Kilbucho (parish)

The following lengthy account of the parish was printed in the Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, edited by John Marius Wilson and published by A. Fullarton & Co. in 1868.

KILBUCHO, a parish on the west border of Peebles-shire, united to Broughton and Glenholm. See BROUGHTON. It is bounded by Lanarkshire, Skirling, Broughton, and Glenholm. It has a triangular outline, measuring 4 1/2 miles on the north side, the same on the south-east side, and 3 3/4 on the south-west side. Biggar-water, coming in from the north-west, traces nearly the whole of the northern boundary. Kilbucho-water rises on the side of Cardon-hill at the southern angle, runs 1 1/4 mile due north, and thence flows north-eastward parallel with the south-east boundary, till it falls into Biggar-water. Cardon-hill rises 1,400 feet above the level of the Tweed, which is at 3 miles' distance. From theis hill a chain runs north-eastward till it strikes Biggar-water; and over the whole distance it forms a water-shedding line, constitutes the boundary, and consists of heights whose sides and summits are covered with heath and grass. At the base of this ridge is a narrow and pleasant vale watered by the Kilbucho. Screening this vale on the north-west side, and parellel with the first ridge, is a broader and less stronger featured stretch of heights, also clothed in mingled russet and green. Beyond this ridge, a beautiful valley, comparatively broader and finely decorated with wood on the west, somewhat contracted as it advances eastward, and again expanding as it forms an angular junction with the former valley, stretches along the Biggar-water. In the north-east angle stands the church of the united parishes; and 1 1/2 mile inward, from the southern angle is the site of the ancient church of Kilbucho. The saint from whom the parish has its name was either a female called Bega, of whom nothing is known, or, more probably, by a corruption of the orthography, the celebrated Bede. Tradition reports that a number of monks of Bede's order settled in the parish, and that they raised some beautiful banks which still exist. A well of excellent water, also, bears the name of St. Bede's well. The parish was anciently a rectory in the deanery of Peebles. The barony of Kilbucho belonged at the accession of Robert I., to the Grahams of Dalkeith and Abercorn; it passed, in the reign of David II., to the Douglases; it afterwards passed successively to Lord Fleming and the Earl of Morton; and was acquired, during the reign of Charles I., by John Dickson, whose descendants continue to possess it. Population in 1831, 353; in 1851, 345. Houses, 57. Assessed property in 1860, £3,332.

Annette Peebles
Last updated Monday, 17-Jul-2000 22:11:01 MDT