by James Wood, who unfortunately died a month later. 

EXTRACTS FROM NOTES ON  REDPATH by Mrs Wood (after the death of James)

"A row of houses once stood in what are two fields lying at the end of the village and there also was "Cairncroce Castle" a building of some pretensions to architectural beauty in those days. Several plum trees of the Castle gardens still adorn the corner of some of these fields...In addition to the row of houses adjoining the castle another row ran along the top of a field in the middle of the village known as the "Nursery" and continued down "The Style Well" road to the plantation……”

“Redpath was well known at one time for its horse races which were held on a level piece of ground on the south of the village, still called "Race gate" between "Redpath rig" and the "Cadgers gate" . These annual races seem to have been very popular , but the making of the new turnpike road to Kelso across the course caused them to be transferred to Redpath Moss. Whether owing to the change of ground or that such sports, gradually gave way to other forms of amusements, the races at the Moss never seem to have been so much frequented and their existence having been maintained some years with difficulty, they were in June of "Waterloo year" finally abandoned."

" Redpath lies about 3 miles north from Dryburgh, and long before macadamized roads were dreamed of there existed a way from the Abbey to the Hospital of Soutra Hill. This way was called the Pilgrims Path and its course passed over the height at "Redpath rig" where tradition says a cross stood, and close by was a well whose waters doubtless were prized as no common beverage by many travellers. At this part the path bore the name of the Pilgrims rest and continuing down to Redpath a branch struck of to the mill where pilgrims intending to visit the church of St Mary at Melrose crossed the leader on their way. From Redpath the path is said to have proceeded to Earlstoun, along the valley and thence over a hill to the north of the town known as "The Corse Hill". At the head of this hill not far from the present farmhouse of Huntshaw was another cross, the produce of a piece of land - "The Corse rig", - being devoted to its upkeep, as with that of Redpath Rig to the maintenance of the Cross at "The Pilgrims Rest."

THE DRIVE TO REDPATH

“Proceeding up the “Pilgrims Path” along which in olden times pilgrims and others were wont to journey from Dryburgh Abbey to the Hospital of Soutra, the company were in easy view of Smailholm Tower, where Sir Walter Scott Visited from time to time, and where he places the scene of his “Eve of St John”.  A little to the North is the sight of the ancient hamlet of Wrangholm, the reputed birthplace of St Cuthbert. Next came under notice the once universally dreaded Hen Dean, where 60 years ago - says Mr Wood - when superstition was more rife than now, it was considered an act of unheard of heroism to pass this place in the dark without whistling. It was believed that a headless hen going up and down the dean in the dark calling “chuck! chuck! chuck!” was a demon in disguise.  Redpath was then reached. Its lands came into possession of the Abbey of Melrose somewhere in the fourteenth century, having been gifted to the monks by Thomas Randolph of Moray, whose tower stood at the west end of the village. Another tower stood at the east end, and at that time the place had a population of 600 inhabitants. Now it wears a very quiet and decayed appearance. Once it was the busy seat of the handloom weaving industry, and about the beginning of the century the click of the shuttle could have been heard in every house.”

JAMES WOOD

James Wood was born at Redpath village on the 13th January 1832. His father, also James married Ellen (Helen) Shillinglaw in 1817.  His father was a mason, who was one of the builders who built Redpath Village school, His mother Helen Shillinglaw was from the Shillinglaw family who had lived in Redpath Village for many years. Helens father was George Shillinglaw a nurseryman at Redpath and her uncle Joseph was a joiner, both were said to be involved with the building of Abbotsford house. The family name stretches back in records to a Joseph Shillinglaw the Miller in Redpath Mill in the Mid 1750’s.  Therefore it is not inappropriate to conclude that the stories told above will be rooted in the Shillinglaw and Wood family’s oral and family history.

Occupations of Redpath people throughout the years

Below is a list of occupations that the people of Redpath have been recorded as doing. The list is taken from, church records, sassiness, wills census returns

Tinsmith

Alexander Blyth 1900s – lived in Earlston and moved to Redpath during his later years

