This month marks the centenary of Innerleithen’s Memorial Hall. The Hall, the largest public hall in Peeblesshire, was built in 1922 on the grounds of what was Home Villa. This house, which is now home to offices and is part of the Hall was donated to the town by mill owner and local philanthropist Henry Ballantyne in 1919. Before the hall was built the Memorial Garden was landscaped in 1921. This was the towns tribute to those killed in the Great War and is a representation of the Leithen Valley with Lee Pen, Caerlee and Glenormiston on one side with Pirn Craig and Woods on the other – dissected by a wee version of Leithen Water and miniature Cuddy Brig. Sadly, the water for the Leithen, which was taken from the nearby Mill Lade or Dam, no longer flows. The rocks for the garden were hewn from the hills they represented, and the job was undertaken by the same firm of specialists who built many of the enclosures at Edinburgh Zoo. It is a wee wonder which has been neglected in recent years to the town’s shame, thankfully moves are afoot to restore this garden to its former glory at what will be great expense. The garden was completed after the second world war with the addition of the stone tablet which forms the centrepiece of acts of remembrance in the town. Originally the plaque for those killed in the first war was housed in the garden itself, near the top of ‘Lee Pen’.

On to the Hall itself, there are too many stories to even scratch the surface – for anyone who has grown up or lived in Innerleithen for any length of time it has just been a constant part of our lives. For me personally I was installed as town Standard Bearer there, have attended gigs, parties, voted in local and national elections (not always backing a winner...), been jagged, performed on the stage with the wonderful Innerleithen Opera, danced at discos, cried at wakes, won and lost treasure hunts, watched Church services, served coffee, worked behind the bar, played badminton, drank too much, attended presentations and so much more. It’s an old friend to Innerleithen folk and is looking pretty good for 100 thanks to the excellent work done by the Memorial Hall support group. Bookings are up, and the future looks bright for the Hall with Innerleithen Opera coming back with a bang next year with the Borders premiere of “Shrek the Musical”.

One thing to always remember is the name – it is a Memorial Hall, not a Town Hall and it was built, and remains, as a tribute to those who bought our freedom so dearly. Inside you will see a magnificent Roll of Honour to all those who served in the First World War – including my own great grandfathers. There are also memorials to Jimmy Mercer, Ex Standard Bearer and Producer of Innerleithen Operas finest shows in the Hall and Miss Robertson of Roxanstanes, Secretary of Innerleithen’s War Pensions society.

Thanks are due to the wonderful Past Innerleithen website for filling in some of the historical gaps. Here are a selection of my own photos taken in and around the hall.