Sunday, June 2, 2013

Back to the Auld Countree

Nearby Avondale.
In August 2012, my husband's one-man show about Robert and Elizabeth Browning was taken to Edinburgh, Scotland, for its fabulous Fringe Festival of performing arts. I tagged along to assist and to do more research on my family history, the Scots side which are all from mum's family tree.

I had located a farm where my ancestors married before they emigrated to the United States in the late 18th century. It's a place called Dykehead Farm in Lanarkshire, east of Glasgow. The farm is occupied by a lovely family who still raise sheep and cattle there. I had written to them in advance of the Scotland trip to see if we might drop by and take a few photographs. We were invited for supper and able to spend a few hours in the exact location where my great-great-great-great grandparents were married.

This is the original barn on the property. The government has designated the farm as a historic treasure, though it is still very much an active dairy farm occupied by a lovely family.
This is part of the original 18th century barn, a byre where new calves are placed.
The pasture and view of surrounding Lanarkshire.