We had a lovely day yesterday visiting friends who live in Kilbarchan, over in the west of the country. They took us to the Weavers' Cottage, which is now a National Trust property but which was originally lived in by - surprise, surprise - weavers. Kilbarchan used to be a weaving village; the work was done on hand looms in people's houses but then mechanisation took over and their skills were no longer needed.
As you can see, the house was built, or indeed builded, by Andrew, John and Jenet Brydein in 1723. No one knows anything about these people now, so I'm glad that they carved their names above the door to prove their existence. I'm also glad that Andrew and John added their sister(?)'s name to theirs. I wonder if they did so because they valued her contribution or because she insisted? Maybe she was their mother, or one of their wives. You can just imagine the three of them standing there, admiring their house and the carving above the door and wondering if that was really how "Janet" should be spelt. Not to say "Bryden".
We then wandered through the village...
... and down this street, where my several-greats-grandfather, a weaver, was killed by a horse-drawn bread van. One wonders what he was doing at the time. Was he lying in the road, the worse for drink? Or did the horse bolt and send him flying when he was wearily crossing the road after chatting to a neighbour after a hard day at the loom?
It's tantalising to have so many incomplete stories... .
Ah yes......some incomplete stories in my family, too......for instance, I wonder what happened to my mother's oldest sister who seems to have faded from the family completely? That's a very lush green garden!
ReplyDeleteWow -- what an interesting story. Now, with speedy cars, it's hard to imagine being killed by a horse-drawn anything. You have so many amazing places to visit -- it's a wonder you're ever home at all!
ReplyDeleteEveryone has a story......Really, everyone has thousands and thousands of stories, and I wish I knew every one! And where will our houses be in 285 years..............?
ReplyDeleteKristi has a good point about where our present houses will be in 285 years time! Not many of the house built today are built as well as those back then! Not in Australia anyway (I'm joking...we have no houses going back THAT far. Close, but not quite!)
ReplyDeleteI just love traveling through your eyes! Thanks for sharing!
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