“Farm servants of South East Scotland between 1750 and 1914”
February 21 @ 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
David McLean will give a talk on the farm servants of South East Scotland between 1750 and 1914. This will describe the lives of thousands of farm servants and bondagers who worked on the improved farms of Berwickshire, Roxburghshire and East Lothian through the years of the great agricultural revolution.
The Society is delighted to present this talk by David McLean at 2.30 PM, Saturday, 21st February, 2026.
Please note that the venue will be at Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Haddington, EH41 3EX
David McLean
After graduating in history at Edinburgh University, our speaker began a professional career in education which eventually spanned 38 years, teaching history and modern studies. Posts included principal teacher of History at Berwickshire High School and depute headteacher at Earlston High School. After retirement in 2010, he found more time for deeper historical research into both Scottish and American history which has led on to giving a variety of talks to various clubs and societies across the Borders. In more recent years, he has added a new project: researching the stories of the old Duns houses and the families who lived in them, work which has not been done before.
Talk summary
The talk will look at the lives of those thousands of farm-servants and bondagers who worked on the improved farms of Berwickshire, Roxburghshire and East Lothian through the years of the great agricultural revolution. It will explain the rural hierarchy from ploughmen downwards, the main tasks of the farming year, how farm-servants were paid, their living conditions and relationships with employers. Attempts to promote trade unionism in the countryside will be explored before reaching the watershed of the Great War.
Members can expect a moving historical journey into past agricultural times.
For any enquiries contact: info@eastlothianantiquarians.org.uk
Non members welcome with a modest cash donation appreciated
Church parking is limited to Blue Badge holders plus otherwise mobility compromised
Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation No: SC052295