Bonjedward
Encyclopedia
Bonjedward is a hamlet
in the Scottish Borders
area of Scotland
, two miles north of Jedburgh
where the River Teviot
joins the River Tweed
.
The village stands on a ridge of land formed by the approach of the Teviot and Jed Water
towards their junction. Nearby are the Timpendean Tower
, Lanton
, Monteviot
House, Ancrum
, Peniel Heugh
, and the Waterloo Monument
.
A short distance farther to the west of the likely castle site is Bonjedward House, a magnificent listed Georgian house dating from the latter stages of the 18th century. It was remodelled and extended during the next century and is set in an imposing position in the centre of its own extensive gardens and policies. The house is built of cream sandstone rubble with polished cream ashlar dressings.
Bonjedward was, as part of large holdings in the Jedburgh Forest, and elsewhere, in 1320 granted by Robert Bruce, earl of Carrick
to Sir James Douglas
, partly as a reward for his support at the battle of Bannockburn, and partly to bind him to the Bruce cause. These estates passed to James, 2nd Earl of Douglas
. Douglas married the Princess Isabel, a daughter of King Robert II of Scotland
. He left no legitimate male issue. His natural sons William
and Archibald became the ancestors of the families of Douglas of Drumlanrig (see Marquess of Queensberry
) and Douglas of Cavers. His sister Isabel, inherited the lands and earldom of Mar, and the unentail
ed estates of Douglas. Isabel arranged for the Bonjedward estate to be passed to their half-sister, Margaret, who became 1st Laird of Bonjedward. Margaret had married a Thomas Johnson, but he and his son, John, changed their names to Douglas.
In 1479, George Douglas of Bonjedward, with consent of his heir, James, granted Timpendean
to a younger son, Andrew. James appears to have died before his father, so in 1540 William Douglas, then son and heir of the late George Douglas of Bonjedward became Laird of Bonjedward.
In about 1710, Thomas Rutherfurd of Edgerston acquired the lands of Bonjedward and Mounthooly , together with the estates of Hunthill and Scraesburgh. In 1845, Bonjedward was sold to the Marquess of Lothian
, in whose ownership much of the estate continues, the estate offices being located in the stables for Jedneuk House, which were converted to form a suite of offices.
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
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...
, two miles north of Jedburgh
Jedburgh
Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
where the River Teviot
River Teviot
The River Teviot, or Teviot Water, is a river of the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, and a tributary of the River Tweed.It rises in the western foothills of Comb Hill on the border of Dumfries and Galloway...
joins the River Tweed
River Tweed
The River Tweed, or Tweed Water, is long and flows primarily through the Borders region of Great Britain. It rises on Tweedsmuir at Tweed's Well near where the Clyde, draining northwest, and the Annan draining south also rise. "Annan, Tweed and Clyde rise oot the ae hillside" as the Border saying...
.
The village stands on a ridge of land formed by the approach of the Teviot and Jed Water
Jed Water
The Jed Water is a river and a tributary of the River Teviot in the Borders region of Scotland.In total Jed Water is over 20 miles long, it flows into the Teviot near Jedfoot Bridge from a source in the Cheviot Hills....
towards their junction. Nearby are the Timpendean Tower
Timpendean Tower
right|240pxTimpendean Tower or Typenden Castle as it was once known, is a ruined 15th-century tower house near Lanton, around north-west of Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders....
, Lanton
Lanton, Scottish Borders
Lanton is a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, near Jedburgh and Timpendean Tower, off the A698.-External links:*****...
, Monteviot
Monteviot
Monteviot House is the early 18th century home of the Marquess of Lothian, the politician better known as Michael Ancram. It is located on the River Teviot near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland....
House, Ancrum
Ancrum
Ancrum is a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, north of Jedburgh and south of St Boswells....
, Peniel Heugh
Peniel Heugh
Peniel Heugh is a hill near Ancrum and Nisbet in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. On it stands the Waterloo Monument.Places nearby include Bonjedward, Crailing, Jedburgh, Monteviot House, Roxburgh.The Roman Heritage Way and St...
