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Innerleithen
Innerleithen Parish is situated in the County of Peebles being bounded on the north by the County of Midlothian and the Parish of Stow,
on the east by the Parish of Caddonfoot, on the south by the Parish of Traquair and on the west by the Parishes of Peebles and Eddleston. Robert Smail's Printing Works is located in Innerleithen High Street. This preserved Victorian business includes a significant archive of business and private papers, including the records of a shipping agency run by RC Smail at the beginning of the 20th century. The town war memorial is the gardens in front of the former Burgh Chambers.
Historically the neighbouring village of Walkerburn was part of the parish of Innerleithen but a separate parish was established in the late 19th century. In 2000 both parishes became part of the Parish of Innerleithen, Traquair and Walkerburn. Walkerburn has its own war memorial alongside the A72.
Old Parish Records cover the periods:
Births: 1643-1681, 1706-1819 (Mothers' names are not recorded until 1761)
Marriages: 1642-1693, 1706-1819, 1820-1854
Deaths: 1706-1763, 1824-1854 (Mortcloth Dues recorded until 1763)
Church of Scotland, Innerleithen (formerly the Parish Church)
Innerleithen Burial Records 1824-1854 by Nigel Hardie
Innerleithen Monumental Inscriptions (CD)
Innerleithen Shops compiled by Robert Richardson (CD)
Snippets and Photos about Old Innerleithen compiled by Robert Richardson (CD)
See our sales list for full details and cost of postage.
Volumes available for consultation within our Archive
A family life revealed - the Stuarts of Traquair 1491 -1875 by Catherine Maxwell-Stuart
At the Sign of the Cleikum by J A Anderson
Cleikum Kist Vol 1 - Reflections on Innerleithen's past by Ted McKie
County Directory of Scotland 1912 - Borders Towns and Villages
Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Peebles 1652 to 1716 (CD)
Innerleithen and Traquair - Ancient and Modern by H Anderson
Innerleithen, St. Ronan's Games, 150th anniversary of Cleikum Ceremonies - souvenir programme
Old Innerleithen, Walkerburn and Traquair by Alex F Young
Pre 1855 Monumental Inscriptions of Peeblesshire by S A Scott published by Scottish Genealogical Society 1971
Robert Smail's Printing Works by Ian Boyle
Rutherford's Southern Counties Register and Directory 1867
School admissions: Traquair, Glen and Kirkburn - loose leaf print-out
The Pirn House, Innerleithen by L G Ferguson
Traquair by Catherine Maxwell Stuart
Traquair House - An Historical Survey by Stuart P Maxwell
Magazine Articles
Please note that the heading Author includes persons who have compiled or transcribed records; and that the topics indexed, and the synopses are subjective opinions. See the Sales List to buy copies of the magazines containing articles in which you're interested.
Title
Synopsis
Size Description
Issue No
Author
Innerleithen Poll Tax Roll, 1694
An Innerleithen Poll Tax Roll, 1694; transcribed by John Ballantyne. Lots of people, their occupations, the rent values of their lands, and poll taxes due.
A very useful and interesting document.
7 pages or more
43
John Ballantyne
Archives at Robert Smail’s Printing Works
A brief history of the famous Robert Smail’s Printing Works at Innerleithen which was started in 1866, and about their wonderful archives.
2 pages or more
67
David Rudram
Innerleithen Shops
Some background information on the CD 'Innerleithen Shops' compiled by Bobby Richardson and published by the Society.
1 page or more
86
Ronald Morrison
Innerleithen Shops
Information on the CD published by the Society on 'Innerleithen Shops' compiled by Bobby Richardson.
1 page or more
87
Historic and Photographic Glimpses of Old Innerleithen
Promotion of the book 'Historic and Photographic Glimpses of Old Innerleithen' by Bobby Richardson published by the Society.
less than 1 page
88
Glimpses of Old Innerleithen and Traquair
Notes on the book ' Glimpses of Old Innerleithen and Traquair' published by Innerleithen Civic Association in 1989, a copy of which has been acquired for the Society Archives.
less than 1 page
97
Cleikum Kist Volume 3
Book review. Innerleithen community accounts by author Ted McKie. Copies available.
less than 1 page
107
Ross McGinn
Innerleithen News
Book review. Author: Thomas Dobson. "Reminiscences of Innerleithen and Traquair" published 1896. The author recalls life in Innerleithen and accounts passed down from his grandparents going back to Napoleonic times. Many individuals are mentioned in the summary. Also a mention of a recent CD published on Innerleithen Shops.
1 page or more
107
Ronald Morrison
The Story of Caerlee Mill/Ballantyne Sportswear
Book review. Author: Fraser Simm. An introduction to the history of the Caerlee Mill Innerleithen, and the textiles innovation and influence in the Borders towns by the Ballantynes.
