Cave house, Chirnside/New St;Newton St/Newtown St.

[excel]

Yesterday I was told that there was a cave house, possibly at Chirnside Bridge, near the paper mill. It seems that it was built into the hillside but is no longer there.
Does anyone have any knowledge of this house or have a copy of a Chirnside census which shows it?
Would be grateful for any information.
Rae

[Beckey]

Hi Rae,

In the 1851 census of Chirnside, there is a Rock House after the Toll House, occupants at that time were:

Henry Kerr  H  M  73  retired Ag. Lab.    Berwick, Edrom.
Janet Kerr  W  M 76    England.
William Kerr  S  U  41 Lab.  Berwick, Chirnside.
Phillis Kerr  D  U  Worker at the Paper Manufactory  Berwick, Duns.

Is this what you were looking for?

[excel]

Thank you very much for looking it up, Beckey.
Rock House looks possible as several ancestors worked at the paper mill there. Some other relatives remember going to look for it but seem unsure which family of ancestors lived there. It would be after the 1881 census.
Rae

[suzzie smith]

HI  my family CRAWFORD /RAE  lived in the chirnside bridge house around 1945 ,my gr ganmother and gr gran father RAE are buried there ,do you think we might be related?email (*) ,my family lefted in1949 for australia ,thomas victor CRAWFORD WIFE EDITH AND THERE 4 CHILDREN ,aunty charolotte and uncle alexander LEARMONTH .also isabella CRAWFORD ,please drop me a email ive got more info about the family xx

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[excel]

Hello Suzzie,
I don't have any information about your ancestors but there was quite a community around Chirnside Bridge. It was next to the Paper mill so did your family have links with that?
I do have Rae ancestors but they were from Coldingham.
However there may be others on Rootschat who may have links to your family.
Do you know anything about Thomas Crawford's parents? .........
was Edith's surname Rae?
Perhaps you would be better starting an new topic for Crawfords or Rae families around the Chirnside area.
I can try to help you if you have earlier information.
Rae

[Beckey]

Hi Excel,

I assume you got the 1861 census for Rock House.,
 Henry Kerr W H 83 Ret.Ag.Lab.  Edrom.
Phillis           U  D  47 Paper Mill Worker     Duns.
Mary Rodgers  M  D  44  Gardener's Wife  Chirnside.
Elizabeth Rogers  G/D  8  Scholar              Duns.

Henry Kerr d. 15.1.1862 84 yrs. his wife Janet Henderson d. 23.2.57 83 yrs.
Son William d. 18.5.1851 42 yrs. Phillis d. 23.3.1875 62 yrs.

There are 2 Crawfords in Chirnside in 1861,  Thomas Crawford H  U  34  Ag.Lab.  Sprouston. Jane Crawford  Niece  U  13  Paper Mill Worker  Dunbar.

[excel]

Thanks, Beckie. My ancestors lived there some time later than 1861 and that is not their address in any census. I think it was one of those family stories that has been handed down.
Rae

[epfedin]

Hiya

Have a look at the Dunse History Societys website - they have a collection of old photographs, in the surrounding villages folder, one of which is the Rock House.

ep

[excel]

Thank you very much for that link, ep. Even if the Rock House hadn't been in it there are some great old photos.
Rae