Notice of Orchard of Coldstream Priory, by Jas. Hardy. 313 



In a return for the purpose of a papal taxation of Scotland, of 

 the early part of the reign of Edward L, Coldstream Priory is 

 the only ecclesiastical establishment of that period that derived 

 a revenue, however small, from the disposal of the produce of its 

 gardens, — " Exitus ortorum ijs. iiijd."* 



Having again the occasion of referring to our Border Fruit- 

 trees, I take the opportunity of explaining the origin of the name 

 of the Auchan Pear, which formerly escaped me. It is contain- 

 ed in the following extract from Sir John Sinclair's Statistical 

 Account, (Parish of Dundonald), vol. vii., pp. 619, 620. 



" Opposite the village and castle of Dundonald, in Ayrshire, 

 is a very beautiful bank of wood, upwards, in most places, of 

 100 feet in height, and extending near a mile to the north-west. 

 In a grand curvature of this bank, and on a gentle eminence, 

 stands the house of Auchans, for a long period the residence of 

 the Wallaces of Dundonald. About 1640, the estate came into 

 the possession of Sir William Cochrane of Cowdon, knight ; who 

 was afterwards created Earl of Dundonald. Since the beginning 

 of this century, the estate has been the property of the Earl of 

 Eglingtoune. At the Auchans, are the remains of a small or- 

 chard which was once in high reputation. The Pear, known in 

 Scotland by the name of Auchans, derived that name from this 

 place. The tree came originally from France, was planted in 

 this orchard, grew to a great height, and was, not long ago, 

 blown down by a storm." 



This was written by the Rev. Robert Duncan about 1793. 

 Like many other fruit-trees, this does not ascend to the period 

 of the monks, but indicates a progressive adoption by cultivators 

 of new varieties, according as they came into vogue. 



* Correspondence, &c, of the Priory of Coldingham, App., p. cxiv. 