Dry Stone Dyker

James Elliot c1890s

Adam Tomlie c1870s changed to Fish Hawker 1880s

Butcher

Adam Shortreid also Cattle dealer and carter

William Mitchell – c 1900s- 1920s

Merchants/Grocers/Hawkers etc

John Tait c 1880s – 1890s General dealer

Jacob Tait c 1871 – 1883 Muggar and General dealer and carter

Adam Tomlie c1880s – fish Hawker

William Bell c1890s = 1900s Draper previously Ag Lab

Andrew Neilson - Hawker

Rachel Neilson c1890s – 1903 Hawker of earthenware

David Douglas c1870

Mathew Douglas c1880s – hawker of china

Walter Douglas c1880s – General Dealer and Hawker

William Jamieson c1840s - c1850s Hawker

Elspeth Fairbairn c1850s-1880s Grocer and spirit dealer

George Hogarth c1890s – 1920s Draper and Grocer

Adam Lambert c1880s – Grocer, moves to Hawick

William Redpath c1840s - Licenced Hawker

George Scott c1870s-1890s – Potato Merchant

Railwaymen. Roadmen

Charles Duff c1890s – railway surfaceman

Edward Duff c1890s – roadman

James Elliot c1901-1911 roadman and drystone dyker

John Simpson c1870s and 1880s Railway surfaceman

Joiner

William Buchan c1870s

John Wallace c1890s Foreman joiner

Labourers/farm workers

James Boyd c1840 – 1881 Labourer/gent labourer

Robert Crosbie c1840s – 1850s

Samuel Cairns c1860s

John Falside c1840-1850s – servant

Walter Inglis c18002 – Ag Lab

John Lindores c1880s – retired labourer

Robert Johnstone c1890s-1930s Estate labourer

William Lauder c 1890s-1911 – Gardeners Labourer

James Lauder c1860s Ploughman

John Learmount c1800s early Ag Lab

James Mitchell c 1840s and 1850s Labourer

George Muir c1870s- Ag Lab

Charles Moffatt c1870s Ag Lab and Gardener

Donald McRitchie c1871s General labourer

Richard Robertson c 1880s Ag Lab

Andrew Quarry c1820s – labourer

Andrew Robertson c1870s – labourer

Robert Scott c1830 and 1840s Ag lab

John Scott c 1850s Labourer

Andrew Simpson c1860s AgLab

Alexander Simpson c 1870s and 1880s

Thomas Simpson c 1770s Stewart Redpath Mains

Robert Tait c1890s Labourer

John Stenhouse c1990s retired

John Watherston c1840s Ag Lab

Andrew wood c1850s – 1870s Ag Lab

Samuel Wright c 1900s – Estate labourer

William White c1860s and 1880s – General labourer

Household

Henry Bell – butter servant c1850s

Alexander Cochrane c1880s Retired Driver

George Gibson 18702 Groom

Minister

John Lithgow c1660s minister of the Ewes

The Malt Barn kiln and steep

Throughout the Redpath records there are frequent references to a malt barn, kiln and steep in the village. Sasines and wills have charted its presence, its location at the west of the village and its owners.

Below is an extract from the will of John Mason a Malster in Redpath who rented the Maltbarn from David Brown of Park.  He died in 1737. The inventory of his possessions gives a fascinating insight into the tools he used as a malster as well as his way of life in Redpath Village. The spelling and language has not been changed from the original

The Will of a Malster

In the Easter Room a Clossbed sixteen shillings eight pence, a press three shillings, a table one shilling eight pence, a big chist six shillings, four chairs and a farm three shillings 10 pence, one iron chimney one shilling eight pence. In the kitchene, three clossbeds one pound ten shillings, a big chist six shillings eight pence, One lesser chist two shillings six pence, a big press ten shillings, a smaller press sixpence, a bink two shillings sixpence, a resting chair and small chair two shillings two pence, a furm and four stools two shillings two pence, a little table one shilling four pence. Six pewther plates ten shillings, six panther trenches three shillings a pewther bason and mustard box ten pence, Three pints stoups and chopine ones four shillings, a copper tankard one shilling four pence, mutchkin half mutchkin and gill stoups nine pence. White iron filler four pence. Two ston mugs sixpence, ten timber benches and a dozen timber bickers and caps one shilling nine, two bras candlesticks one shilling eight pence, six loame trenches a shilling, a small punch bowl one shilling sixpence three glasses five pence, a big yettling pot seven shillings, two small yettling pots seven shillings, two small yettling pots five shillings, a girdle two shillings, two crooks and a pair of clips three shillings sixpence, a masking falt and thorn falt and wost boat three shillings four pence. Two coggs eight pence, three tubs two shillings, eight pence, two bronzes sixpence, two four gallon barrils one shilling eight pence, three small boats one shilling a meal box and bakie board a shilling, a salt box three pence, a frying pan one shilling six pence two kims eight pence, a chack reel eight pence, a wool wheel ten pence, a smoothing iron sixpence, a spoon box and two horn spoons sixpence, a meal sieve and coal riddle one shilling, two malt scoops eight pence. ten fir dales six shillings eight pence, a small heck and manger four pence, a broken sledge and cart, saddle one shilling, a small ladder two pence, a Fair of gantrees sixpence, two pairs iron tongs eight pence, two timber doors one shilling, two feather beds and bolsters fifteen shillings, two tykes of beds and bolsters three shillings, five feather cods two shillings, sixpence, thirteen pairs of blankets one pound six shillings, four coverings four shillings, three pairs of linen sheets twelve shillings, three pairs straikings do. shillings six pence, four cod waiss one shilling four pence, two tablecloths and ten napkins four shillings and eight pence, three big glass bottles one shilling and sixpence, four dozen chopin bottles four shillings, a black horse pair sod Mimics and bridle two pounds, a milk cow one pound five shillings and eight pence, a stuck five shillings, a cock and 4 hens one shilling and eight pence, a stone black and half a stonewhite laid wool 11 shillings, a parcel of lint two shillings, eight futiots and half of malt at sixteen shillings per boll one pound eight shillings four pence, a furlot of rye two shillings four pence, half a furlot of bear one shilling tuppence, twenty five du-eaves one stouck nine sheads oats coin and straw three pounds, twenty five threaves bear three pounds fifteen shillings.

