The Great Plague in Tweedsmuir

The people of Tweedsmuir were no strangers to plague, which was ferociously common across Europe. In 1645 Edinburgh was gripped by its most devastating epidemic. The infection found its way to Tweedsmuir in a bundle of clothes carried from the city by Marion Chisholm. The result was the worst outbreak to descend upon the Upper Tweed.

Marion stayed with her family at Nether Menzion. Her death from plague was followed two weeks later by her mother’s. A month or so after this, three other inhabitants of Nether Menzion also died in the same way; one of them was only 4 or 5 years old.

The victims were buried in the ruins of their home, which was demolished and burnt on top of the bodies.