Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Seven Happy Days - 1914
Piper rest, piper rest, ow a carol of the moon, piper, piper play your best, melt the sun into your tune.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
The Little Princess Had Always to Play Alone
Illustration for The Birthday of the Infanta, by Oscar Wilde.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Kircudbright - The Gates
The gates of this old 'Adams' style' house belonging to the late E. A. Hornwell whose art has captured the wonder of the woods and flower-decked bays outside the town. His forebears belonged to Kirkcudbright and although he was born in Australia he spent his life in the town and enhanced its reputation in the world of art. He died in 1933. His house and contents he gifted to the stewartry as a gallery and museum. 'Broughton House' dates from the 17th century.
Kircudbright - Down by the Harbour
This cottage is of great antiquity. One of its recent tenants was John Houston postman & weather prophet. Now occupied 1934 by W Stitt river pilot. The Mote Brae which looks down on it was the site of a ship building yard called The Old Yard Quay where Homer and James Campbell grandfather and granduncle of William Mac Kenzie bookseller (1934) built ships 100 years ago.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Her face was veiled with a veil of gauze but her feet were naked
Illustration for The Fisherman and His Soul by Oscar Wilde
Kircudbright - Osborne's Lane
Like many others this Close bears the name of its latest owner. Formerly it had doors at either end and a bakery in the Close sixty years ago.
Kircudbright - Gordon Anderson's Smithy
This smithy has been owned by Andersons for generations. This Close also contains the stable of the Selkirk Arms Hotel where Burns wrote the words of "Scots wha hae" report says.
Kircudbright - Market Close
This archway leads to the slaughterhouse. The corner stone in the form of a sculptured head originally came from Dundrennan Abbey.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Kircudbright - McKeachie's Close
McKeachie's takes its name from the grandfather of the present owner Miss Wishart. The houses in the Close are the original building when Lord Kircudbright was proprietor and the house to the left of the archway was built on the site of his house.
Kircudbright - The washing day of old
Modern washing houses are certainly more convenient, but there is a certain charm in this method.
Kircudbright - Fisher's Close
Fisher's Close gets its name from one of the later owners of the houses. Formerly a sawmill called Payne's was situated in this close. Earlier it had the name of Gordon Hall.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Kirkcudbright - Corbie Slap
This Close is supposed to owe its name to Jean Corbie the only woman who dared to speak in favour of Elspeth MacEwen the last witch to be burned in Scotland. William Johnston, merchant, who founded the Johnston Free School lived in the house on the right side. The Muckle Yett was at this Close. It was removed and is now at Saint Cuthbert's church yard. Alexander Cavan, banker, was instrumental in saving this old world edifice's foundation stones in the High Street.
Kirkcudbright - Canon's Close
John Canon a worthy old gentleman kept a bookshop here. He lived in the house above the archway.
Kirkcudbright - Milroy's Close
Bears the name of its present owner. Formerly called Devlin's Close: its earliest name was The Wynd End - The house over the archway is said to have been built by Lord Kirkcudbright for his daughter Lady Betty. The present owner George Milroy is called the "Iron King" because of his dealing in old iron.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
.jpg)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
