Last tree from the demise of Ettrick Forest
The following notes accompany two images of the last tree standing in the remains of Ettrick Forest on Gala Estate in 1961.
"The last great oaks of the historical Ettrick Forest – once a favourite hunting ground of the Scottish kings – are being felled at Galashiels to make way for a new school.
The trees covered an area on the Gala Estate until Mr Christopher Scott, Laird of Gala, sold land to Selkirk County Council. Now the county council is clearing the land, a site for a new building for Galashiels Academy, which celebrates its centenary this year.
Even the oldest survivor, which Mr, Scott reckons to be about 700 years old, will not be spared. It now stands alone in the middle of the cleared site.
Mr. J. B. Hall, the county council’s planning, consultant, said: “Much as we would like to leave the old tree, it just isn’t practicable. Building land is very scarce and the site is the only one left in the town for a school.”
The oaks in Gala Estate were the last survivors of a forest that once covered about 600 square miles of Selkirkshire and Peeblesshire. Ettrick Forest was a remnant of the ancient Caledonia Forest, and it is recorded that 10,000 buck scoured the woodlands in 1528, in the reign of Edward I.
Mary Queen of Scots was the last Scottish sovereign to hunt in Ettrick Forest. Most of the trees were destroyed when James V converted the entire forest into a sheep pasture."
Another view of the tree, in it's entirety and the original notes can be viewed in the pdf document.
There followed in 1964 a reference to the opening of the buildings in the Birmingham Daily Post, Court & Social notes:
"Birmingham Daily Post – Friday 18 September 1964
COURT & SOCIAL
Royal engagements for next week are: Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother will open the new terminal building at Prestwick Airport on Tuesday, September 22, and in the afternoon will open the Hunterston Nuclear Power Station (Ayrshire).
On Wednesday, September 23, the Queen Mother will open the Queen Mother’s Hospital, Yorkhill, Glasgow, and attend a service for the dedication of the RNVR Memorial in Glasgow Cathedral.
In the afternoon the Queen Mother will open new buildings at Galashiels Academy (Selkirkshire).”
There appears to have been no local reference to the event!
Can anybody recognise the three gentlemen viewing the bole of the oak, in the image, or give any relevant background information, please?
I would like to think this an unlikely scenario for 700 year old trees in the UK 2020, but I suspect not!
Groups: Groups of people, Miscellaneous
17 Comments
I have found a death certificate for John Wallace on Scotland’s People. Still trying to find out anything else. Would so love John’s daughter to know where her Dad’s final resting place is! Comment left on 11 February 2020 at 21:17 by shona marshall
I too, have tried to find where John's resting place might be. Unfortunately, the British Library Newspaper archive has not digitised the 'Southern Reporter' archive that it holds after 1945; so that avenue of enquiry is not open to online research. However, an enquiry at the Souther Reporter's Selkirk offices might prove fruitful. Reports of the accident, the Sheriff's enquiry and possible funeral details might have been published.
As it appears that John Wallace was living in Leith Links at the time of his death, I would suggest that contact is made with Morton Hall Crematorium, as they hold records for burials and cremations within Edinburgh, but not those within private burial grounds. Their online address for a burial records search is: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/burials-cremations/burial-records?documentId=12186&categoryId=20019
Because the accident appears to have been a work related one, there may be a note, reference number and date in the left hand column of the death certificate, indicating the Sheriff's enquiry into the circumstances of the death. After which a certificate written and if necessary, an amendment to the death certificate would have been made.
I hope this helps unlock the mystery of John's resting place for his sister.
My regards, Bill Rayner
Comment left on 12 February 2020 at 00:18 by Bill Rayner
Thank you for all that you have done about John Wallace.
As the year of the photo [1961] of the three men at the tree , John died in 1949.
I too have been annoyed by 1945 on the Southern Reporter as the heading says to 1949.
We have a report of the outcome at the Sheriff's Court .
I will try Mortonhall again, but many graves are knocked down and not recorded by Mortonhall.
I recall a number at the left hand side of the Sheriff Notice. I could send the Death Certificate and Sheriff's Certificate to you.
Regards, James Comment left on 13 February 2020 at 14:40 by James Russell
''Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry (Scotland) Act, 1895, and the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act, 1906. The SHERIFF of ROXBURGH. BERWICK and SELKIRK, will hold a PUBLIC INQUIRY within the Sheriff Court House, JEDBURGH, on Thursday, the twenty-fourth day of November, 1949. at Eleven o'clock forenoon, in regard to the Death of ANDREW WAUGH, Motor Tractor Driver, Bonjedward Mill, Jedburgh. JAMES R. COWIE Sheriff Clerk of Roxburghshire. Comment left on 13 February 2021 at 22:53 by James Russell
Comment left on 01 April 2021 at 15:15 by James Russell
Comment left on 17 July 2021 at 22:47 by James Russell
Thank you. Comment left on 15 January 2023 at 20:12 by Norman Davidson