Clouds

About Clouds

Two fanciful origins for the name of this street name may come from McLeod, the name of a former resident in the area or possibly from its high position. However, it was once called Spinning Yard Head and it was here that a material known as “Clud” was made. This material was mentioned by Robert Burns in one of his letters where he notes that he bought a length of“Dunse Clud” and he hopes that “twill wear well”. Most of the buildings on this street date from the early 19th century. Two houses on the street worthy of mention are nos. 1 and 3 which face south and are concealed from the street by a high wall. No. 1 has a former gig house attached, the 19th century equivalent of a garage.
No. 3 is older and is said to have been built in 1743 when it was called Rosebank. The house was originally approached along a driveway leading from Newtown Street, roughly where there is a gap in the buildings beside the Police Station. During the Second World War, Polish soldiers were billeted in this house.
On your left at the end of Clouds are nos. 13 and 14, the latter of which has obelisk gatepiers. A church was built here in 1770 to house the Duns’ Burghers Congregation. The congregation increased and a new church was built in 1821. Notice the tripartite window on the first floor and the gothic detailing of the windows.
Now bear left down Gourlay’s Wynd, which was called Meetinghouse Wynd in the early 19th century. This brings you to Newtown Street, which was the first street to be rebuilt after the burning of Duns by the Earl of Hertford in 1545.