1 page or more
108
Ross McGinn
Life at Pirn House Innerleithen
Review of a book 'Life at Pirn House' Innerleithen by Alexander Grant Ferguson recalling life in the house in the early years of the 20th century.
less than 1 page
92
Marianne Morrison
The Archives and Collections of Robert Smail's Printing Works
A summary of the Smail family and the development of the printing works in Innerleithen. John Smail arrived first and operated a woollen mill for several years before emigrating to Otago, to produce the first tweed in New Zealand. Robert arrived around 1857 setting up a small shop in Bond Street as a shoemaker, but also selling books and stationery. The arrival of the railway in 1866 an ambitious Robert branched out into printing like his brother Thomas in Jedburgh. He purchased a shop and workshop on High Street, run by the power from water wheels on the lade. The successful business was inherited by his 3 sons James, Robert Cowan and Adam James in 1890. Adam and James also worked as travelling salesmen in the Borders area. Robert Cowan's son inherited Cowan was the last generation to inherit the business, and was lucky to sell the works through the National Trust for Scotland through Maurice Richards who happened to visit Innerleithen. The archives contain historical local newspapers, shipping records, photographs, order (guard) books; a detailed inventory is close to completion at the tine of writing. Guided tours are available.
4 pages or more
106
Rachel May
Glen House, Innerleithen
An account of the recording an indexing estate records by Society members and a short history on the house.
1 page or more
81
Family History Records
An archivist from the Heritage Hub in Hawick discusses a range of records that can be used to provide a fuller picture of our ancestors
5 pages or more
70
Juline Baird
An Unexpected Homecoming
An Englishman migrates to the Borders when Riddell House changes hands. He marries a local lass with links to Innerleithen.
2 pages or more
71
David Rudram
The Gatekeeper House, The Glen Innerleithen
An account of the genealogy of the Hume family who resided at The Gatekeeper House, The Glen Innerleithen.
1 page or more
79
Chrissie Aitken's Story
The story of Chrissie, a survivor from the sinking of the S.S. Lusitania in 1914.
2 pages or more
94
Oliver Russell
John White and Margaret Brown
A summary of research into John "Jock" White and Margaret "Maggie" Brown born in Scotland, but lived in Hyde Park Massachusetts. Census records revealed John's father (John White Senior) was born at Needlehall, Galashiels, May 1852, near the Needle Ha' ford across the Tweed. Jock was brought up in Galashiels (Low Buckholmside per the 1861 census) and Maggie married in Innerleithen - both were power loom weavers. They, and 2 sons, and John Senior emigrated to the USA July 1884. Maggie's father was William Brown (born Yarrow 1827) and Jane Anderson (1816), with previous generations hailing from Peebles and Innerleithen.
2 pages or more
105
Jane Stephenson
Innerleithen's All-Black
An account by the author of how researching her Dickson line from Innerleithen, she traced an unknown descendant who had emigrated to New Zealand and played rugby for the 'All Blacks'.
1 page or more
84
Esther Davies
Dalgleishs and Stoddarts of Yarrow
Description of George McLauchlan's family from his paternal great grandparents Robert Dalgleish and Margaret Elliot from Yarrow, and Robert's step-family John Stoddart. The Dalgleish family were tenants at Fastheugh for over 100 years, and Robert's parents (Robert and Martha Muir were from Anaston. Martha married 3 times - Robert, John Stoddart (Williamhope) and Robert Curror (Hartwoodburn). Margaret Elliot was a direct descendant of Martin Elliot of Braidley. John and Martha had 3 children; John later married Helen Veitch (Innerleithen) and had 9 children.
2 pages or more
103
Marjorie McLauchlan
Map of Innerleithen from UK Great Britain, Ordnance Survey one-inch to the mile (1:63,360), 'Hills' edition, 1885-1903 by kind permission of the National Library of Scotland. Use the control at the top left of the map to zoom in or out and drag the map left, right, up, or down as you wish.
Map of Innerleithen from UK Ordnance Survey Historical Maps from 1919-1947 by kind permission of the National Library of Scotland. Use the control at the top left of the map to zoom in or out and drag the map left, right, up, or down as you wish.
20 Most Common Surnames
The 20 most common surnames on gravestones recorded by us in the Innerleithen monumental inscriptions volume are (number of gravestones in brackets): LAING (151), SCOTT (52), TAIT (36), WILSON (36), SMITH (31), BALLANTYNE (28), THOMSON (27), ANDERSON (27), MATTHEWS (24), BROWN (22), ROBERTSON (20), SANDERSON (17), EUMAN (17), TURNER (17), RUSSELL (16), STEWART (16), DAVIDSON (15), TURNBULL (15), DOUGLAS (15), CURRIE (15).
Other Sources
Innerleithen and Traquair, Ancient and Modern by H Anderson 1984
The Cleikum - reminiscences of Old Innerleithen by J A Anderson 1933
Reminiscences of Innerleithen and Traquair by T Dobson 1896
The Buildings of Scotland - Borders, Cruft, Dunbar & Fawcett, 2006
The Statistical Accounts of Scotland compiled initially between 1791 and 1799, with a subsequent edition between 1834 and 1845 are a valuable record of the geography, history, economy, people and customs recorded by local ministers. You'll need to search for the parish name
So far as we are aware, the copyright on these pictures has expired.
However, if you wish us to remove the images and you can demonstrate that you hold the copyright, please contact us.
