Legerwood

Parish No 749 Legerwood is located within the County of Berwickshire which is now known as the Scottish Borders. Legerwood is situated approximately 4 miles south east of Lauder. For a map showing the location of Legerwood please click here.

Legerwood Parish Church is situated roughly half a mile outside the hamlet of Legerwood. Legerwood Parish Church has always stood on this site. Melrose Abbey owned the Hospital, Legerwood Hospital, which was situated near to the village of Addinston. The village of Addinston no longer exists.

"A parish in Berwickshire, situated on the border betwixt Lauderdale and Lammermuir. It extends about 3 miles in length by 2 1/2 in breadth, comprehending an area of 8 miles. The surface consists of an assemblage of hills, rising gradually from the Leader, interspersed with deep mosses, in which are found large trunks of different kinds of trees, which renders it highly probable that the hills and glens, with the circumjacent country, were formerly a part of an immense forest. The soil of the arable land is chiefly a blackish mossy loam, intermixed with sand, and the gravel formed by the mouldering down of the adjacent rocks. It is tolerably fertile, and would be productive of heavy crops, were it not for the disadvantages of an exposed situation and a weeping climate. The hills afford pasture to 3770 sheep, 560 black cattle and 120 horses. Birkhillside, the seat of the family of Shillinglaw, is the only mansion of note. There are 3 ancient towers, one of which is very entire, and affords a striking monument of the taste of our ancestors. Population in 1801, 495."

from Gazetteer of Scotland published 1806, Edinburgh.

Church History

Legerwood Parish Church

It is suspected that Legerwood Parish Church was built prior to 1127. Legerwood Parish Church was said to be under the control of the Monks of Paisley Abbey from 1164 until the Reformation which took place in 1560. Legerwood Parish Church was dedicated by David de Bernham on 30 October 1242. It is not known who the church was dedicated to however.

Legerwood Hospital

The Chaplain of Legerwood Hospital Nicol de Lychardeswode swore his allegiance to Edward I at Berwick in 1296. Legerwood Hospital was dedicated to St Mary Magdalene and was located at Addinston. The village of Addinston no longer exists. The actual site of the Hospital is unknown. It is thought that the Hospital took to do with the care of lepers as in the Melrose Chartulary there is the mention of ‘Carta leprosorum de Moricestun’ a charter of the leprosy hospital of Morriston. It is unknown how long the Hospital ran for.

Population

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

1755 - 398

1801 - 495

1811 - 560

1821 - 476

1831 - 565

1841 -

1851 -

1861 - 599

1871 -

1881 - 558

1891 -

1901 -

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