Ashkirk
| Ashkirk | |
|---|---|
 Houses at Ashkirk | |
  Ashkirk Location within the Scottish Borders | |
| Population | 139 (2011 census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | NT4722 |
| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SELKIRK |
| Postcode district | TD7 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Ashkirk is a small village on the Ale Water, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It is located just off the A7 road, approximately 6 miles (10 kilometres) each way between Selkirk to the north and Hawick to the south.
Other places nearby include the Alemoor Loch, Appletreehall, Belses, Essenside Loch, the Ettrick Water, Ettrickbridge, Philiphaugh, Salenside and Woll.
The village is home to the Woll golf course, Ashkirk Village Hall, and the Smiddy Bar & Restaurant
History
Formerly, two thirds of the parish of Ashkirk lay in Roxburghshire and one third in Selkirkshire,[2] including an enclave of Selkirkshire just east of the village[3] around Synton. In 1891 a Boundary Commission moved the whole parish into Selkirkshire and added to Ashkirk a detached portion of the parish of Selkirk just west of the village, which was already in Selkirkshire (Todrig).[4]
Notable persons
- Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (the Western Isles), grew up in Ashkirk.[5]
- Conservative MP James Cran spent the latter part of his life in Ashkirk and died there in 2023.
- Doug Davies, Scottish rugby player, was born in Ashkirk.[6]
- Scottish-Australian poet and bush balladeer Will H. Ogilvie (1869–1963) was born near Kelso, Scottish Borders, and from 1918 to his death he first leased then bought the Presbyterian church manse 'Kirklea' on the northside of Ashkirk.[7] After returning from Australia (1889–1901), Ogilvie became known as the Border poet, including penning Galloping shoes, Over the grass, Handful of leather, and The road to Roberton. His wife Madge is buried with her parents in nearby Ettrickbridge.
Gallery
A7 major road turn-off
Surrounding farming area
Road west of village with stone wall
Stone bridge over the Ale Water, west of village
Ashkirk Church yard
Ashkirk Church front (2018)
Inside the church
Ogilvie family area at church
See also
References
- ^ "2011 Census Settlement Populations". Scottish Borders Council. 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ New Statistical Account of Scotland, Vol III Roxburgh, Peebles, Selkirk, publ.William Blackwood, 1845 p. 268
- ^ Ordnance Survey One-inch to the mile maps of Scotland, 1st Edition, Jedburgh, pul. 1864
- ^ Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland 2nd edition, by Francis Groome, publ. 1896; articles on Ashkirk and Selkirk
- ^ Alasdair Allan
- ^ "Douglas S. Davies". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ OGILVIE, George Thomas Anderson (July 1994). Balladist of Borders & Bush. G.T. Ogilvie. ISBN 0952463407.
External links