Physical description
Westruther parish lies on the lower southern slopes of the Lammermuir Hills
in the western part of Berwickshire. The lowest point is at the southern
extremity at Stock Bridge near Bassendean (172m, 562ft.) and the highest
point on the northern edge at the summit of Twinlaw (447m, 1466ft.). The
western part drains via the Brunta Burn into the Leader Water, the middle
part into the Eden Water and the Eastern part into the Blackadder Water, all
three joining the Tweed in different places. The geology of the northern
half is Silurian 'greywacke’ which gives rise to poor heavy soils, and the
southern half is Old Red Sandstone of Devonian age, which is softer more
calcareous rock giving rise to fertile soils in the lower lands. Most of the
bedrock is covered in glacial boulder clay in which basalt ‘whinstone’
boulders are abundant and widely used in the past in building dykes and
houses. At Bassendean there was formerly a quarry for red sandstone,
conspicuous in local buildings.
Natural History
The higher moorlands are home to Red Grouse and small numbers of Black Game,
occasional raptors such as Merlin and Hen Harrier, and an increasing number
of Ravens. The Cuckoo is still a familiar summer visitor and in the hill
valleys the Stonechat has made a welcome comeback. The richest habitats for
wildlife are the old woodlands, at Spottiswoode, Brunta Burn (ancient native
woodland) and Flass Old Wood. These contain many plants of interest such as
the local Aspen tree, birds such as Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Woodpeckers and
Buzzards and a rich insect fauna. |
Spottiswoode Loch |
| Along the hill
burns Teal, Dipper and Grey Wagtail are familiar birds. The only open
water is at Spottiswoode Loch,
where wildfowl and swans breed and Otters are occasionally seen. The rare
Fragrant Orchid grows along the Brunta Burn. Roe Deer are abundant in the
woodlands, Badgers are few, and Long-eared Bats breed at Spottiswoode. The
hills and farmland are home to important populations of breeding Curlew and
Peewits which seem to be maintaining their numbers. The Magpie has recently
made an unwelcome return to the parish. |
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Settlements |
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Westruther Primary School |
Village Hall |
| The only village in the parish is Westruther, a lively community with a
church, an inn, a primary school and a village hall around which many local
activities centre. Residents include agricultural and sporting workers,
employees of local businesses and professionals working elsewhere in the
Borders and further afield in Edinburgh and Newcastle. Smaller settlements
are at Spottiswoode, Wedderlie and Bassendean and on farms such as
Cammerlaws, Westruther Mains, Harelaw, Houndslow, Hyndsidehill, Thornydykes,
Jordonlaw, Raecleugh and Flass. Some smaller farms have been amalgamated
into larger units and on several farms settlements have expanded with new
houses and conversions. |
Land use
The higher parts of the parish around Twinlaw are covered in blanket peat
with heather moorland dominant. This is used for sheep grazing and as a
grouse moor. The lower slopes of these hills are dominated by Sitka Spruce
plantations above Flass, and parts of Spottiswoode have extensive conifer
plantations. The remainder of the parish is largely a mosaic of old
unimproved grassland, some areas of poorly-drained rough pasture, more
intensively managed grazing for cattle and sheep (including the renowned
Aberdeen Angus herd ‘Tui’ at Wedderlie, and large commercial herds at
Bassendean and Flass), and a relatively small arable area growing barley,
swedes and oil-seed rape. There are three old estates with designed
landscapes at Spottiswoode, Wedderlie and Bassendean; these still have some
mature plantation woodland. A growing area of land is grazed by horses.
Other industries
Apart from the main activities of farming and forestry, other industries
include training racehorses at Morven Stables, a flourishing equestrian
centre at Westertoun, a shooting and game-bird rearing business at
Westruther, a popular inn and restaurant (Old Thistle Inn) in Westruther and
the expanding tourist industry, with several farmhouse bed-and-breakfasts,
holiday lets, and opportunities for bird-watching and walking along the
Southern Upland Way and other footpaths. There are several resident artists.
Places of historical interest
The old ruined Kirk in Westruther dating from 1649 contains the tombs of the
Spottiswoode family, including that of Lady John Scott who died on 12 March
1900 and was buried in a heavy snowstorm. The Old Thistle Inn dates from
1721. The present church dates from 1840. Bassendean Estate has the ruins of
a pre-Reformation Church near Bassendean House, the ancestral seat of the
Homes of Bassendean, part of which was a peel-tower dating back to 1690. |
The Old Kirk |
| Wedderlie House, ancestral seat of the Edgars of Wedderlie, is a late 17th
century mansion that was added to an earlier peel-tower dating back to the
14th century. The nearby Evelaw Tower is a ruined fortified late 16th
century house. The Twinlaw Cairns are the most prominent landmark on the
Westruther skyline and are reputed to mark the graves of two Edgar brothers
of Wedderlie who fought in opposing Scottish and English armies and died in
the combat. |
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Eagle Lodge |
The former Spottiswoode estate was the family seat of the Spottiswoodes, and
of which the former Spottiswoode House, dating back to around 1700 with a
much larger addition built in 1834, was demolished in 1938. Some features of
the old estate have survived, such as the Gothick arches, the gateways with
inscribed poetry, the Eagle (or Clock) Lodges and the old Coach House and
Stable Block. |
Spottiswoode is most famous for Lady John Scott, who wrote the
refined version of the song ‘Annie Laurie’. At Rundiesford on the back road
from Raecleugh to Westruther is a standing ‘popping stone’ where Lady John
Scott and Lord John Scott ‘plighted their troth’. Heriot’s Dyke is a
prehistoric defensive ‘Black Dyke’ which passed through Spottiswoode Estate
and is still visible by the Brunta Burn.
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Items of civic pride
Westruther Village School and its new extension which was opened in
2002.
The new Westruther Village Hall which opened in 2000. |
Current issues and projects
New housing in Westruther and vicinity is possibly the most contentious
local issue.
The increasing volume of traffic through Westruther is a concern and the
need for calming measures.
Possible upgrading of Westruther telephone exchange to make Broadband
internet access available.
Important local contacts:
Gordon & Westruther Community Council: Chair, Ian Aitchison 01573 410585;
Secretary: Diana Findlay 01573 410286
Old Thistle Inn, Westruther: 01578 740275
Westertoun Riding Centre: 01578 740270
Westruther Bowling Club: 01578 740267
Westruther Church: 01361 810316
Westruther Community Players: 01578 740269
Westruther Primary School: 01578 740271; (www.westruther.scotborders.sch.uk)
Westruther Under-fives Group: 01578 740285
Westruther Village Hall Committee: 01578 740217
Westruther Youth Group: 01578 740315
Westruther
Parish Church:
·
Minister – Reverend Thomas Nicholson 01361 810316
Westruther
Primary School:
Headmistress Carol-Anne Struthers 01578 740271; website:
www.westruther.scotborders.sch.uk.
A new extension
to the school was opened in 2002.
Further reading
anon. 1999. Berwickshire Monumental Inscriptions 7. Gordon, Nenthorn &
Westruther. Borders Family History Society.
Barry, T. & Hall, D. 1997. Spottiswoode. Life and Labour on a Berwickshire
Estate, 1753-1793. East Linton: Tuckwell Press.
McLeish, N. & Mackay, F. (eds.). 2002. Lauderdale in the 20th Century.
Galashiels: Buccleuch Printers.
Strang, C.A. 1994. Borders and Berwick. An illustrated architectural guide
to the Scottish Borders and Tweed Valley. Edinburgh: Rutland Press.
Thomson, A. 1902. Lauder and Lauderdale. Galashiels: Craighead Brothers.
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