268 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 190S 



and while there is no evidence of its earlier date, there exists 

 at least a presumption that it was included in the main 

 building, as it can scarcely be supposed that a gap would 

 be made in a three-foot thick gable for the insertion of 

 such an unusual appendage. The church is supported by 

 angled buttresses at each corner, the termination of that 

 on the South-West consisting of a remarkable sun-dial, 

 resembling another in a similar position on the church of 

 Oldhamstocks. The market-cross, of which the pillar and 

 capital are part of the original structure, has no inscription, 

 but is ornamented with the Eoyal thistle of Scotland on 

 two sides of the capital, "the lordship of Cockburnspath 

 having been a regal appurtenance, and the dowry land of 

 Scottish queens." * 



Proceeding Westward and ascending the high ground on 

 which stands the farm of Hoprig, the members were favoured 

 in the clear light of the morning with a delightful view 

 of the coast towards Siccar Point, and of the wooded slopes 

 of Pease Dean with the rising ground of Bowshiel and 

 Ecclaw to the South. Turning sharply to the right they 

 descended to the valley of the Dunglass Burn, here aug- 

 mented by the waters of the Berwick Burn, which forms at 

 this point the boundary between the counties of Berwick and 

 East Lothian, and is spanned by a substantial bridge at a 

 bend of the stream where the road rises abruptly towards 



the plateau, on which is situated the village of 

 Oldham- Oldhamstocks. Two rows of scattered cottages 



stocks. compose the square on which within the memory 



of one present that day a lamb Sale had been 

 held. Though now defunct, an interesting relic may still 

 be seen in the garden of the Manse, where for the sake of 

 preservation the shaft of the old market- cross finds a tempor- 

 ary resting-place. It is alleged in regard to it that at 

 a remote period the heir of entail, one of the family of 

 Tweeddale, who owned the barony of Lawfield, alias Old- 

 hamstocks, bequeathed the green for the holding of public 

 Fairs, and at the same time erected the cross and steps leading 

 up to it. Two such markets were famous in their day, at both 



* B.N.C., Vol. viii., Part 3, p. 405. 



