New Abbey researcher’s book explores fascinating history of Gretna landmark

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A knack for delving into the past to uncover answers has become a “labour of love” for retired New Abbey clinical psychologist, Alverie Weighill.After eight years of painstaking research covering more than two centuries and all manner of topics, her new book, The Resort of All Amorous Couples: Thomas Telford’s Toll-house at Alison’s Bank, Gretna, is already proving a hit.And she has a busy schedule in February and March as guest speaker at meetings of The Friends of the Archives of Dumfries and Galloway, The Dumfries Archival Mapping Project, Carlisle Local History Society and Dumfries Family History Society.She said: “I am delighted with how well it is being received because, for me, it was a labour of love.

It took me eight years to write the book because of the amount of research that has gone into it.“It is all evidence-based and none of it is fiction – although the facts were stranger than fiction in some cases.“I have had very positive feedback so far with more than one person describing it as ‘a fascinating read, very well written and researched’ – which is good to hear.”Alverie was a clinical psychologist for NHS Dumfries and Galloway for 27 years, working at The Crichton and Nithbank, but she also travelled the region to hold clinics and for home visit consultations.During those years she used many roads around Dumfries and Galloway and became fascinated by some of the buildings and milestones she passed.When she retired in 2009, she decided she would revisit them to record their history through research which meant she could indulge in her passion for delving into archives and old maps.After becoming fascinated with old milestones on the New Abbey to Beeswing road, she decided to find out more about them and