Archives

FULLY BOOKED Cardrona Tower Survey

FULLY BOOKED There are more than 40 towers known along the Tweed corridor. Towers of the Tweed, one of the research themes of Uncovering the Tweed, will investigate and visit several of them to explore stories around particular tower house sites. Elements of the sites will be recorded digitally using photogrammetry and laser scanning, with […]

Meeting of the poets at Abbotsford

Wordsworth climbed from his carriage and held out his hand to wife Mary and sister Dorothy. The crunch of their small feet on the gravel drive startled a robin, who sang as it watched the three visitors look up at Abbotsford. “Such a fine house and a peaceful place,” William said as the front door […]

The monks of Dryburgh, from Wilsons tales of The Borders.

This tale was contributed by The Wilson’s Tales Project which celebrated the life and stories of Tweedmouth-born John Mackay Wilson and his ‘Tales of the Borders’ through a series of events for all ages supported by a Destination Tweed Community Grant. The monks of Dryburgh heard the Laird of Meldrum, was dying. Two brethren set […]

Tackling pollution in the 1960s

In 1964 the Inspector and Chemist of the Tweed River Purification Board issued one of his regular reports, with details about water abstractions and pollution incidents. Examples include: • There were many complaints about the dumping of soot and a letter was sent to all chimney sweeps in the Borders about proper disposal arrangements. • […]

Pioneering river protection work in the 1950s

In the 1950s an unusual and ambitious body was set up – the Tweed River Purification Board. This body viewed the Tweed as a whole, crossing local authority borders, and aimed to make the Tweed a clean and healthy river. The make-up of the Board in 1954 was a sign of the times – including […]

Gargoyle vs Grotesque

Do you know the difference between a gargoyle and a grotesque? While both can appear as fantastical creatures or monstrous figures, and often have a symbolic meaning, gargoyles are functional – they were designed to drain water away from the sides of buildings, whilst grotesques are purely decorative. So, while all gargoyles are grotesques, not […]