Linton, Scottish Borders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Linton | |
|---|---|
 Linton Church | |
  Linton Location within the Scottish Borders | |
| OS grid reference | NT774263 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KELSO |
| Postcode district | TD5 |
| Dialling code | 01573 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Linton is a small village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It is situated a mile north of the village of Morebattle.
People have lived in the area since prehistoric times: on the summit of Linton Hill there is an Iron Age fort.[1]
Linton was a substantial village in the Middle Ages.[1] The Somerville family first appear in the records as being from Linton in 1136.[1] There was a tower built by the family close to the church, but it was destroyed by the forces of Henry VIII, during the Rough Wooing, and nothing now remains of it.[1]
Linton Church stands on top of a sandy mound, and used to be surrounded by water and marshland.[2] The history of the church dates back to the 12th century, but the current building dates from 1911 and like its predecessors it has no solid foundations.[2] The porch door has been inset with the "Somervail Stone" showing a knight fighting two beasts which is a link to the story of the Worm of Linton.[2] A local legend concerning the founding of the church states that a young man killed a priest and was condemned to death.[3] His two sisters pleaded for his life, which was granted on condition that they should sift as much sand as would form a mound on which to build a church.[3] The sisters succeeded in the task, the church was built, and the man was freed.[3]
Linton Loch was a substantial loch between Linton and Morebattle, but it was drained as part of the 19th century agricultural improvements in the area.[4]
