OLDHAMSTOCKS

Description(s) from The National Gazetteer (1868)

"OLDHAMSTOCKS, a parish in the county of Haddington and partly in county Berwick, Scotland. It comprises the villages of Oldhamstocks and Bilsdean. It extends about 6 miles in length from N.E. to S.W., with a varying breadth of from 1¼ mile to 3 miles. It is bounded on the N.E. by the German Ocean, and on other sides by the parishes of Cockburnspath, Abbey St. Bathan's, and Innerwick. A small portion of the parish is in the county of Berwick. The surface is moderately even, but gradually rises towards the Lammermuir Hills, where it becomes hilly, fit only for sheepwalks. The coast line, which is bold and rocky, is but 1½ mile in extent. On the coast the soil is dry and fertile. Coal, limestone, ironstone, and freestone, abound in the lower district. The parish is traversed along the coast by the road from Dunbar to Berwick, and by the North British railway, which has stations at Innerwick and Cockburnspath. The village of Oldhamstocks is about 6 miles S.E. of Dunbar, and 3 S.E. of Innerwick. It is a fishing station, situated in the valley of the Dean, on the road from Dunbar to Dunse, and near the coast of the North Sea. It was made a burgh of barony in 1489. This parish is in the presbytery of Dunbar and synod of Lothian and Tweeddale. The minister has a stipend of £297. Tho parish church, which is situated in the village, was built in 1701. There are a parochial school, besides two other schools. Dunglass is a modern mansion, standing on the site of the old castle, and near the western bank of the small river, which here divides East Lothian from the shire of Berwick. The Castle of Dunglass is frequently mentioned in Scottish history, and was the place where James VI. lodged with his retinue the first night after he left Edinburgh in 1603, on his journey to London. It was by accident or treachery blown up in the year 1640, when Lord Haddington and many neighbouring gentry perished in its ruins. In the vicinity is the old collegiate church of Dunglass, which was built in 1450 by Sir Thomas Home, of that ilk, but is no longer used. Fairs are held on the last Tuesday in July, and on the second Thursday in November."

"BILSDEAN, a hamlet in the parish of Oldhamstocks, Haddingtonshire, Scotland."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]

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