Ladykirk, Scottish Borders
Encyclopedia
Ladykirk is a village on the B6470 in the Scottish Borders
area of Scotland
, and the former Berwickshire
, just north of the River Tweed
and the Anglo-Scottish border
. The town was formerly known as Upsettlington, but King James IV of Scotland
renamed the town Ladykirk; the church is also known as St. Mary's Church or Kirk of Steill.
Ladykirk stands directy opposite Norham Castle
, Northumberland
, England
. Originally it served two parishes called Horndene and Upsettlington. The construction was first supervised by Sir Patrick Blacader, and then from 1504 by George Ker of Samuelston, by which time the windows were being glazed. James IV visited in August 1501, and a church organ was brought for this occasion. Payments for the Kirk were listed in the royal accounts under the same 'buildings' heading as for the king's palaces and the ships of the Royal Scots Navy
. A chasuble
embroidered with the royal arms, with an alb
, and an altar frontal of Arras-work
were provided in March 1505, and the building work continued.
The Earl of Angus
and his allies Lord Home
, Lord Livingstone and John (Red-Bag) Somerville of Cambusnethan
met at the Kirk of Steill in 1521. They were leaving Scotland to avoid Regent Albany
their political rival who had returned from France. Angus sent his uncle, the poet Gavin Douglas
to Cardinal Wolsey from Ladykirk on 13 December 1521.
The gentlemen of Selkirk, Jedburgh and Duns were summoned to meet Mary of Guise
at Ladykirk on 24 November 1551, as she returned from France.
The 15th century church and village are known as the place where a treaty
supplemental to the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis was signed by the English and Scottish commissioners. The Treaty of Upsettlington, May 1559, (as it is known) was concluded within the Lady Kirk and exchanged at the church of Norham in England. The commissioners of Mary, Queen of Scots and Francis II of France
were the Earl of Morton, Alexander, Lord Hume, Henry Sinclair, Dean of Glasgow
and James MacGill of Nether Rankeillour
. The English commission included the Earl of Northumberland
and the Bishop of Durham
.
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...
, and the former 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...
, just north of 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...
and the Anglo-Scottish border
Anglo-Scottish border
The Anglo-Scottish border is the official border and mark of entry between Scotland and England. It runs for 154 km between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. It is Scotland's only land border...
. The town was formerly known as Upsettlington, but King James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
renamed the town Ladykirk; the church is also known as St. Mary's Church or Kirk of Steill.
Ladykirk stands directy opposite Norham Castle
Norham Castle
Norham Castle is a partly ruined castle in Northumberland, England, overlooking the River Tweed, on the border between England and Scotland. It is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
In history
The church, originally called Our Lady Kirk of Steill was built by James IV, apparently in gratitude for being saved from drowning in the River TweedRiver 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...
. Originally it served two parishes called Horndene and Upsettlington. The construction was first supervised by Sir Patrick Blacader, and then from 1504 by George Ker of Samuelston, by which time the windows were being glazed. James IV visited in August 1501, and a church organ was brought for this occasion. Payments for the Kirk were listed in the royal accounts under the same 'buildings' heading as for the king's palaces and the ships of the Royal Scots Navy
Royal Scots Navy
The Royal Scots Navy was the navy of the Kingdom of Scotland from its foundation in the 11th century until its merger with the Kingdom of England's Royal Navy per the Acts of Union 1707.- Origins :...
. A chasuble
Chasuble
The chasuble is the outermost liturgical vestment worn by clergy for the celebration of the Eucharist in Western-tradition Christian Churches that use full vestments, primarily in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches, as well as in some parts of the United Methodist Church...
embroidered with the royal arms, with an alb
Alb
The alb , one of the liturgical vestments of the Roman Catholic, Anglican and many Protestant churches, is an ample white garment coming down to the ankles and usually girdled with a cincture. It is simply the long linen tunic used by the Romans...
, and an altar frontal of Arras-work
Tapestry
Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven on a vertical loom, however it can also be woven on a floor loom as well. It is composed of two sets of interlaced threads, those running parallel to the length and those parallel to the width ; the warp threads are set up under tension on a...
were provided in March 1505, and the building work continued.
The Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman active during the reigns of James V and Mary, Queen of Scots...
and his allies Lord Home
George Home, 4th Lord Home
George Home, 4th Lord Home was a Scottish nobleman. The son of Alexander Home, 2nd Lord Home and his wife Nicola Ker, daughter of George Ker of Samuelston, he succeeded his brother, Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home, when he died on October 8, 1516....
, Lord Livingstone and John (Red-Bag) Somerville of Cambusnethan
Hugh Somerville, 5th Lord Somerville
Hugh Somerville, 5th Lord Somerville was a lord of the Parliament of Scotland. He is sometimes reckoned to be the 4th Lord Somerville. He succeeded his brother, John Somerville, 4th Lord Somerville...
met at the Kirk of Steill in 1521. They were leaving Scotland to avoid Regent Albany
Regent Albany
Regent Albany can refer to several Dukes of Albany who served as regent of the Kingdom of Scotland:*Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany *Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany *John Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany...
their political rival who had returned from France. Angus sent his uncle, the poet Gavin Douglas
Gavin Douglas
Gavin Douglas was a Scottish bishop, makar and translator. Although he had an important political career, it is for his poetry that he is now chiefly remembered. His principal pioneering achievement was the Eneados, a full and faithful vernacular translation of the Aeneid of Virgil and the first...
to Cardinal Wolsey from Ladykirk on 13 December 1521.
The gentlemen of Selkirk, Jedburgh and Duns were summoned to meet Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise was a queen consort of Scotland as the second spouse of King James V. She was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560...
at Ladykirk on 24 November 1551, as she returned from France.
The 15th century church and village are known as the place where a treaty
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
supplemental to the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis was signed by the English and Scottish commissioners. The Treaty of Upsettlington, May 1559, (as it is known) was concluded within the Lady Kirk and exchanged at the church of Norham in England. The commissioners of Mary, Queen of Scots and Francis II of France
Francis II of France
Francis II was aged 15 when he succeeded to the throne of France after the accidental death of his father, King Henry II, in 1559. He reigned for 18 months before he died in December 1560...
were the Earl of Morton, Alexander, Lord Hume, Henry Sinclair, Dean of Glasgow
Henry Sinclair (bishop)
Henry Sinclair , lord-president of the court of session and bishop of Ross.Henry Sinclair was brother of Oliver Sinclair. He studied at St. Leonard's College, St. Andrews and was appointed lord of session, 1537. In 1541 he was named abbot or perpetual commendator of the abbey of Kilwinning...
and James MacGill of Nether Rankeillour
James MacGill of Nether Rankeillour
Sir James MacGill of Nether Rankeillour was a Scottish politician. In 1561, he was on the Privy Council of Mary, Queen of Scots and was her Lord Clerk Register in charge of archives...
. The English commission included the Earl of Northumberland
Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland
Blessed Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland, 1st Baron Percy, KG , led the Rising of the North and was executed for treason. He was later beatified by the Catholic Church.-Early life:...
and the Bishop of Durham
Cuthbert Tunstall
Cuthbert Tunstall was an English Scholastic, church leader, diplomat, administrator and royal adviser...
.
See also
- Ladykirk and Norham BridgeLadykirk and Norham BridgeLadykirk and Norham Bridge, which connects Ladykirk in the Borders, Scotland, with Norham in Northumberland, England, is a bridge in the United Kingdom that spans the River Tweed. It is a late stone road bridge with four arches designed by Thomas Codrington and Cuthbert A. Brereton for the Tweed...
, - List of places in the Scottish Borders
- List of places in Scotland
- List of places in Northumberland
- List of places in England
Sources
- Brooke, C J (2000) Safe sanctuaries: security and defence in Anglo-Scottish border churches 1290-1690, Edinburgh; Pages 10, 18-21, 31, 63, 126, 219, 306, 360-1, 365. Held at RCAHMS F.5.31.BRO
External links
- CANMORE/RCAHMS record of Ladykirk Parish Church
- RCAHMS record of Ladykirk and Norham Bridge
- British Listed Buildings: St Mary's Church, Ladykirk
- Ladykirk
- GENUKI; Ladykirk