Eckford is a small village located between the larger towns of Kelso and Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. The village is in close proximity to both the River Teviot and its tributary the Kale Water, and the A698 and the B6401 which run approximately parallel to the respective rivers.
The village itself consists of around 20 houses, situated off Eckford road, the minor Well road and the historic drove road, the Loaning.
The village hall was built in 1930, funded primarily by local subscription and fund raising, and sits in the heart of the village,[1] and is its last remaining public building (previously there was also a school (1963), post office and shop).[2] The hall remains an important hub within the village and hosts events throughout the year.
Eckford Parish
The parish of Eckford consists of Caverton, Cessford and Eckford.
Caverton comprises Caverton Mill (by the Kale), Old Caverton, Caverton Hillhead, and Caverton Mains.
Eckford's church, which sits close to the River Teviot and around 3/4 of a mile from the village was closed for safety reasons in the late 2000s due to required repairs to the bell tower, the cost of which proved insurmountable. The graveyard surrounding the church remains in use, however, and contains a remarkable circular tower, used in the 19th century to guard newly buried bodies against the risk of body snatchers.[3]
In History
The name Eckford is locally accepted to be a variant on Oakford, meaning simply a ford by oak trees.[4] It has also been suggested independently, however, to mean ford by the church. It was known as Eckeforde in 1200 and Hecford in 1220.[5] The prefix Ecc is from the Latin ecclesia meaning church.
On 17 October 1557 a Scottish army led by the Earl of Huntly halted at Eckford. There the Scottish lords held a consultation, and considering the time of year, the foul weather, and English preparations against them, decided not to attack Wark as Mary of Guise had instructed them. The next day they crossed the border and approached Wark Castle with their artillery but then returned to Scotland.[6]
Moss Tower
The ruins of Moss Tower remain in Eckford parish. This castle was damaged by the English commanded by Lord Dacre in 1523, and again in 1544, and 1570.[7] It later belonged to the rebel earl Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell, who used it as refuge in March 1594, and his wife Margaret Douglas stayed there.[8]
^Annie I. Cameron, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1593-1596, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1936), pp. 304, 471: Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 5 (Edinburgh, 1882), p. 239.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eckford, Scottish Borders.
eckford, scottish, borders, eckford, small, village, located, between, larger, towns, kelso, jedburgh, scottish, borders, village, close, proximity, both, river, teviot, tributary, kale, water, a698, b6401, which, approximately, parallel, respective, rivers, v. Eckford is a small village located between the larger towns of Kelso and Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders The village is in close proximity to both the River Teviot and its tributary the Kale Water and the A698 and the B6401 which run approximately parallel to the respective rivers The village itself consists of around 20 houses situated off Eckford road the minor Well road and the historic drove road the Loaning Contents 1 Eckford Village Hall 2 Eckford Parish 3 In History 4 Moss Tower 5 See also 6 Footnotes 7 External linksEckford Village Hall EditThe village hall was built in 1930 funded primarily by local subscription and fund raising and sits in the heart of the village 1 and is its last remaining public building previously there was also a school 1963 post office and shop 2 The hall remains an important hub within the village and hosts events throughout the year Eckford Parish EditThe parish of Eckford consists of Caverton Cessford and Eckford Caverton comprises Caverton Mill by the Kale Old Caverton Caverton Hillhead and Caverton Mains Cessford comprises Cessford Castle the Cessford Burn and Cessford Moor Eckford comprises Eckfordmoss and Mosstower Eckford s church which sits close to the River Teviot and around 3 4 of a mile from the village was closed for safety reasons in the late 2000s due to required repairs to the bell tower the cost of which proved insurmountable The graveyard surrounding the church remains in use however and contains a remarkable circular tower used in the 19th century to guard newly buried bodies against the risk of body snatchers 3 In History EditThe name Eckford is locally accepted to be a variant on Oakford meaning simply a ford by oak trees 4 It has also been suggested independently however to mean ford by the church It was known as Eckeforde in 1200 and Hecford in 1220 5 The prefix Ecc is from the Latin ecclesia meaning church On 17 October 1557 a Scottish army led by the Earl of Huntly halted at Eckford There the Scottish lords held a consultation and considering the time of year the foul weather and English preparations against them decided not to attack Wark as Mary of Guise had instructed them The next day they crossed the border and approached Wark Castle with their artillery but then returned to Scotland 6 Moss Tower EditThe ruins of Moss Tower remain in Eckford parish This castle was damaged by the English commanded by Lord Dacre in 1523 and again in 1544 and 1570 7 It later belonged to the rebel earl Francis Stewart 5th Earl of Bothwell who used it as refuge in March 1594 and his wife Margaret Douglas stayed there 8 See also EditList of places in the Scottish Borders List of places in ScotlandFootnotes Edit History of Eckford Eckford Village Hall Eckford SWRI Retrieved 9 January 2013 Eckford Hall Online Borders Online Borders History of Eckford The Church Eckford SWRI Retrieved 9 January 2013 History of Eckford Eckford SWRI Place names of Scotland by James Brown Johnston 2nd Ed 1903 Strype John Ecclesiastical Memorials vol 3 part 2 1822 532 534 Shrewsbury to council Historic Environment Scotland Moss Tower 58224 Canmore Annie I Cameron Calendar State Papers Scotland 1593 1596 vol 11 Edinburgh 1936 pp 304 471 Register of the Privy Council of Scotland vol 5 Edinburgh 1882 p 239 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eckford Scottish Borders RCAHMS record for Eckford Parish RCAHMS Cist at Eckford RCAHMS Romano British Hoard at Eckford RCAHMS Eckford Eckford Road Eckford Cottage Eckford Tower Scottish Borders Council Adopted Local Plan Eckford with Settlement Profile and Map The history of Eckford in the Scottish BordersCoordinates 55 31 38 N 2 27 42 W 55 52722 N 2 46167 W 55 52722 2 46167 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eckford Scottish Borders amp oldid 1081586885, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
