The “Cunzie Nook” & “Broomfield property” in Kelso

From:  The National Library of Scotland:

The only information we have on the association between George Elliot

and this building comes from an notice in The British Chronicle, a

local newspaper, for May 16, 1788:

"George Elliot ... begs leave to inform them, that he is now returned to

his former house and shop at the Cunzienook, which is now rebuilt, and

where he intends to sell, as formerly, everything, everything in the

book and stationery line, and binds all kinds of books in the neatest

manner".

I have found just one reference to this building in descriptions and

guides of Kelso.  "The corner of the Square leading to Roxburgh Street

is known as the 'Cunzie Neuk'. Now cunzie is an old Scots word for coin

and there is a theory so far unproven, that the Royal Mint for Roxburgh

was cited here in medieval times". (From 'Historic Kelso' by Audrey

Mitchell, published in Kelso in 1999). From this it is possible that

Elliot had a bookshop on this site.

From the National Library of Scotland (Map Section):

You are in luck!  The John Wood Plan of Kelso dated 1825  gives the names of some proprietors (possibly republication subscribers to the plan), and a property at almost precisely the location you describe carries the name Colonel Broomfield:

Map of Col. Bromfield property at Cunzinook, Kelso, Scotland - by John Wood (1823).jpg

 The very large scale (10 feet to 1 mile) Ordnance Survey plan of 1857, although it does not indicate property owners, clearly names the north-west corner of the Market Place "Cunyie Nuik.":

Map of Kelso, Scotland showing 'Cunyie Nuik' - (1857 - N.L.S.).jpg

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Regarding the map above and the property of Colonel Stephen Bromfield in Kelso circa 1773-1823;  as of January 2001 the following appears to be true:

·         The  "multi-flat" dwelling owned by Colonel Broomfield and built by the bookbinder 'George Elliot'. 

“the triangle of land bounded by the Tweed on the left,  the Mill buildings at the bottom and the path/walls on the right, is now known as the Cobby, and is actually just a grassy area

leading to the river.  Therefore, the parcel of land that contains the name Colonel Broomfield is now merged into common land. . . it also appears to underneath a supermarket carpark.”

·         The area of the map marked as "Miss Broomfield of Mayfield".

“This is definitely no longer there.  The orchard area indicated is the Mayfield Garden Centre, and the houses have been demolished and now replaced with luxury flats.”

·         Regarding the structure named the "English Chapel" in the lower left of the map:  could this be the "Episcopal Chapel" which existed in Kelso in 1823 and to which Colonel Bromfield

bequeathed the sum of 50 pounds in his Will.

This ‘English Church’  appears to be the same chapel as viewable on the right hand side of the following photo taken from the bridge:

Kelso - photo of the 'English Chapel' circa 2000.jpg

Above From: "Alistair Murdoch" alistair.murdoch@24-7freecall.net

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KELSO TOWN WEBSITE

http://www.kelso-online.co.uk/

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"CUNZIE NOOK"

 A Scot might call the Anglers Rest a "cunzie neuk" which, in American

English, means "cozy nook."

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In the county of Fife, Scotland:

“Walking up the hill along Nethergate, you will pass houses with marriage lintels above the doors, one from1733.  There is also a sign for the coastal walk and a board with details of Kinghorn conservation area.

Passing under the railway bridge you will arrive at the end of the main street with "Cunzie Nook", one of the oldest building in Kinghorn and reputed to be the Royal Mint at one point.  Bow Butts house and grounds, with an interesting doocot, are at the corner of North Overgate but these are not open to the public.  This is where the local archers used to practice their techniques.”

ELLIOT, George bookseller, stationer and bookbinder Kelso

           Kelso 1765-1787

           The Cunzienook 1788

           Kelso 1789-1800

      NLS Impr Ind

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I have a copy of Alistair Moffat's Kelsae, now sadly no longer available.

Chapter7 relates to the 19th Century and describes a map of 1816 -

"...The street pattern radiates from the Square;  Roxburgh Street is not

marked down as such, only the name 'Cunzie Nook' is there as the street

enters the Square..."

Cunzie Nook was the name given to the North West corner of the town square.

The buildings situated to the left of the Cross Keys Hotel appear to be of

about the early 19th Century construction, and I know for a fact that they

were at some point constructed as flats.  Many of them are still flats now

although the ground floor levels are some of the most sort after shop fronts

in the town (more about that later).

There is a book called Historic Kelso, by the local author Audrey Mitchell,

which makes reference to Cunzie Neuk.  Apparently, "Cunzie" is the old scots

word for coins, and the belief is that this may have been the site of the

original Roxburgh Mint.

Now, coincidently, for my Degree in Computing last year, I put together a

web site for a local bookshop in Kelso, who specialise in Local Interest

Books.  Audrey's book is for sale through that site if you are interested.

It doesn't give any more description of Cunzie Nook, other than what I have

just stated, but it is particularly useful for reference information for the

town.  Although not listed on the site, they may stock reproduction old maps

of the town - that may help.  The site address is

www.scottishbordersbooks.co.uk

What is particularly interesting, is that the bookshop for which the site

was built, McGregor's Bookshop, is actually located on the ground floor of

the buildings that I believe to be "Cunzie Nook".  They are the first shop

on the left of the Cross Keys Hotel.

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