Follows the debts owned to him;

Be Hugh Scott of Gala Esquire for malt two pounds, James Lythgow of Kirklands for Malt ten shillings and tuppence, Cunningham of Hyndehope seven shillings two pence, George Walker in Melrose as remains of Malt eighteen shillings ten pence all stifling money

Follows the debts owed by him;

To Dr John Rutherford for trouble and attendance on him on his death bed. Sickness as per his missive two pounds two shillings. To four pints one chopin spirits from James Wait merchant in Melrose at two shillings sixpence a pint - eleven shillings and thrupence, To a stone of cheese three shillings four pence. To wheat bread from Margaret Haitly in Earlston one shilling eight pence. To five dozen pipes and a half of tobacco two shillings and fourpence. To half a bolt of Knitens two pence halfpenny. To half a paper of pins three pence To a pound of candles five pence. To Alexander Anderson for making the coffine seven shillings, To the grave making and bellman one shilling and two pence. To the mort cloth two shillings sixpence, To the king for arrears of malt and ale excise as per the gangers note three pounds four pence halfpenny. To half ane years fue and counteth Jean Mason the defuncts hired servant from Whitsunday to Martimas one thousand seven hundred and thirty seven fifteen shillings one penny To David Brown of Park for one years rent of the house and malt kiln and barn from Whitsunday one thousand seven hundred and thirty six to Whitsunday one thousand seven hundred and thirty seven and for the croft and acre crop one thousand seven hundred thirty seven six pounds one shilling eight pence. To shearing bonding leading and bigging the twenty five threave one stouck and nine shears oats and twenty five threaves bear fourteen shillings four pence all stilling money.

Master John Dickson Antonshill Commisar principal of the commisariot Lauder The confirmationis dated at Lauder the eleventh day of October. One thousand seven hundred and thirty seven. John Wood tenant whinkerstones

The Redpath Corn Mill

Redpath corn mill is documented from the earliest of records to the1800’s. At one time the track leading from the village to the mill would be busy with traffic. And yet although the corn mill still shows signs of its existence with regards to its mill lead and foundations of outer buildings, not one old county or ordnance survey map displayed its position. However in 1796 Thomas Tod Esquire having recently acquired Drygrange and Kirklands, had his land surveyed, and in the corner the corn mill is displayed.

In the Caledonian Mercury on the 17 June 1780 the Mill and lands were advertised for sale.

The People of Redpath Corn Mill

first recorded name connected to the Mill found: Forson’s

1660 William Forson of Ripeth Mill was recorded in Melrose Regality Court Records in 1660, 1666, 1668 and 1670 (their may be others).

second generation of Forson’s

The next generations - William Forson (b1666) is mentioned on the above gravestone. William, Robert and a James Forson are all mentioned in Covenanter records as well as a John Lythgow (of Drygrange and Redpath) who was a minister at Ewes Parish Church. When William returned from exile, he appeared initially to return to Redpath. He married Ms Foster and had three of his children in the village. However, at some point he settled in Hollydean (now Hallydean near Scott’s View) where in 1703 the Haig’s of Bemersyde built a Mill.

Mungo PARK

Mungo Park a Millwright lived in Redpath in the early 1700s. somewhere between 1699 and 1727. He had four children baptised in Redpath (John, Mungo and Isobel, and James). It is understood Mungo Park junior died in Earlston in 1751.

third generation of Forson’s

Another William Forson is back at the Mill. He is recorded in the village certainly between 1735- 1748 when his children (William Robert and Alison are born). It is likely he stayed longer.

Thomson and YULE

As mentioned in the above newspaper article in 1780 the mill was possessed by a John Thomson and leased by a Thomas Yule

Thomas Tod Esquire

In 1796 Thomas Tod of Drygrange and Kirklands has his land surveyed and includes the mill in his property.

The Shillinglaw family

Initially, Joseph Shillinglaw and his family lived at Legerwood. However, somewhere between 1856 and 1859 he moved to Redpath. Several of Joseph’s children remained in Redpath as did his grandchildren. Indeed many of the descendant’s (The Wood family and Rev Crockett) writing about it in later years

MABON

1820 William Mabon miller at Redpath Milne and Elizabeth Cairns were married in 1820 in Redpath Mill, later they can be found at Rhymers Mill in Earlston

The Glen Road

If only trees could talk, then what stories they could tell!  On Kirklands road there is a layby often used by walkers.

The enlarged portion of the Kirkland’s map below, published in 1812, shows that there was once a cottage, yard and braes on the present layby. Look amongst woodland and the evidence is there.

This map also shows the Glen road and its junction with the Kirklands road. The junction being beside the cottage. In 1812 the Kirklands road does not cross the small stream, but rather leads to a nearby field. To get to Redpath from Melrose or Gattonside, the Glen Road would be the quickest, but perhaps not the safest.

So when did the Glen road close to traffic? Below is a Kelso Chronicle report from the summer of 1861. It highlights the perils of driving on the Glen Road, and the safer route to Redpath that had opened.