Chirnside
Parish No 730 Chirnside is located approx 7
miles east of Duns in the
"A considerable
village and parish in the division of Berwickshire, called Merse or March. The
village is situated on Chirnside-hill, one of the eminences which, disjointed
from the Lammermuir ridge, project into the low country. It is distinguished for
its regular and semi-circular aspect on the S. and for its gradual declination
to the Whitadder water; and commands a view of one of the richest counties in
Scotland, with a prospect of that various and rural beauty which never fails to
expand and delight the mind of the spectator. The village consists of 2
streets, running over the summit of the hill, nearly half a mile in length; but
the houses are generally mean, and built of clay. As a borough of barony, it
has the privilege of holding an annual fair, chiefly for the sale of sackcloth
and linen yarn. It is the seat of a presbytery, and contains upwards of 600
inhabitants. The parish of Chirnside is an oblong figure, the length of which
is about 4, and the breadth 3 miles. The surface is flat, with the exception of
Chirnside-hill; and the soil is a rich loam, abundantly fertile ... Population
in 1801, 1147."
from Gazetteer of
Scotland published 1806,
Chirnside was always vulnerable to invasion from
At one time a fair was held on the last Thursday
of November for sackcloth and linen. The
most elevated point of ground, between Bunkle and the River Draedan had an
ancient Druid Alter or Cromlech [called a Pech Stone], which was a burial vault
cairn, surrounded by granite.
In 1906 a cairn beside Chirnside was
excavated. It was founded that the cairn
was in fact a grave. A skeleton and a
small earthenware beaker were found under heavy stone slabs, which are thought
to be from when the Stone Age began.
The church at Chirnside was given by King Edgar
to the monks of Coldingham Priory.
Here are some figures
showing the parish's population through time:
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