The first brainteaser resulted in accurate and interesting
responses from Niamh Wallace and Morag and John Williams. The location is Parkburn Bridge and cottages,
near to Riddingwood.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEgMbNafuE5u983Vq8UgwThyphenhyphen0_u6EPn1OW8w2lRYUdqPNZQ6azbiGgkNQZ5Cw2g8wrNqUnguxp_QZViSQ3S5Yiu7XTEWNPKAC_k5KNTbAxd_hwEqOMJAlDAfZCQcE9VUmxtb3KSoXxw/s400/BT1201.jpg) |
Google earth co-ordinates |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_BQhmWRccROtHDcvNk9CtvQC3jIUkAHrB67BWtmZYC-efwGaRi-WVqE2OhfMpM2Sz_RaIK_ZMBYAI37FwwrGHwwVlMUa-UX7cVJeV_k7gBzQHYmyPtfPl9mXnr7FX1epDXv__jeDnw/s400/3edFullscreen+capture+20012013+162105.jpg) |
From Amisfield facing towards Riddingwood |
There were cottages on both sides of the burn and it is
unclear which cottages were occupied by which families. The two ruined cottages on the north side of
the burn were once a joiner's shop and blacksmiths which closed in the
1870s. There is a suggestion that the
smith may have been called * Robin Thompson.
The parish boundary seems to alter its line, sometimes being
in the centre of the burn and sometimes on the west side. Apparently at one time the rooms of these
cottages which faced the burn were in Tinwald parish and the others rooms in
Kirkmahoe parish. The registrar needed to know in which room a baby was born in
order to record the birth accurately.
Families living in one of the cottages include the Irvine
and the Thornhill families before World War II and the Toppings during the war.
After the war, the last occupants were the Conchies. Another house at Parkburn
was owned by Agnes McGeorge, spinster, of Motherwell. It was occupied by
Charles Bell an estate labourer at Amisfield Tower.
Thanks to Niamh, Morag and John for this information. ( I will keep it as the beginning of what could
become a very interesting archive. If
anyone has more, please e-mail me at
howdles@gmail.com. Alice Howdle)
*Robin Tamson’s Smiddy song link copy and paste this into your browser to listen to the song
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/play/46896;jsessionid=0B77EEAA64F4B8EE6BD5CC3183545EEA
Robin Tamson's Smiddy song lyrics
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/142131591/Robin-Tamsons-Smiddy-(song)
Next Brain Teaser will be on Kirkmahoe News tomorrow. Meanwhile any further info will be most welcome. e.g does anyone have any old photographs of this site for our archives?
kirkmahoe@googlemail.com