Hello List-- If there is anyone who is familiar with the area around and adjacent to Grantshouse, Berwickshire, I would like to know if what appears to be low-land on the map, is bog or tidal land and if the approaches to the village are construed to be causeways. This information might be instrumental in tracing my Gggg-grandfather. Thanks, Lee Kenna

Hi Lee, Grantshouse lies on the banks of the Eye Water, a small river which enters the North Sea at Eyemouth. Both the main Great North Road (A1) and the London to Edinburgh railway run through the village. The railway is carried on an embankment and numerous bridges which carry it over the Eye Water. In 1947 (if I remember the year correctly), the river flooded following torrential rain in the hills above Grantshouse and carried away the railway in numerous places, causing considerable disruption to rail transport as the traffic had to be diverted (via the Berwick - Kelso branch line) until such time as the bridges could be rebuilt. So really in answer to your query, the lowland beside Grantshouse is a river valley, subject to flooding and the road is built up above the flood levels to enter the village safely. Best regards - Mike Simpson, Penrith, NSW, Australia Email: agene@bigfoot.com HomePage: http://www.bigfoot.com/~agene