HODDAM, a parish, in the county of Dumfries,
6 miles (N.) from Annan; containing, with the village
of Ecclesfechan, 1627 inhabitants. This parish comprehends
the ancient parishes of Hoddam, Luce, and
Ecclesfechan, which were united in 1609. Hoddam is
spelt in ancient charters Hodholm and Hodolm, signifying
" the head of the holm", and is supposed to have
derived that appellation from its position on the bank
of the river Annan, where the ground is flat and rich,
and what is usually called holm land. The name of Luce
is said to be derived from the luxuriance of the herbage;
and that of Ecclesfechan from the Latin word Ecclesia,
" a church", and an Irish abbot called Fechan, who is
thought to have lived in this part about the seventh
century. When the three parishes were united, a new
church was built in a central situation, and the old
churches gradually fell into decay. Hall-guards, in the
parish, was the site of the old castle of Hoddam, which
is considered to have been the seat of a branch of the
family of Bruce. The fortress was demolished some
centuries ago, in compliance with the terms of a border
treaty, and was subsequently rebuilt by John, Lord
Herries; but one of that family afterwards erected a
castle in a more favourable situation, at Cummertrees,
on the other side of the Annan, and the seat in this
parish was then neglected.
The PARISH is about five miles long, and three and a
half broad, and contains "158 acres. It is bounded on
the north by the parish of Tundergarth, on the south
and south-west by the river Annan, on the east by Middlebie
parish, and on the west by St. Mungo. Hoddam
is included in the district of Annandale, and is remarkable
for the beauty of its scenery, which is interestingly
diversified with wood and water. The surface consists
for the most part of an extensive plain, surrounded by
gently swelling hills; the lands are in the highest state
of cultivation, and are intersected by thriving hedges,
and ornamented with groups of flourishing plantations.
The highest ground is the hill of Burnswark, 740 feet
above the level of the sea, and which commands views
of several English counties, of the Isle of Man, and, in
very fine weather, of the mountainous part of Yorkshire.
The streams are the Annan, the Milk, and the
Mein, the last of which, however, is only a rivulet. Of
the former, the Annan is about 100 feet wide, and has
numerous pools fifteen or sixteen feet deep: it contains
salmon and trout, but the fish have become much less
plentiful since the use of lime in farming, as, when washed
off the lands by flood or rain, it strongly impregnates
the waters. The Milk touches the parish on the southwest,
and falls into the Annan; it is a good trout stream,
and also abounds with small fish. The Mein, which is
likewise a tributary to the Annan, frequently changes
its channel, bringing considerable havoc to the lands
through which it takes its course.
On the holm lands the soil is a deep loam, and exceedingly
fertile; the great plain in the heart of the
parish is of a light gravelly soil, and also yields fine
crops. The high ground in the north, however, is
clayey, resting upon a cold till}' subsoil and a copper
rock, and being very inferior to the lands below. About
6430 acres are under cultivation; 730 are hill pasture,
and upwards of sixty in wood. All kinds of grain are
produced, but the quantity of wheat bears no proportion
to the oats and barley; a few turnips and large quantities
of potatoes are raised, and almost every cottager
keeps one or two hogs, which are fed to some extent upon
potatoes. The best system of husbandry is adopted;
and all the arable land being good, and a considerable
portion of it of superior quality, the crops in general
are very valuable. The lands have been entirely inclosed,
within the last fifty or sixty j'ears, with good fences. In
this parish the substrata consist chiefly of sandstone and
limestone, with slate-clay, clay-ironstone, and amygdaloid:
no workable coal has yet been discovered; but
some attempts recently made have excited a hope that
it will eventually be found. The annual value of real
property in Hoddam is £5209. The turnpike-road from
Lockerbie to Longtown runs through the parish, in
addition to which there are five cross roads. A large
and beautiful stone bridge has been erected over the
Annan, and several bridges over the Mein: these, as
well as the roads and fences throughout the parish, are
kept in good order. Great facilities of intercourse are
afforded by the Caledonian railway, which intersects the
parish, and has a station at Ecclesfechan. Ecclesiastically
the parish is within the limits of the presbytery of
Annan, synod of Dumfries; alternate patrons, the Duke
of Buctleuch and the Sharpe family. The stipend of
the minister is £2.59, with a superior manse, and three
glebes valued at £43. 10. a year. Hoddam church, built
in IS17, and standing about a mile from the village of
Ecclesfechan, is comfortably fitted up, and seats 561
persons. The United Presbyterian Church has a place
of worship; and there is a parochial school, the master
of which receives £35 per annum, with about £12 fees.
At Burnswark, in the northern extremity of the parish,
is one of the most entire Roman encampments in the
kingdom: it was formed by Agricola; and a number of
altar-pieces, arms, &c., have been found in its vicinity.
Mr. Carlyle, author of the History of the French Revolution,
was born in the parish. See Ecclesfechan.