The stair on the left leads up to two little flats in a row of four up, four down, that apparently were once known as the Merry Eight. (?) They were built at the beginning of the 20th century, and were cottages for weavers. The white house next door is much older - the Chambers House - the one with its windows overlooking Cuddy Burn, built by the grandfather of the Chambers Dictionaries boys - see 28 January.Two doors along the little stone house was the birthplace of John Veitch who became a Professor of Logic at Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities.
The group of houses at the end are, on the ground floor the street side flats with the upper flats accessed by the balcony on the burn side - see 24 January.
This was once the main route from the west into town, whereas now, at the end of the road, if you turn left you can now cross the Cuddy bridge to the High Street. Biggiesknowe was considered to be part of the old town.
My grandfather William Johnston moved with his family to Biggiesknowe around 1835. He was a stonemason. I would be interested to know if there is information to discover where they lived. Descendents also lived in Elcho Street.
ReplyDeleteamorton@tweedholm.freeserve.co.uk