, and the Waterloo Monument
Waterloo Monument
The Waterloo Monument near Ancrum in the Scottish Borders is a 150 foot tower, built between 1817 and 1824 to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo It was designed by the architect Archibald Elliot, after the original monument designed by William Burn collapsed....
.
Place name
There are a wide variety of spellings: Bonne Jedburgh, Bon Jedburgh, Bonjedward, Bonjedworth, Beanjeddart, Bonjedwart, Boniedworth, Bonjedburght, Bunjedworth, Bondeidde ford, Boniedworth, Bonjeddeworth, etc. Bon is taken from bun, which is commonly used in the sense of 'river-mouth'. It appears the River Jed may have been known as Jedward.History
The castle and town of Bonjedworth suffered their full share of the miseries of border warfare. The castle was converted at a later period into a gaol. In 1683 Sir John Biddell of that ilk and another were tried at the court of justiciary at Jedburgh for their religious opinions, and sentenced to be confined in the prison of Bonjedworth. The castle is now so completely demolished that not a trace of even its situation can be found. It was, in 1850, an inconsiderable hamlet though once a seat of strength having possessed a castle of some note.A short distance farther to the west of the likely castle site is Bonjedward House, a magnificent listed Georgian house dating from the latter stages of the 18th century. It was remodelled and extended during the next century and is set in an imposing position in the centre of its own extensive gardens and policies. The house is built of cream sandstone rubble with polished cream ashlar dressings.
Bonjedward was, as part of large holdings in the Jedburgh Forest, and elsewhere, in 1320 granted by Robert Bruce, earl of Carrick
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
to Sir James Douglas
James Douglas, Lord of Douglas
Sir James Douglas , , was a Scottish soldier and knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence.-Early life:...
, partly as a reward for his support at the battle of Bannockburn, and partly to bind him to the Bruce cause. These estates passed to James, 2nd Earl of Douglas
James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas
Sir James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas and Mar was an influential and powerful magnate in the Kingdom of Scotland.-Early life:He was the eldest son and heir of William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas and Margaret, Countess of Mar...
. Douglas married the Princess Isabel, a daughter of King Robert II of Scotland
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
. He left no legitimate male issue. His natural sons William
William Douglas, 1st Baron Drumlanrig
William Douglas, 1st Baron Drumlanrig was the son of James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas. He fought against the English in the Hundred Years' War in France, where he was killed in action in 1427. He married Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of Sir Robert Stewart of Durisdeer, and had one son, William...
and Archibald became the ancestors of the families of Douglas of Drumlanrig (see Marquess of Queensberry
Marquess of Queensberry
Marquess of Queensberry is a title in the peerage of Scotland. The title has been held since its creation in 1682 by a member of the Douglas family...
) and Douglas of Cavers. His sister Isabel, inherited the lands and earldom of Mar, and the unentail
Entail
Entail may refer to:* Fee tail, a term of art in common law describing a limited form of succession....
ed estates of Douglas. Isabel arranged for the Bonjedward estate to be passed to their half-sister, Margaret, who became 1st Laird of Bonjedward. Margaret had married a Thomas Johnson, but he and his son, John, changed their names to Douglas.
In 1479, George Douglas of Bonjedward, with consent of his heir, James, granted Timpendean
Timpendean Tower
right|240pxTimpendean Tower or Typenden Castle as it was once known, is a ruined 15th-century tower house near Lanton, around north-west of Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders....
to a younger son, Andrew. James appears to have died before his father, so in 1540 William Douglas, then son and heir of the late George Douglas of Bonjedward became Laird of Bonjedward.
In about 1710, Thomas Rutherfurd of Edgerston acquired the lands of Bonjedward and Mounthooly , together with the estates of Hunthill and Scraesburgh. In 1845, Bonjedward was sold to the Marquess of Lothian
Marquess of Lothian
Marquess of Lothian is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1701 for Robert Kerr, 4th Earl of Lothian. The Marquess of Lothian holds the subsidiary titles of Earl of Lothian , Earl of Lothian , Earl of Ancram , Earl of Ancram , Viscount of Briene , Lord Newbattle ,...
, in whose ownership much of the estate continues, the estate offices being located in the stables for Jedneuk House, which were converted to form a suite of offices.