‘OLD BROUGHTON, Drumelzier, Manor, Stobo and Tweedsmuir.’ is the title of a new Peeblesshire history book.

Compiled by Ann Matheson, a former principal geography teacher at Biggar High School, the landscape format paperback has 66 old black and white photographs on 56 pages, of the villages west of the River Tweed.

The author revealed to The Peeblesshire News that her favourite parts were Manor and the history of Stobo Castle which appears in a 1912 photograph on page 39.

Three pages dissect the tale of Manor resident 3ft 6inch tall David Ritchie, the inspiration for Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Black Dwarf.

It is the sixth in a series covering areas around Biggar, including three on the town itself, one on Tinto Villages and one on Carnwath.

Mrs Matheson is a leading light in the Biggar Museum Trust and has written three books on Scottish Literature.

Right from the start we have a flavour of the sort of information to be gleaned, in the introduction the author tells us the story of the second notorious laird of Broughton.

Robert McQueen, Lord Braxfield was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Hanging Judge’ in his unfinished novel Weir of Hermiston.

There is something for the steam enthusiast with locomotives both stationary and in action plus pictures of long gone stations.

Although perhaps quite a quick read most living in these areas will find its facts fascinating.

The book priced at £9.00 is available at local booksellers or direct from the publisher at www.stenlake.co.uk or phone 01290-551122.