Eccles, Scottish Borders
Encyclopedia
Eccles is a village and agricultural parish near Kelso in Berwickshire
in the Scottish Borders
area of Scotland
. The village is conjoined with Birgham
and Leitholm
.
It is said that there was a Christian enclave at Eccles in the sixth century or possibly before. Watson gives the derivation as most likely from the Welsh (or Cumbric) eglwys meaning church 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. Patrick I, Earl of Dunbar
who died on the last day of 1232 was interred in the convent at Eccles.
s, and Simon Marjoribanks of Stainrig who had six. (Purveshall and Stainrig are closer to Leithholm than Eccles). In 1843 it was James Greig who resided at Eccles House, which abuts the village.
Possibly the district's most famous son is Henry Home, Lord Kames
.
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. The earliest Presbyterian Minister appears to be Robert French, who was at Eccles from 1567-1574. The Reverend John Lauder, who had previously been the incumbent at Lilliesleaf
, was ordained into Eccles May 28, 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 & Mary), and Henry Home of Kames. Reverend Lauder from Eccles was a member of the General Assembly
in 1692. On Sunday March 31, 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." He was succeeded at Eccles by the Reverend Matthew Dysart MA, on September 9, 1729, Lauder having died in July that year. Dysart remained the incumbent at Eccles for a staggering forty three years.
Today Eccles is conjoined with the parishes of Birgham
and Leitholm
.
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
in the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
area of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The village is conjoined with Birgham
Birgham
Birgham is a village in Berwickshire, parish of Eccles in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, near Coldstream and the River Tweed, on the A698...
and Leitholm
Leitholm
Leitholm is a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, north-west of Coldstream, in the former county of Berwickshire.Other places nearby include the Crosshall cross, Duns, Eccles, Ednam, Fogo, Greenlaw, Hume Castle, Polwarth, Westruther....
.
History
It is thought the place-name has Celtic or Welsh origins.It is said that there was a Christian enclave at Eccles in the sixth century or possibly before. Watson gives the derivation as most likely from the Welsh (or Cumbric) eglwys meaning church and places with this name element are thought to indicate ancient Christian sites. Gospatric, Earl of Dunbar
Gospatric III, Earl of Lothian
Gospatric III was a twelfth century Anglo-Celtic noble, who was Earl of Lothian later Earl of Dunbar, and feudal Lord of Beanley....
(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. Patrick I, Earl of Dunbar
Patrick I, Earl of Dunbar
Patrick I , Earl of Dunbar and lord of Beanley, was a 13th century Anglo-Scottish noble.He was the eldest son of Waltheof, Earl of Dunbar and Alina, and succeeded to his father's titles upon the latter's death in 1182....
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 hearthHearth
In common historic and modern usage, a hearth is a brick- or stone-lined fireplace or oven often used for cooking and/or heating. For centuries, the hearth was considered an integral part of a home, often its central or most important feature...
s, and Simon Marjoribanks of Stainrig who had six. (Purveshall and Stainrig are closer to Leithholm than Eccles). In 1843 it was James Greig who resided at Eccles House, which abuts the village.
Possibly the district's most famous son is Henry Home, Lord Kames
Henry Home, Lord Kames
Henry Home, Lord Kames was a Scottish advocate, judge, philosopher, writer and agricultural improver. A central figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, a founder member of the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh, and active in the Select Society, his protégés included James Boswell, David Hume and...
.
Kirk
The Church of ScotlandChurch of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
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. The earliest Presbyterian Minister appears to be Robert French, who was at Eccles from 1567-1574. The Reverend John Lauder, who had previously been the incumbent at Lilliesleaf
Lilliesleaf
Lilliesleaf is a small village and civil parish south east of Selkirk in the Roxburghshire area of Scottish Borders of Scotland. To the north of Lilliesleaf is the Ale Water which runs east to west...
, was ordained into Eccles May 28, 1691, when objectors opposed to him interrupted the ceremony. Two of these were Richard Edgar of Newtoun, (an Episcopalian
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
and opposed to the government of William & Mary), and Henry Home of Kames. Reverend Lauder from Eccles was a member of the General Assembly
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
in 1692. On Sunday March 31, 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." He was succeeded at Eccles by the Reverend Matthew Dysart MA, on September 9, 1729, Lauder having died in July that year. Dysart remained the incumbent at Eccles for a staggering forty three years.
Today Eccles is conjoined with the parishes of Birgham
Birgham
Birgham is a village in Berwickshire, parish of Eccles in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, near Coldstream and the River Tweed, on the A698...
and Leitholm
Leitholm
Leitholm is a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, north-west of Coldstream, in the former county of Berwickshire.Other places nearby include the Crosshall cross, Duns, Eccles, Ednam, Fogo, Greenlaw, Hume Castle, Polwarth, Westruther....
.
See also
- Crosshall crossCrosshall crossThe Crosshall Cross is a cross at Crosshall Farm, Eccles in the Scottish Borders areea of Scotland, in the former Berwickshire.The cross is situated near Crosshall farmhouse and is said to date from the 12th century, after the Second Crusade. It is ca. 3 metres high and is thought to be a memorial...
- List of places in the Scottish Borders
- List of places in Scotland