Stovenswala

A cold, windy day, and was raining most of the morning.  Cleared up by lunchtime, and a sunny afternoon.  Calmer this evening, and felt warmer.

I've been working in the museum all day, and a fairly quiet day.  Walkies with Sammy after work, and more walkies this evening, this time with mam too.  Feet up now.  Yesterday's new case has more than doubled.  Five new Covid-19 cases today.  Hopefully this Mossbank cluster won't be as bad as the Busta cluster over the festive.  

I headed down the road for my lunchtime walk.  This peerie house has caught my eye a few times now, as the courtyard has been cleared, and stands out again.  Currently used as a shed, with plans for a new roof soon.  I don't know the whole story, but a Halcrow man, married to a Fladdabister woman lived in Leith.  He worked in a boatyard, where he plummeted to his death, leaving his wife and three bairns without a father.  She had to move home again, and the local Halcrow and Manson families built her this tiny home for them, well over 100 years ago.  After she passed away, the house was occupied many times, but for short stays.  The first part of the name, Stoven, might derive from 'stofa' meaning one roomed house. The 'swala' part may come from the word 'svalar' meaning a walled passage around a house.  Note the old stone bridge across the ditch too.  It's a mid terrace house, with the Manson house below, and the Nicolson family and shop above, not in view.  As it was built on a hill, the inside flooring slopes, and still remains intact.  Stovaswala house, Fladdabister.