In the Tracks of Mortality: the Life & Times of Robert Paterson, Stonecutter, 1716-1801’. Ian Wilson.

The book concerns the life of the real-life individual on whom Sir Walter Scott based his character ‘Old Mortality’. Robert Paterson was born in Hawick and lived and worked in several different parts of Dumfries & Galloway during his long life, including Lochmaben, Thornhill and Balmaclellan (and being based for a while in and around Kirkcudbright). The book describes the development of Scott’s novel and the contribution made by the antiquarian Joseph Train, and contrasts what is known about Paterson with the popular image of the character Scott created.

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David Devereux

Four historic carved stones, possibly of medieval date, have been re-discovered at Saddler’s Croft, St Mary’s Place. Kirkcudbright.
Three of the stones have been carefully removed during renovation works for eventual display on the site.
Exactly what they are and where they originally came from is puzzling at present.

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