180 DR. GILLY ON NORHAM CHURCH AND CHURCHYARD. 



this kind, I will now select Norham for more particular ob- 

 servation. 



NORHAM. 



Whoever passes through the village of Norham, from the 

 Castle Hill towards the bridge over the Tweed, will be struck, 

 as he approaches the Cross, by seeing through an opening to 

 his right two towers in a line with each other, the one on a 

 level spot near him, the other on a woody eminence which 

 rises like an amphitheatre above the former. These are the 

 towers of the Norham and Ladykirk churches : the one look- 

 ing like a church steeple, which it is ; the other resembling 

 a dovecot. 



Norham Churchyard. — The Churchyard is of considerable 

 extent and beautifully situated. As you enter the enclosure, 

 you observe a commodious house close to the eastern wall, 

 and some buildings beyond it, forming a group, which do not 

 require an inscription to announce that these are the parish 

 schools^ and schoolmaster's house. To the north the ground 

 slopes gradually towards the river Tweed, and then rises 

 abruptly and picturesquely in the form of a semi-circular 

 bank, adorned with plantations, and with rocks peeping out 

 from amidst verdure and foliage. To the west the Vicarage 

 is seen embowered among lime and elm trees, and beyond it 

 the high grounds and grass parks of Upsetlington, where 

 herds of cattle at noontide crown the beauty of a landscape, 

 in which Cuyp would have rejoiced. The ornamental grounds 

 of Upsetlington are so situated that they seem to belong to 

 the glebe, and add delightfully to the charms of this favoured 

 spot. 



A churchyard ought to be so kept as to become the pride 

 and favourite haunt of the villagers, who should take plea- 

 sure in walking there, and gazing at leisure on the memorials 

 which record the names of their predecessors. Here they 

 are to rest in death, and here let them ponder on the chances 

 and changes of this mortal life, which may soon reduce them, 

 "ashes to ashes, dust to dust.'' Considerable pains have 

 been taken to make Norham Churchyard an agreeable resoii;. 

 A broad gravel walk runs through it — its sides are planted 

 with yews, firs, and chesnuts, and a pathway has lately been 



