Earlston
Encyclopedia
Earlston formerly Ercildoune, is a civil parish
and market town in the county of Berwickshire
, within the Scottish Borders
. It is situated on the River Leader
in Lauderdale
, Scotland
.
, the tribal confederation in this part of Scotland.
In the 12th and 13th centuries the Lindsays
and the Earls of March
and Dunbar
were the chief baronial families.
Also of historical interest is the ivy-clad ruin of the Rhymer's Tower, a keep said to date from as early as the 13th century. It is the traditional residence of Thomas Learmonth, commonly called Thomas of Ercildoune, or Thomas the Rhymer
, poet, prophet, and legendary friend of the Elves, who was born here about 1225, more likely in a small house which preceded the later Tower-house.
for nearly 1000 years, Petrus de Haga (d. c1200) on record as proprietor in the 13th century. The castle at Bemersyde
must have been there at a very early date. Robert Haig completely rebuilt the tower-house in 1535 to protect the Monk's Ford which lay virtually equidistant between Dryburgh Abbey and Old Melrose Abbey. It was sacked in 1545, and rebuilt in 1581. It was added to in 1690 (with stone quarried from Dryburgh Abbey), in 1761 (West wing), and 1796 (East wing). Further alterations in 1841 and 1859 (the replacement of the West wing) were followed by alterations in 1923. Between 1959-61 what has been described as a "fashionable reduction and remodelling" took place which removed the servants wing to the north and modified that to the West, restoring more of the dominant character of the Great Tower. The stables, arch, and wall are 18th century. The prospect from Bemersyde Hill was Sir Walter Scott
's favorite view, and is now commonly known as "Scott's View
".
Just north of Earlston is the estate of Carolside
, with a three-storey-and-basement Georgian
mansion with (possibly later) single-storey bow-ended wings, on the valley floor in its former deer park setting, built for James Lauder of Carolside (d.1799). In an article written by J.Hardy in 1886 for the History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 1885-1886 it is stated that "half way down the drive to Carolside, grow three small maple trees and a hawthorn on what was once a knoll (now levelled). This was said to mark an old burial place of the Lauder family. Mr.Mitchell of Stow left directions to place a stone in this place, and it has been done by [his widow] Lady Reay, with the inscription:
'This stone is placed by the directions of Alexander Mitchell, Esq., of Stow, M.P. to mark the spot which was the ancient burial place of the Lauder family'."
in 1736, and again to the most recent (1892) Victorian
version in red sandstone, where it is somewhat dominated by carved memorials to the owners of the local Park Farm. There are some good early gravestones in the churchyard and an attractive set of gatepiers erected in 1819.
is the local rugby union
side. There also a football team, a tennis club and a bowling club.
Earlston is also served by Earlston High School
, an S1 - S6 secondary school. It also takes pupils from the surrounding area. The present school building located at Georgefield opened in the summer of 2009. The old building was in an area beside the industrial estate and attached to the primary school.
Civil parishes in Scotland
In Scotland, parishes, as units of local government, were abolished by the Local Government Act 1929. The geographical area is sometimes still referred to, however, for statistical purposes....
and market town in the county of Berwickshire
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...
, within 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...
. It is situated on the River Leader
River Leader
The River Leader, or Leader Water, is a small tributary of the River Tweed in Lauderdale in the Scottish Borders. It flows southwards from the Lammermuir Hills through the towns of Lauder and Earlston, joining the River Tweed at Leaderfoot.-The journey:...
in Lauderdale
Lauderdale
Lauderdale, denoting "dale of the river Leader", is the dale and region around that river in south-eastern Scotland.It can also refer to:-People:*Earls of Lauderdale*Lord Lauderdale, member of The Cabal of Charles II of England-Place names:Australia...
, 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...
.
Early history
Earlston was originally called Arcioldun or Prospect Fort, with reference to Black Hill (1003 feet (305.7 m)), on the top of which can still be traced the concentric rings of the British fort for which it was named. It is also said to be possible to make out the remains of the cave-dwellings of the VotadiniVotadini
The Votadini were a people of the Iron Age in Great Britain, and their territory was briefly part of the Roman province Britannia...
, the tribal confederation in this part of Scotland.
In the 12th and 13th centuries the Lindsays
Earl of Lindsay
Earl of Lindsay is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1633 for John Lindsay, 10th Lord Lindsay, who later inherited the ancient Earldom of Crawford. The two earldoms remained united until the death of the twenty-second Earl of Crawford, also sixth Earl of Lindsay...
and the Earls of March
Earl of March
The title The Earl of March has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of England. The title derived from the "marches" or boundaries between England and either Wales or Scotland , and was held by several great feudal families which owned lands in those border...
and Dunbar
Earl of Dunbar
The title Earl of Dunbar, also called Earl of Lothian or Earl of March, was the head of a comital lordship in south-eastern Scotland between the early 12th century and the early 15th century. The first man to use the title of Earl in this earldom was Gospatric II, Earl of Lothian, son of Gospatric,...
were the chief baronial families.
