Friday 12 September 2014

Water Water Everywhere, But How To Get Across? Bridges of Course!

Bridges are more than just a way of getting from A to B.  The Scottish Borders have some amazing ones, that do make you wonder how on earth they were built, especially in the days when there was not the technology that we have today.

In the Scottish Borders, there are two main rivers - The Tweed and The Teviot.  Over the years they have been the cause of some amazing photography.



A very iconic bridge - Leaderfoot Bridge.  When the railway was still running in the Scottish Borders, this was one route over the River Tweed.  (Picture courtesy of Susan Donaldson)

These two pictures are of Craigsford Bridge, which crosses the River Leader, near Earlston.  The top one was taken only a couple of days ago & shows how dry the river has become this summer.  The second one was taken in 2012 after torrential rain.  It only took a couple of hours for the river to get this high.


A little gem of a bridge, is near to Cowdenknowes House, near Earlston.  It's on part of the Jubilee Walk.


A nice calm tranquil scene in Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick, with a bridge in the background crossing the River Teviot.


This picture and the one below are of the same bridge, crossing the River Teviot in Hawick but taken in different decades.  This one was in the 1970's and shows the old Turnbull Dyers Chimney, an iconic landmark in Hawick, that is sadly no longer there.



Believe this one was in the 1980's.  

The Chain bridge that crosses the River Tweed near to Gattonside, near Melrose.  It was opened on 26 October 1826, with conditions being that only 8 people were allowed to be on the bridge at any one time.  The hills in the background are two of the three Eildon Hills.


 "Auld Stane Brig" that collapsed in Selkirk following heavy flooding. 

Monday 8 September 2014

Making an Entrance

 There is so much more to the Scottish Borders than you might first imagine.  Its full of rolling hills and amazing landscapes.  But hidden behind all that are some amazing views, treasures and buildings.

You can walk or drive past somewhere and all of a sudden you see something for the first time, even though its been there for decades or longer!

To start off my first blog, I thought I would share some pictures that make an entrance to buildings, churches and houses, just as this is making an entrance to the world of Blogging.

I hope you enjoy.

A rather plain looking church door entrance to Bedrule Church, hides the fact that within is a plaque to Francis Fasson.  He was killed whilst retrieving the Enigma codebooks from an U-boat (U-559) that eventually sunk with him still onboard.  These codes were used to decipher the Enigma Navy machine (Shark) at Bletchley Park during WW2.






The old entrance to the Bridgewell Jail in Jedburgh.



Ornate entrance Gate to Bowden Church



Entrance Gate to Bowhill near Selkirk.  This is owned and lived in by the 
Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch




These two pictures are taken of the main entrance gate to Floors Castle, Kelso.  This is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe.  
The detailing directly above the gates is of the family crest.




Earlston Paths Group, have constructed many walks around Earlston.  This is their last one which runs from Earlston, along side the River Leader to Leaderfoot. 
 It coincided with the Diamond Jubilee, hence the title.