Lauder

Parish No 748 Lauder is located within the County of Berwickshire which is now known as the Scottish Borders. Lauder is approximately 12.5 miles to the east of Greenlaw. For a map showing the location of Lauder please click here.

The Old Parish Church in Lauder [i.e. the church which was built in 1673]

"A royal borough in Berwickshire, seated on the river Lauder or Leader, about 15 miles before it falls into the Tweed. It is a royal borough of very ancient erection, and was often the seat of the Scotish parliament; but its present appearance is mean, and does not convey an idea of its former splendour. In the reign of King James III the factious nobility, who had been summoned to meet for the dispatch of public business, seized the favourite minister of that monarch, Robert Cochrane, who had been raised from a common mason to be Earl of Mar, and hung him and his associates over Lauder bridge, in sight of the king and the army ... Population in 1801, 1760."

from Gazetteer of Scotland published 1806, Edinburgh.

Church History

Lauder Old Parish Church

Lauder Old Parish Church as thought to have been in existence prior to 1153. In 1617 the 1^st Earl of Lauderdale petitioned James VI for the church to be removed from its site in front of his Castle and to be moved to the site it currently stands on. James VI granted this petition however the new church did not come into use until 1673.

Lauder Parish Church

Lauder Parish Church is dedicated to St Mary. The church lies in the shape of a cross. The tower is in the middle of the church and is octagonal in shape. A picture of the church is shown above.

It was said in 1812 that the church was too small for those who attended the church services. By 1819 it was said that the church was in need of repairs as it was partly ruinous. In 1820 new entrances were added to the church complete with porches. New seating was also added to the church at this time. When the repairs were completed the church had a seating capacity of 750.

Until 1864 the floor of the church had been earthen. During the 1864 repairs to the church new flooring was laid. Further repairs and renovations were made to the church in 1973, new doors were supplied and a communion dais was installed.

Population

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

1755 - 1714

1801 - 1760

1811 - 1742

1821 - 1845

1831 - 2063

1841 -

1851 -

1861 - 2198

1871 -

1881 - 1955

1891 -

1901 -

Social Life and Customs

For a description of Lauder's annual Common Riding see Chapter 19 ["Border Traditions: The Common Ridings"] of The Borders Book

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