March Dykes

[SandySandilands]

I've recently discovered references to correspondence dated 1820s referring to quotes from my 4 x g.grandfather and his brother for the building of "March Dykes" in the Borders area.

On the 1851 census my ancestor is described as a Quarryman. In 1852 at his time of death, a Victuals Dealer with a shop on Hanover Street, Edinburgh so the building of "March Dykes" is a new one.

I've tried googling and from photographs March Dykes appear to be stone walls across the moors? Would my ancestors have been what I know as "drystone wallers"?

[Hibee]

More likely "dry stane dykers", but the principle's the same.

Hibee

[AndrewP]

Hi Sandy,

March = boundary
Dyke = wall

So he was building boundary walls - most probably a drystone waller.

All the best,

AndrewP

[SandySandilands]

Hibee & AndrewP

Thank you.

Probably explains why he's not on the 1841 census