JEDBURGH. 



723 



1662, on Sir Andrew Kerr of Fairnieherst, and con- 

 verted into a temporal lordship, together with the title 

 of Lord Jedburgh.* 



It i* to be regretted, that the superstitious veneration, 

 which in barbarous ages had protected the religious 

 edifice*, loot all its influence on the Protestant reform- 

 en, whether of warlike or ecclesiastical characters. 

 The abhey, as well as the town of Jedburgh, was burnt 

 and demolished by Lord Surrey, 1523, on his second 

 incursion into Scotland. But, as has been observed, 

 the ground or lower parts of the monastery escaped 

 devastation at that time, nor did it afterwards sustain 

 any damage from the fanatical rancour of domestic re- 

 fonnerf . Jedburgh has the honour of parochial prece- 

 dency, being the oldest parish in Scotland of which 

 any historical record has been transmitted to posterity. 

 At Jedburgh was exposed to frequent depredations 

 from the incursions of the English, and the greatest 

 proportion of the property and all authority were en- 

 grossed by toe ecclesiastical dignitaries, it does not ap- 

 pear to have made any progress in the manufactures 

 and commerce, which, previous to the Reformation, 

 began to be cultivated, in a limited degree, by several 

 of the town* and burghs removed from the scene of 

 rapine. In the estimate of the revenue of the burghs 

 for fixing the awes! ment of tax for the defence of the 

 borders, in th minority of Queen Mary, Jedburgh 

 stand* perhaps lower in tfce li*t than any one of the 

 same population and extent. 



After the union of the crown*, when free intercourse 

 wa* opened between England and Scotland, the town of 

 Jedburgh derived great profit, and attained a consider- 

 able degree of commercial prosperity, from the expor- 

 tation of *alt, skins, and malt, into the neighbouring 

 covnty of Northumberland, and carrying wool to the 

 coast towns, to be thence exported to the continent. 

 This contraband traffic continued for many years after 

 the union of the legislatures, till it was checked by the 

 exaction of the malt tax 1728, and the more un relaxed 

 vigilance of excise officers on the English borders. 

 From this period, the population and industry of the 

 town of Jedburgh underwent a rapid decline. Efforts 

 were made, from time to time, by some of the neigh- 

 bouring gentlemen, and by the wiser citizens, to set on 

 loot diferent branches of manufacture. A linen com- 

 pany wat established. The manufacture of coarse wools 

 was also attempted, but, from the discontinuance of 

 these (peculations, they appear to have disappointed 

 the expectations of their patrons. The delusive hope 

 of acquiring iniioknt independence, as the price of po- 

 litical service, and party contests and divisions, repeat- 

 edly occasioned by the return of elections after the 

 nion of the legislature*, deadened the spirit of enter- 

 prise, and retarded the occupation and improvement 

 of thoae local advantages, which, in later years, have so 

 much redounded to the credit and melioration of the 

 cossun unity T 



About fifty yean ago, a few enterprising indivi- 

 dual* began to carry on a considerable manufacture 

 of flannel*, blanket*, and coarser woollen fabrics. 



Their success roused the emulation of their fellow- Jedburgli. 

 citizens. A spirit of industry pervaded all ranks ; and W "Y""~' 

 a great variety of woollen manufactures' were pur- 

 sued with dexterity and profit. During this period of 

 industry, the wages of labourers have been doubled. 

 There has been no want of employment for any class 

 of men. Shops have been multiplied, and better fur- 

 nished ; and the surrounding fields brought to the most 

 perfect state of culture. In the course of ten years pre- 

 ceding the year 1816, several hundreds have been added 

 to the population of the town of Jedburgh, and more 

 money has been expended in building and improve- 

 ments of every kind than for forty years preceding, J 

 Land in the vicinity of Jedburgh was then seldom 

 purchased at more than 20 pounds per acre, and a 

 few years ago it has been sold for 1 00, and 1 50 

 per acre. The rent of the surrounding inclosures has 

 been raised from 10s. and 20s. to 5, and, in some 

 instances, to 6 or .1 per acre. This description 

 of the prosperity of Jedburgh must, however, be un- 

 derstood to refer to a period preceding the year 1816, 

 when, from obvious reasons, which need not be men- 

 tioned, every species of manufacture and labour began 

 gradually to slacken, and more than two-thirds of the 

 persons employed are now laid aside from work. A 

 great proportion of the fields, surrounding the town, 

 had been purchased by the successive heirs of the 

 Lothian family ; but, as these made no part of the en- 

 tailed estate, they were sold in separate lots, about 

 twenty years ago, to private individuals, who are inha- 

 bitants of the town. 



After the Reformation, Roxburghshire was consigned 

 to the diocese of the bishop of Glasgow, and Jedburgh 

 was then, and still continues to be, the seat of the pres- 

 bytery. The parish is of great extent, reaching from 

 the river Teviot to the borders of Northumberland. 



The total population of the parish was found, upon 

 the late survey in 1813, to amount to 4927, of which 

 2827 reside within the royalty of the burgh. The 

 males in the town 1354. Females 1473. 



There are, besides the parochial church, three dis- 

 senting meeting houses, all attended by large congre- 

 gations. The parish church, consisting of the western 

 division of the abbey, was repaired in 1792, and adapt- 

 ed, with great taste and propriety, to the style of the 

 ancient edifice; and may be considered as one of the most 

 elegant churches in the kingdom. The grammar and 

 English schools, the former in the patronage of the he. 

 ritors, the latter in the patronage of the magistrates, 

 are now united, and conducted with great success by 

 the present incumbent Mr Robison. 



The set of the burgh is nearly the same as that of 

 Edinburgh, consisting of a provost, four bailies, dean 

 of guild, and treasurer; eight deacons of the trades; 

 and fourteen merchant councillors. The revenue of 

 the burgh arises entirely from the rent of the mills, to 

 which the inhabitants of the town are thirled, and 

 from the customs upon meal, barley, &c. imported 

 into the town for sale. The magistrates of Jedburgh 

 preside, together with the chamberlain of the Duke of 



The Marauia of t .m*t*r' i* the male rtprcsentatire of this ancient family, and his ancestors sat as peers in the Scotch Parliament, with 



i I., r!. I. ..:.,-.-. 



i of JcJbuigh u wcO Ttilff' < *jr l for the manufacturing of woollen good*, being situated on a river, affording a variety of 

 M and (alls ssr miDa. From the vidnhy of Cheviot hills, any quantity of Cheviot wool may be procured and laid down 



xl good* or r,njriiih blankets a preferred, an abundant supply 

 a* OB the lower grounds. In the year 1815, one hundred 

 ten "*- *"**-! baize at different colours, flannels, etc. and 



of any 



....1. ,u-. the 



Xtt -m 'employed in the" 



J In the year 1773. the whole population of Jedlmrgh amounted to nearly 2000, and now amount* to 2827. Within the last fort; 

 yan, < MejBB k*e teen bo* within lew than three milet of die town, three of them immediately contiguous. A magnificent court- 

 BOOM WM eraeted eight yean ago in the middle at the town, and adds to the beauty of the streets. An asylum is also provided fot UK 

 saisleaef i i dqsaasA, Peam aaannai etoisan HI aba carfaU it to hard, labour. 



