Eccles, Berwickshire
| Eccles | |
| Berwickshire | |
|---|---|
 Eccles Kirk | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NT765415 |
| Location: | 55°40’2"N, 2°22’29"W |
| Data | |
| Postcode: | TD5 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Scottish Borders |
Eccles is a village and parish in Berwickshire, an agricultural place near Kelso. The nearby villages of Birgham and Leitholm are conjoined with the parish of Eccles.
Kirk
The Church of Scotland Parish Church, rebuilt in 1774, is a large 5-bay building with some stained glass windows (notably the 'War Memorial Window') in 'Gothick' glazing-patterned sashes in round-headed openings. There is a vernacular bell-tower at the east end holding a bell dated 1659. The last additions and internal alterations were carried out in 1930.[1]
The earliest Presbyterian Minister appears to be Robert French, who was at Eccles from 1567-1574.[2] The Reverend John Lauder, who had previously been the incumbent at Lilliesleaf, was ordained into Eccles on 28 May 1691, when objectors opposed to him interrupted the ceremony. Two of these were Richard Edgar of Newtoun, (an Episcopalian and opposed to the government of William and Mary), and Henry Home of Kames.[3] Reverend Lauder from Eccles was a member of the General Assembly in 1692. On Sunday 31 March 1695 Mr. Lauder was not present at Eccles to take the service, he "being sent to preach in the north as is ordered by the last Assembly that every Presbytery should send so many quarterly there."[4] He was succeeded at Eccles by the Reverend Matthew Dysart MA, on 9 September 1729, Lauder having died in July that year.[5] Dysart remained the incumbent at Eccles for a staggering forty-three years.[2]
Today Eccles is conjoined with the parishes of Birgham and Leitholm.[6]
History
It is thought the name of Eccles has the same origin in the ancient British language as the town of Eccles in Lancashire.[7] It is believed that there may have been a Christian enclave at Eccles in the sixth century or possibly before; Watson gives the derivation of the name as most likely from the Welsh eglwys meaning church [8] and places with this name element are thought to indicate ancient Christian sites.
Gospatric, Earl of Dunbar (or his wife) founded St. Mary's Cistercian convent at Eccles in 1156. It was burnt by the Earl of Hertford's forces in 1545, then laicised to the Home family. Only two barrel-vaulted cells of the east range at the west end of the churchyard survive as well as architectural fragments built into later garden walls, although the parish church, rebuilt in 1774, may include some mediaeval stones.[9][10] Patrick I, Earl of Dunbar who died on the last day of 1232 was interred in the convent at Eccles.
Lairds
The principal landed proprietors in the vicinity of Eccles in 1696 appears to have been George Home of Kames (which is situated towards Birgham) who had 9 hearths, Purves Hall, then occupied by Marjory Flemming, had twelve hearths, and Simon Marjoribanks of Stainrig who had six. (Purveshall and Stainrig are closer to Leithholm than Eccles).[11] In 1843 it was James Greig who resided at Eccles House, which abuts the village.[12]
Outside links
- RCAHMS/Canmore record of Eccles House
- RCAHMS/Canmore record of "Braw Bothy"
- RCAHMS record of the Parish of Eccles
References
- ↑ Strang (1994) p.62
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ewan (1998) p.8
- ↑ Genealogical Collections Concerning The Scottish House of Edgar, The Grampian Club, London, 1873, p.9
- ↑ Kelsall, Keith & Helen, An Album of Scottish Families 1694-96, Aberdeen University Press, 1990.
- ↑ Anderson, Rev. John, editor, Calendar of the Laing Charters, 854-1837, Edinburgh, 1899, page 716, number 3114.
- ↑ Ewan (1998)
- ↑ Oman, Donald, The Borders Book, Edinburgh, 1995, p.179, ISBN 1-874744-50-5
- ↑ Watson, W. J. (1926): History of the Celtic Place-Names of Scotland, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
- ↑ Strang, Charles Alexander, Berwick and Borders, Edinburgh, 1994, p.62, ISBN 1-873190-10-7
- ↑ Oman (1995) p.56 and 122
- ↑ Ewan, Elspeth, editor, Eccles, Leitholm & Birgham. Berwickshire Monumental Inscriptions, 5. Borders Family History Society, 1998.
- ↑ Findlay, James, Directory to Gentleman's Seats, Villages, &c., in Scotland, Edinburgh, 1843, p.52