Comments on: The Monument, Penielheugh, Borders, Scotland

By: Rosemary Hill

Rosemary Hill — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 11:29:44 +0000

In reply to Editor. So glad you enjoyed the book. I hoped it might be up your street.

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 13:12:34 +0000

In reply to Rosemary Hill. You are quite right to correct me, and I should have said so, even if Lord Lothian only credited Wellington and the British. I will update the post. I thoroughly enjoyed your discussion of this period in your new book, thanks.

By: Rosemary Hill

Rosemary Hill — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 11:37:12 +0000

I think in justice one should say that the British and Prussian armies, commanded by Wellington and Blucher, won the battle of Waterloo -we are always rather stingy about mentioning the Prussians but it was a joint victory and Wellington had no doubt of it.
I knew nothing of this monument or its predecessor so am -as ever- grateful to you for the information.
There was never a public monument to Waterloo, which makes the private ones all the more interesting.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 12:12:08 +0000

In reply to Gwyn. Thank you Gwyn. I pondered whether to add a translation, but decided against. It was still in common use in my native Northumberland when I was young, so perhaps I was wrong to assume everyone would understand. It’s a wonderful word, to be said with gusto to add emphasis.

By: Gwyn

Gwyn — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 10:49:40 +0000

For a’ that dinna ken:
Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
MUCKLE, adj., adv., n. Also mukle, -ell, mukkel, mukl-; ‡mei(c)kle, meikill, meeckle; †mekle, -il, -yl (Jam.); mi(c)kle, mi(c)kel, mikil, †mykil (Jam.). Compar. muckler, superl. mucklest. [Sc. mʌkl; ‡mɪkl, mikl]
I. adj. 1. Of size or bulk: large, big, great (Sc. 1808 Jam.).