Monday I had a cunning plan, sadly the plan went of the rails in a work led way.
While Annabel went into Kelso, I hoped to get some jobs done, and then go off to explore the local area. However, a hours job turned into a nightmare of slow broadband, updates and grumpy computers….but we did get chance to explore and research a bit of Greenlaw, (where we were staying) which, built in the late 17th century, functioned as the county town of Berwickshire from 1569. It then shared this title with Duns from 1696 until the early years of the 20th century, when Duns took it over. (I have questions over the dates here, but take the facts from https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/greenlaw-p244571).
Apart from the pub, Blackadder – a name that will make so many think of ‘a cunning plan’ the church is worth a study. There has been a church on the site since before 1147. The present church was built 1675 and lengthened 1712. The east and west lofts were erected 1721 and the north loft 1784. A prison, resembling a church tower, was added by 1712 and was in use until 1824. The tower houses the town clock and church bell, provided by Thomas Broomfield c1696 and recast 1726. https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/greenlaw-church/
The name Blackadder is found in many aspects of the local landscape including the river that runs past the town of Greenlaw – and this has led to some research into the origins of the name. Taking this information from Wikipedia it turns out that Blackadder House was an estate, and stately house near the village of Allanton, in Berwickshire, Scotland. It was built on the site of the earlier Blackadder Castle.
The Blackadder family were an integral part of the constant Borders’ feuds, and extended their lands by grants from James II. These were bestowed as a reward for repelling English raids, with great ferocity. The Borders holdings of Blackadder of that ilk were taken into the family of Home (now the Home Robertson family) by the forced marriage of Beatrix and her younger sister, the only heirs of their father Robert, to younger sons of Home of Wedderburn in 1518.
A day of interest, if not much of the origial exploring plan.
