Borders Family History Society

Coldingham

Berwickshire map

Coldingham, the largest Parish in Berwickshire, is situated in the north east of the County, being bounded on the north and east by the North Sea, on the south by the Parishes of Eyemouth, Ayton, Chirnside, Bunkle and Abbey St. Bathans and on the west by the Parishes of Bunkle, Abbey St. Bathans and Cockburnspath. Old Parish Birth Records exist from 1690 to 1854. Marriage Records exist from1694 to 1854. Death records exist from 1690 to 1759.

Coldingham Priory

Sales List;

We are currently involved with the Friends of Coldingham Priory in the recording of the gravestone inscriptions.

See our sales list for full details and cost of postage.

Volumes available for consultation within our Archive;

• Coldingham Mortcloth Records 1694-1759 by Vivienne S Dunsmore 1998.
• C.D. The John Wood Collection (a collection of 100 photographs of Coldingham and surrounding area taken between 1890 and 1910).
• Coldingham Priory by T.M. Thomson 1981.
• Pre 1855 Memorial Inscriptions of Berwickshire by David Cargill.
• The Churches and Churchyards of Berwickshire by G.A.C. Binnie.
• C.D. The Churches and Churchyards of Berwickshire by James Robson 1896.
• Index to Particular Register of Sasines for Berwickshire.
• Pigot's 1837 Directory of Berwickshire and Roxburghshire.
• Rutherford's Southern Counties Register and Directory 1867.
• C.D. Slater's Directory of Berwickshire 1903.
• County Directory of Scotland 1912 - Borders Towns and Villages.

Magazine Articles;

Please note that the heading Author includes persons who have compiled or transcribed records; and that the topics indexed, and the synopses are subjective opinions.
See the Sales List to buy copies of the magazines containing articles in which you're interested.

Other Sources;

• The Correspondence, Inventories, account rolls and proceedings of Coldingham edited by James Raine - London 1841.
• Kirk Session Records of Coldingham by A Thomson (printed in the 1904 transactions of Hawick Archaeological Society).
• History of the Priory of Coldingham from the earliest date to the present time by William King Hunter - Kelso 1858.
• A History of Coldingham Priory by Alexander Allan Carr - Edinburgh 1836.
• Coldingham Parish and Priory by Alexander Thomson - Galashiels 1908.
• Ebb Tide by Will Wilson Berwick 1980.
• Grantshouse by Jim Crosbie Kelso 1999.
• Coldingham and St. Abbs Golf Bazaar Guide (undated) contains details of traders and accommodation to let.

Scottish Borders Archives and Family History Centre, The Hub Hawick holds the following records;

• Coldingham School Log Book 1873 to 1915 ref; B/ED/14/2/1.
• Coldingham Moor Public School Log Book 1877-1888 ref; B/ED/2/11.
• School Board Minute Books 1883 to 1931 ref; B/ED/1/22-27.
• Auchencrow School Log Book 1864 to 1867 ref; SBA/82.
• Grantshouse School Log Books 1968 to 1972 ref; B/ED/2/23.
• RentonSchool Log Book 1923 to 1968 ref; B/ED/2_.
• Renton School Log Books 1908 to 1936 ref; B/ED/2_.

The Scottish National Archives, Edinburgh hold the following records;

Coldingham Parish Church;

• Minutes 1699 to 1709 and 1726 to 1898.
• Accounts 1726 to 1805.
• Collections 1722 to 1759 ref; CH2/69.

Houndwood quoad Sacra Parish;

• Minutes 1851 to 1958 ref; CH2/969

Coldingham United Associate Burgher Church;

• Births 1849 to 1940.
• Records 1808 to 1896 ref; CH3/628.

Houndwood Free Church;

• Minutes 1846 to 1941.

also the following Maps;

• 1759 A plan of the Village of Auchencrow - ref RHP.178.
• 1760 Plan of the the lands of West Renton ref RHP.4088.
• 1765 Plan of Coldingham Moor with names of adjacent owners Ref RPH.62.
• 1772 The Common or Commonty of Coldingham showing the scheme of Division, Coldingham Village and names of adjacent owners. ref RHP.155.
• 1783 Rough sketch of part of Coldingham Common showing a proposed road ref RHP.556.
• 1804 Farm Plan of Temple Hall ref RHP.3281.
• 1811 Sketch of the lands of Renton under division Ref RHP.4096.
• 1828 Sketch of Coldingham Harbour ref RHP 4244.
• 1832 Sketch of proposed breakwater at Coldingham ref RHP.4245.
• 1837 Estate Plan of Templehall ref RHP 837.
• 1845 Plan of Coldingham Harbour showing planned improvements ref RHP 4246.
• 1888 Coldingham Harbour ref RHP 4248.
• Rough sketch of Burnhall Estate (late 19th. century) ref. RHP.4222.