Also of historical interest is the ivy-clad ruin of the Rhymer's Tower, a keep said to date from as early as the 13th century. It is the traditional residence of Thomas Learmonth, commonly called Thomas of Ercildoune, or Thomas the Rhymer
Thomas the Rhymer
Thomas Learmonth , better known as Thomas the Rhymer or True Thomas, was a 13th century Scottish laird and reputed prophet from Earlston . He is also the protagonist of the ballad "Thomas the Rhymer"...
, poet, prophet, and legendary friend of the Elves, who was born here about 1225, more likely in a small house which preceded the later Tower-house.
Country houses
Some 3 miles south is the estate of Bemersyde, said to have been in the possession of the HaigsEarl Haig
Earl Haig is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1919 for Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. During the World War I, he was Commander of the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium...
for nearly 1000 years, Petrus de Haga (d. c1200) on record as proprietor in the 13th century. The castle at Bemersyde
Bemersyde House
Bemersyde House is a historic house in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, formerly in Berwickshire.The nearest towns are Newtown St. Boswells, Melrose, and Dryburgh. The William Wallace Statue, Bemersyde is on the Bemersyde Estate...
must have been there at a very early date. Robert Haig completely rebuilt the tower-house in 1535 to protect the Monk's Ford which lay virtually equidistant between Dryburgh Abbey and Old Melrose Abbey. It was sacked in 1545, and rebuilt in 1581. It was added to in 1690 (with stone quarried from Dryburgh Abbey), in 1761 (West wing), and 1796 (East wing). Further alterations in 1841 and 1859 (the replacement of the West wing) were followed by alterations in 1923. Between 1959-61 what has been described as a "fashionable reduction and remodelling" took place which removed the servants wing to the north and modified that to the West, restoring more of the dominant character of the Great Tower. The stables, arch, and wall are 18th century. The prospect from Bemersyde Hill was Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
's favorite view, and is now commonly known as "Scott's View
Scott's View
Scott's View refers to a viewpoint in the Scottish Borders, overlooking the valley of the River Tweed, which is reputed to be one of the favourite views of Sir Walter Scott....
".
Just north of Earlston is the estate of Carolside
Carolside
Carolside is a village by the Leader Water, in the parish of Earlston in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the former Berwickshire.Park Bridge is a balustraded bridge linking the policies of Carolside House and those of Leadervale....
, with a three-storey-and-basement Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
mansion with (possibly later) single-storey bow-ended wings, on the valley floor in its former deer park setting, built for James Lauder of Carolside (d.1799). In an article written by J.Hardy in 1886 for the History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 1885-1886 it is stated that "half way down the drive to Carolside, grow three small maple trees and a hawthorn on what was once a knoll (now levelled). This was said to mark an old burial place of the Lauder family. Mr.Mitchell of Stow left directions to place a stone in this place, and it has been done by [his widow] Lady Reay, with the inscription:
'This stone is placed by the directions of Alexander Mitchell, Esq., of Stow, M.P. to mark the spot which was the ancient burial place of the Lauder family'."
Church
There has been a church at Earlston since at least 1250. A stone which marks that Auld Rhymer's race lies in this place was transferred to the new kirkKirk
Kirk can mean "church" in general or the Church of Scotland in particular. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it.-Basic meaning and etymology:...
in 1736, and again to the most recent (1892) Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
version in red sandstone, where it is somewhat dominated by carved memorials to the owners of the local Park Farm. There are some good early gravestones in the churchyard and an attractive set of gatepiers erected in 1819.
Sport
Earlston RFCEarlston RFC
Earlston RFC is a rugby union club, based at Earlston in the Scottish Borders .Earlston is in the East Regional League of the East Regional League division 2. It is the largest Scottish Borders club not to participate in the Border League.It takes part in the Borders Sevens Circuit each May, which...
is the local rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
side. There also a football team, a tennis club and a bowling club.
Education
Earlston Primary School educates pupils from a number of surrounding villages and hamlets.Earlston is also served by Earlston High School
Earlston High School
Earlston High School is a Scottish secondary school situated in Earlston, Scottish Borders. It serves Earlston, as well as the surrounding area...
, an S1 - S6 secondary school. It also takes pupils from the surrounding area. The present school building located at Georgefield opened in the summer of 2009. The old building was in an area beside the industrial estate and attached to the primary school.
See also
- List of places in the Scottish Borders
- List of places in Scotland
- Earlston railway stationEarlston railway stationEarlston railway station, in the Scottish Borders village of Earlston, was a station on the now disused Berwickshire Railway.There were two platforms and two sidings, cattle dock and goods shed. The station closed to passenger traffic in 1948, and the last freight service operated on Friday 16...