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[Page] 132
[continued from page 131]

I have omitted to record a notable change,
which I observed at Melrose last year, the
erection of numerous council houses on
the field on the Prior Walk directly to the
east of the site of the stables, The houses
seem excellently planned, each building
containing two or four dwellings and to each is
allotted a little garden, before or behind

14th July 1952
Mary became proprietress of Weir Knowe
yesterday and we hope the workmen will
enter at once to carry out the various alterations
and repairs recommended by our architect.

[margin]
5th Dec. Workmen
are still busy
over garden and
garage! ---

These are not likely to be finished till
the end of October, so it may be that our
entry cannot take place till then. Meanwhile
‘Ormsacre’ is being advertised for sale. Yester:
:day we had Prof [Professor] Swann, a newly appointed
professor here with his charming wife and a
small boy having a thorough look over house
and garden. We sincerely hope they may be
our successors for they were tremendously
taken by the outlay of the ground. Other people
came last, Sunday, following our first notice
in ‘the Scotsman’ and two different people are
coming this afternoon & on Saturday. So much
for the result of our first advertisement.

In our advt. [advertisement] we say “Offers above £7000 will be con:
:sidered” and I would not sell under £8000 & would
like more. Places out here are much sought after
even in difficult times, by distillers, medical specialists etc.
The professor was immensely appreciative!
I must record the great change that is going on in
the character of Edinburgh Streets. Princes St. has
ceased to be the great shopping centre, and nearly
all the best shops have removed to George St., while
Princes St. now houses large general stores, res:
:taurants & hotels! Very clever floral displays
have been introduced at the west end, a difficult
corner for traffic, by the introduction of stone
walled stands, filled with flowers, which are
regularly changed. Flower beds have been
placed at numerous points inside the city
helping to regulate the traffic – even in the suburbs.

27th July 1952
In the evening, two days ago, I learned by telephone
that “Ormsacre” had drawn my desired price £8.000.
after sundry approaches from £7,500. This I at once
accepted, it being the value, which I had some time
ago settled on the place. It is curious that
Prof. [Professor] Swann, who was I think, the earliest visitor
we received to view house and garden, should
have been the purchaser. A considerable
number of people had viewed ho. [house] and garden
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