Berwickshire Naturalist Club has printed the following articles;

• Vol. 40 Scandal at Auchencrow by William Lillie (an account of an early 18th. century investigation by the Kirk Session - names involved, Bogue, Crooks, Paxton, Purves, Sheriff, Edington).
• Vol. 41 Bridegrooms, bodles and mortcloths by T.D. Thomson.
• Vol. 41 Body Snatching at Coldingham Churchyard by G.E. Davidson.
• Vol. 42 The Division of Coldingham Common in the 1763 to 1776 by G.B. Millican 1983.
• Vol. 44 William Crow of Netherbyres (c1704-1750) a sketch of his life and work (available in Society Archive).
• Vol. 46 A history of the Churches in the Presbytery of Duns by The Rev. Alan C Cartwright, 1995.
• Vol. 51 The Coldingham Resurrectionist by G.E. Davidson.

The Southern Annualhas published the following articles;

• 1952 Down Memory Lane - by gone days at St. Abbs by Will Hood (available in Society Archives).
• 1961 Callants' Capers at St. Abbs by Will Hood (available in Society Archives.)
• 1965 The Seat at the top of the brae - boyhood days in St. Abbs by Will Hood (available in Society Archives.)

Websites;

Coldingham Village Site .

St. Abbs Community Website.

Grantshouse Village Site .

First Statistical Account by John Renton of Chesterbank. (click "browse scanned pages" and insert Parish name.

Second Statistical Account by The Rev. James Hume Robertson (click "browse scanned pages" and insert Parish name).

RCHAMS website Scotland's Places contains details of;

Farm Horse tax 1797-1798.
Medical Officer's of Health Reports 1891.
Land Ownership Commission Report 1872 -1873. (available on C.D. in Society Archives).

Place and Farm names in Census Records;

1841 census: Coldingham, Haughhead, Swinwoodmill, East Restonmill, East Reston, Restonhill, Berrybank, Ferney Castle, Stoneshiel, Reston Mains, Berryhaugs, Reston, Wood Law, New Mains, Greenhead, Fair Law, Houburn, Shawbraes, Coveheugh, Bankhead, Walkmill, Greenburn, Auchencrow, Sunnyside, Swansfield, Walow Bank, Horsely, Bankhouse, Brockholes, Harelawside, Renton, Renton Barns, Howpark, Alton, Greenwood, Renton Deanfoot, South Renton, Renton Bush, Houndwood, Bee Edge, Cairncross, Blackhill, Hillend, Lemington, Mountalban, Bog Bank, South Grange, Grange, Press Castle, Press,Whitcross, Clayhall, Ale Mill, Highlaws, Biglaw Burn, Halydown, Fleurs, Fleuars, Paddockmire, East Law, Homefield, Law, Northfield, Shore Village, Milldown, Townhead, Cross Gate, Muirside, Coldingham Lone, Bogangreen, Burnhall, Templehall, Abbey Park, Silverwells, Buskenbrae, Crosslaw, Northfallow Know, Southfallow Know, Huxton, Moorhouse, Dowlaw, Lumsdain, Westerside, West Loch, Pilmuir, Blackpotts.
1851 census: Coldingham, Stoneshiel, Ferney Castle, Fairneybank, Berrybank, Reston Hill, Reston, Swinewood Mill, Heughhead, Bankhead, Waulk Mill, Bush, Coveyheugh Mill, Shawbraes,Howburn Mill, Fairlaw,Greenhead, Newmains, Muirmontrig, Sunnyside, Swansfield, Horsely, Wardiebank, Greenburn , Auchincrow, Grammar Hall, Hollands, Brockholes, Renton Bush, Houndwood, Westwood, Greenwood, Alton, Rentonwood, Renton Barns, Howpark, Harelawside, Grant's House, Butterdean, Scrog End, Mount Albon, Lemington, Hillend, Blackhill, Cairncross, Ale Water House, Bee Edge, Press, North Grange, South Grange, West Grange, Bogue Bank, Lawsmithy, Whitecross, Lawhill, Alemill, Highlaws, Hallydown, Fleurs, East Law, Milldown, Shore Village, Northfield, Wellworthhall, Bonar Dub, Killnow, The Bow, Bogangreen, Blackpots, Pilmuir, West Loch, Waterside, Lumsden, Doulaw, Moor House, Springhill, Leveret Lees, Burnside, Myrtlehall, Mossfield, Burnhead, Mossside, Dronhill, Fountainside, Hopefield, Newbegin, Hopestead, Woodside, Huxton, South Cala Know, North Fala Know, Silverwells, Abbeypark Templehall, Buskinbrae, Crosslaw, Bogangreen.
1861 census: Coldingham, Law, Whitecross, Bee-edge, Alewater, Cairncross, Blackhill, Alemill, Clay House, Highlaws, Biglawburn, Hallydown, Fleurs, Paddockmire, East Law, Bonnerdub, Milldown, Burngreen, Kirkgate, Bridgend, Burnside, Kilknowe, Townfoot, Scabeyburn, Blackpots, West Loch , Waterside, St. Abb's Head, Northfield, Shore.

Population;