Black Dwarf's Cottage

Some time ago, I had noticed Black Dwarf's Cottage on a local OS map, but it was only on browsing through some old postcards and coming across one with that title that my curiosity was engaged. The cottage itself, pictured above, sits at the north end of Manor Valley, by Woodhouse Farm. Innocuous enough till you notice the low door to the left of the main door. There is a date stone above this door with the letters "DR 1802".

DR was David Ritchie (1740-1811), who built the house for himself. As you might have guessed, he was a dwarf, reckoned to be just under 3 1/2 feet in height. Born in nearby Stobo, and brought up in Edinburgh, the suspicions he aroused in people and his associated unpopularity, led him to return to his native Peeblesshire where he built this house. It was constructed without the permission of the landowner, Sir James Naesmith, but the latter took pity on him and left him be. Ritchie did not get on well with his fellow men and better enjoyed the company of his animals. Apparently he too had his suspicions, one of which was that the Rowan tree helped to keep away evil spirits. A Rowan stands by his front door, and another shelters the stone in the the kirkyard.

Sir Walter Scott visited David Ritchie in 1797, and he was the inspiration for the main character in his novel The Black Dwarf.

It is not clear where David Ritchie was buried, but a stone in his memory stands in nearby Manor Kirkyard, erected by W & R Chambers in 1845. A statue of him stands in front of the nearby Hallyards House, though I haven't seen it personally.