New book reveals how a 19th Century saddler kick-started development of prestigious Berwick street

A new book about the history and development of arguably Berwick’s most prestigious street has been published.
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The book tells the story of Luke Skelly, a saddler from a well-known Berwick family, and his endeavours in establishing the first house in what we know today as Castle Terrace.

One of the authors, George Murray – who now lives in the property - said: “Luke was a determined man and the book records some of his battles with the council.

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“He fought for more favourable terms on his lease and resisted requests from council officials for him to tear down his beloved house because they were unhappy about where he had built it on the plot they had leased to him.”

Castle Terrace: Berwick's Grand Plan for Country Villas by George C Murray and Karen McKenzie.Castle Terrace: Berwick's Grand Plan for Country Villas by George C Murray and Karen McKenzie.
Castle Terrace: Berwick's Grand Plan for Country Villas by George C Murray and Karen McKenzie.

The book also tells the story of the Intrepid Captain Smith of Ava – a future Mayor of Berwick who became Luke’s neighbour in 1839.

George continues: “There was a grand plan to build upmarket villas in the street we now know as Castle Terrace, but Luke Skelly was a couple of years ahead of this plan in the construction of his own house in 1836.

“His reasons for building it may not have been so grand either. Luke had lived with his family in Hide Hill where he ran his saddler’s business with his brother James.

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“Unfortunately, James and other members of his family died, leaving Luke and his youngest sister Isabella on their own.

The first house to be built on Castle Terrace.The first house to be built on Castle Terrace.
The first house to be built on Castle Terrace.

“This was a time before the first Public Health Act and sanitary conditions in the town were in a very poor state, and diseases such as cholera were not uncommon.

“It seems, however, that Luke was a smart man and found a plot of land outside the main town where he and his sister could benefit from the clean air and be close to the source of a fresh, clean water.

“Ten years later he would also get a great view of the new railway bridge being built!”

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George thanks Linda Bankier at Berwick Archives and Kevin and Denise Shearer at Printspot for their help.

An impression of how Cottage Hill might have originally looked. Credit: Paul ScotlandAn impression of how Cottage Hill might have originally looked. Credit: Paul Scotland
An impression of how Cottage Hill might have originally looked. Credit: Paul Scotland

The book ‘Castle Terrace: Berwick’s Grand Plan for Country Villas’ by George Murray and Karen McKenzie is available on Amazon and local bookshops.

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Castle Terrace: Berwick's Grand Plan for Country Villas.Castle Terrace: Berwick's Grand Plan for Country Villas.
Castle Terrace: Berwick's Grand Plan for Country Villas.

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