Ladykirk

 

Parish No 746 Ladykirk is located within the County of Berwick which is now known as the Scottish Borders.  Ladykirk is situated approximately 7 miles south west of Berwick-upon-Tweed and approximately 6 miles north east of Coldstream.  For a map showing the location of Ladykirk please click here.

 

Ladykirk was formed by the union of the Parishes of Upsettlington and Horndean in 1576.  James IV nearly drowned here and to show his thanks had a church erected.  The new church was erected by James VI in 1496 or 1497.

 

 This picture shows Ladykirk Church which was built by JamesIV.

 

"A parish in Berwickshire, on the banks of the Tweed, anciently called Upsettintoune [Upsettlington], but changed to its present name by James IV, after he had built a handsome church in it which he dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This church is famous as the place where the supplemental treaty to that of Chateau Cambresis was concluded, between the English and Scots commissioners. The parish is 2 1/2 miles long, and 1 broad, and contains 3500 acres ... Population in 1801, 516."

 

from Gazetteer of Scotland published 1806, Edinburgh.

 

Census

The National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh have amongst its vast collection Census retirns for Ladykirk dating from 1811 and 1831 which have survived among the Kirk Session Records.  The National Archive of Scotland Ref is CH2/660/4 and 5.

 

Church History

 

Wester Upsettlington Church

 

Upsettlington was formed in Saxon times.  The church of Wester Upsettlington was dedicated to St Mary.  There was a dispute about Wester Upsettlington for around 6 centuries or so I believe.  This was due to where Wester Uppsettlington was believed to be situated.  Wester Uppsettlington was assumed to be out with Scottish Bounderies and so came under the control of the Bishops of Durham until around the middle of the 14th Century when the church became part of the diocese of St Andrews.

 

Easter Upsettlington Church

 

It was assumed that Ladykirk parish Church was built on a new site, however in 1864 and 1885 skeletal remains were found under the buttresses of the church.  In 1878 skeletal remains of a female were found under the north wall of the central part of the church.  During renovations to the church in 1987 further remains were found under the foundations.  This would make it seem plausible that Ladykirk Church was in fact built on the site of Easter Upsettlington Church.

 

Easter Upsettlington Church served as the Parish Church for the eastern side of the Barony of Upsettlington

 

Ladykirk Parish Church

 

Ladykirk Parish Church is the oldest church which remains intact in the county of Berwickshire. 

 

It is said that Ladykirk Parish Church was erected on the orders of James IV after an accident he had in the area.  James IV’s horse stumbled as it was crossing the River Tweed at the ford beside Norham Castle and through him into the river.  James IV was rescued from the River, James IV believed his rescue was thanks to the divine intervention of the Virgin Mary.  After his rescue James IV vowed to build a church in gratitude to her.  His orders were that a church was to be built that a ‘flood will not drown’ and a ‘fire will not burn’.  Ladykirk Parish Church was built some 40 metres above the Tweed so as to protect it from the River bursting its banks and flooding the area.  The church was made completely of stone including the roof and the pews inside so as it could not burn.  The Church was dedicated to Our Lady of the Steill.  This name was only used until around 1550 when the Church became known as Our Lady Kirk.

 

The church took 13 years to complete.  Sir Patrick Blackadder was in charged of the construction of the church for the first 4 years.  George Ker succeeded Air Patrick.

 

The church received new seating 1987 however the seats were not new they came from St Andrews Church in Berwick upon its demolition. The church received the Pulpit Bible in 1972 in memory of James Fleming who was the Session Clerk for 32 years.  The church also received a new organ in 1993 but again it was not brnad new it came fro the Church of Holy Rood in Grangemouth.

 

Horndean Parish Church

 

Horndean Church was dedicated by David de Bernham, the Bishop of St Andrews on 4 April 1243.  The dedication was to the Holy Rood.  1576 was that last record of Horndean standing as a parish in its own right and of the chapel being used.  For a map showing the location of Horndean, Ladykirk and Upsettlington please click here.

 

Horndean Church and its graveyard are to the east of the village of Horndean.  This is where the old village of Horndean was thought to have been.  There are remains of the church which have been fenced of from the roaming livestock in the field.

 

Population

 

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

 

*      1755 – 386

*      1791 – 534

*      1801 – 516

*      1811 – 535

*      1821 – 527

*      1831 – 485

*      1841 –

*      1851 –

*      1861 – 565

*      1871 –

*      1881 – 438

*      1891 –

*      1901 –

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