A Short History of Berwick upon Tweed

Author: John Fuller, originally published 1799

An online book available free from Google Books

Editors Review

The contents are at the beginning, it is split into chapters and sections so it is easy to navigate.  The book covers the weather alongside historical details, e.g. "The wind is cold and penetrating", which this writer agrees with having spent a few days in Berwick recently.  Of course what we must realise is that Berwick is a frontier town and its history is different from any other in Britain, the author details the swapping of sovereignty between England and Scotland.  This frontier image can be seen in the sections of Chapter 3 which cover the Governors House, The Barracks, The Ordnance House, The Main Guard, Hospital, Vicarage and the Church.  The town seems to bear a resemblance to a colonial town rather than a place in England.  The author gives figures relating to ratio between Presbyterians and Anglicans and which was a 2.5 to 1.  This was much lower than the surrounding area.  On page 340 the author describes the living conditions in the workhouse which is well worth reading.

In conclusion the book is easy searchable and it gives insights into what makes Berwick on Tweed, not a cold and inhospitable place, but a town steeped in a history that is unique in this Islands history.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=YxwvAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=a+short+history+of+berwick&as_brr=1