Kilbucho

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Kilbucho
Peeblesshire
Kilbucho Church.jpg
The ruins of Kilbucho Church
Location
Grid reference: NT095353
Location: 55°36’6"N, 3°26’45"W
Data
Post town: Biggar
Postcode: ML12
Local Government
Council: Scottish Borders

Kilbucho is a small hamlet in the parish of Broughton, Glenholm and Kilbucho in Peeblesshire. It is in the west of the county, near Broughton and Biggar, the latter across the border in Lanarkshire.

The name 'Kilbucho' derives from the church which was dedicated to St Bega an Irish abbess. Several monasteries were dedicated to St Bega, in particular in Cumberland, such as that at St Bees, but also elsewhere in the north, as at Kilbagie in Clackmannanshire and Kilbegie in Argyllshire. Near the church is St Bees well.[1]

The former parish of Kilbucho, now united in Broughton, Glenholm and Kilbucho, has an area of 6,710 acres.[2] It forms a valley between Cardon Hill on the south and Hartree Hills on the north, however the land is mainly level with a very slight inclination towards Biggar Water.[3]

Kilbucho is "fenced in" by hills on three sides, including some of the highest in the Southern Uplands east of Galloway. Coulter Fell is near here.

The manors of Kilbucho and Thriepland are mentioned in writs of the 13th century.[3]

The area is strongly connected with John Buchan, the author of The Thirty Nine Steps and former governor general of Canada. It is thought that the inspiration for his 1927 novel Witch Wood comes from this particular area.

Outside links

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References

  1. Andrew Baird Annals of Tweedale Parish John Smith & Son Glasgow 1924
  2. Description of Tweeddale, by Alexander Pennecuik, publ A. Allardice, Leith, 1815; p.43
  3. 3.0 3.1 History of Peeblesshire, by William Chambers, publ. William And Robert Chambers, Edinburgh and London, Ι864; p.443