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Bunkle and Preston

Berwickshire map

The united Parishes of Bunkle and Preston are situated at the foot of the Lammermuir Hills bordered on the north by the Parish of Abbey St Bathans, on the north east by Coldingham, on the east by the Parish of Chirnside, on the south by the Parish of Edrom and the east by the Parish of Duns.

Old Parish Records cover the periods:

  • Births: 1704 to 1854.
  • Marriages: 1704 to 1854.

Sales List

  • 1841 census Bunkle and Preston.
  • 1851 census Bunkle and Preston.
  • 1861 census Bunkle and Preston.
  • Bunkle and Preston Monumental (Gravestone) Inscriptions CD contains photographs of gravestones, Hearth Tax, Militia List, War Memorials.

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

Bunkle Parish Church with
the Burial Aisle of the Humes of Billie Bunkle Parish Church

Volumes available for consultation within our Archive

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.


Title Synopsis Size Description Issue No Author
Bunkle and Preston Monumental InscriptionsSome background on the CD of Bunkle and Preston Monumental Inscriptions, published by the Society.1 page or more 90 
The Lost Village of BunkleReport on excavations to discover the lost village of Bunkle.less than 1 page 97 
East Berwickshire Names ListInformation on contents of recently published book ' Early Berwickshire Names List'.1 page or more 98Betty Snow 
A Tale of Two TapestriesThe author has conserved and framed 2 early 19th century on linen, made by 2 young girls in Berwickshire - Margaret Hastie - age 11 (Mrs Penman Preston School), and Joan Dodds Armstrong - age 10. The author describes the lineage of both the girls. Margaret hailed from Bunkle (baptised Duns 1847) one of 7 children of William Hastie (1813-1874) and Margaret Lauder (1813-1869), and at 13 was a farm labourer at Broomhouse Mains, Edrom, staying with 5 other siblings. Her parents were buried at Preston churchyard. Older Hastie family members gravestones are found here also, and the author has collated this information and discovered a link to her own family, the Leitchs. Joan stayed in Fogomuir, and was the 11th child of 13 of George Armstrong from Fogo (1788-1855), and Janet Haig from Langton or Greenlaw (1793-1858). In 1861 Joan was a table maid working in Edinburgh.4 pages or more 110Diana Leitch 
Bessie Dora Bowhill, a wartime nurseAn account of the life of Bessie Dora Bowhill born Bunkle and Preston, Berwickshire who became, a nurse and worked in South Africa during the Boer War - her further experience during the First World War working with Dr Elsie Inglis in Serbia.2 pages or more 85 


Map of Bunkle from UK Great Britain, Ordnance Survey one-inch to the mile (1:63,360), 'Hills' edition, 1885-1903
by kind permission of the National Library of Scotland.
Use the control at the top left of the map to zoom in or out and drag the map left, right, up, or down as you wish.


Map of Bunkle from UK Ordnance Survey Historical Maps from 1919-1947
by kind permission of the National Library of Scotland.
Use the control at the top left of the map to zoom in or out and drag the map left, right, up, or down as you wish.

20 Most Common Surnames

The 20 most common surnames on gravestones recorded by us in the Bunkle and Preston monumental inscriptions volume are (number of gravestones in brackets): BROWN (37), DARLING (36), PURVES (34), ALLAN (31), SLIGH (27), WILSON (27), JOHNSTON (26), ANDERSON (22), LANDLES (21), TURNBULL (20), MARSHALL (20), RAE (19), HASTIE (16), ROBERTSON (15), RENTON (15), MARTIN (15), COWE (14), CAIRNS (13), REDPATH (13), THOMSON (13).

Other Sources

Library Services, Scottish Borders Council, St. Mary's Mill Selkirk

Scottish Borders Archives, The Hub, Hawick

School Records

The National Archives for Scotland Edinburgh

Berwickshire Naturalists' Club

Websites

A short history of the combined parishes.
A partial transcription of the 1871 Census
Photographs of the ruins of Bunkle Castle
RCHAMS website Scotland's Places contains details of

Place and Farm Names in the Census Records

1841 census:Bunkle, Lintlaw, Hammer Hall, East Blanerne, Blanerne, West Blanerne, Marden, Broomhouse, Preston, Primrosehill, Prestonhaugh, West Cruiksfield, East Cruikfield.

1851 census: Bunkle, Lintlaw, East Cruiksfield, Cruiksfield, Marden, West Blanerne, Blanerne, Hammerhall, East Blanerne, Marygold, Crossgait Hall, Blackhouse, Mayfield, Billiemains, Slighhouses, Preston, Prestonhaugh, Primrosehill, Hoardweel, Old Hoardweel, Copper Mines, Drakesmire.

1861 census: Bunkle, Lintlaw, Hammerhall, East Blanerne, Blanerne, West Blanerne, Marden, Cruicksfield, Billie Mains, Mayfield, Black House, Crossgate Hall, Marygold, Sleighhouses, Preston, Primrosehill, Prestonhaugh, Hoardweel, Coppermines, Drakesmire.

Population

The population has been recorded as follows:

Berwickshire map