Cranshaws

 

Parish No 734 Cranshaws is located within the County of Berwickshire which is now known as the Scottish Borders.  Cranshaws lies on the Whiteadder Water approximately 9 miles north west of Duns.  For a map showing the location of Cranshaws within Berwickshire please click here.

 

"CRANSHAWS, a parish at the middle of the northern verge of Berwickshire; but consisting of two parts ... The northern part is bounded on the north and west by East Lothian, and on the east and south by the parish of Longformacus ... The southern section is bounded on the south by Westruther, and on the west by Lauder and Longformacus ... Near the centre of the northern section stands the castle of Cranshaws, formerly a fastness of a kinsman of the Douglases"

 

from Gazetteer of Scotland published 1806, Edinburgh.

 

Up until approximately 1350 the area of Cranshaws was owned by the Earls of March and was fortified.  The ownership of the lands of Cranshaws changed to the Swinton Family in around 1401 and remained in their Family until 1702 when it was then sold to a David Denham.

 

The Swinton Family kept Cranshaws Castle in relatively good repair however after the sale of the lands to David Denham the castle fell into disrepair although it did remain habitable.  The castle was repaired in around 1896 / 1897.

 

All that is left of the Castle today is the Tower, which is located at Cranshaws Farm, which is on the East Slope of Cranshaws Hill.  Cranshaws Castle was said to have been a miniature of Borthwick Castle.

 

Church History

 

Cranshaws Old Parish Church

 

When the old parish church of Cranshaws was built is unknown.  The original Parish Church was located approximately 180m from Cranshaws Tower.  The first known mention of the church was in 1275 when ‘Craneshaues’ Church was listed in Bagimond’s Roll.  In 1296 Robert de Strivelin who was the vicar of Cranshaws swore the oath of fealty to Edward 1 at Berwick.  A new church was eventually built in 1739 on the site of the present day church.

 

The foundations of the old church can still be seen with one or two courses of masonry still in place.  Although overgrown with surrounding shrubbery etc the gravestones at the Old Cranshaws Parish Church remain in a reasonable condition. 

 

Cranshaws Parish Church

 

The second Parish Church of Cranshaws was built in 1739 away from the castle.  The church was not constructed very well and was in constant need of repair however this church stood until 1899 when it was re-built to provide the current Parish Church. 

 

Population

 

Here are some figures showing the parish's population through time: .

 

1755

215

 

1831

136

 

1881

106

1791/2

164

 

1841

 

 

1891

 

1801

166

 

1851

 

 

1901

 

1811

186

 

1861

134

 

 

 

1821

156

 

1871

 

 

 

 

 

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