INNERLEITHEN, a parish, chiefly in the county
of Peebles, and partly in the county of Selkirk, 6|
miles (E. S. E.) from Peebles; containing 931 inhabitants,
of whom 463 are in the village, and 468 in the
rural districts of the parish. This place, properly Inverleithen,
derives its name from one of the numerous
streams that flow through the lands into the river Tweed.
The parish comprises about 30,000 acres, whereof 2000
are arable, 500 woodland and plantations, 30 in brushwood,
and the remainder, of which probably 1500 might
be brought into profitable cultivation, hilly pasture. Its
form is that of a triaugle, the longest side extending
along the river Tweed, and the two other sides meeting
in the ridge of mountains called the Moorfoot hills.
Along the shore of the Tweed the surface spreads into a
rich and fertile plain, and in other parts is intersected
with numerous deep glens, watered by running streams:
of these glens the most spacious is that through which
the Leithen flows, which contains a considerable portion
of level meadow^ land. There are many springs in the
parish, and some of them possess highly medicinal properties;
the principal is that issuing from the base of a
hill near the village, which from that circumstance has
obtained its rapid increase. The scenery is strikingly
varied, and in parts very picturesque. From the farm
of Purves Hill, which has a considerable elevation, is a
descent towards the river, by a continued succession of
terraces, about 200 yards in length and eighteen feet
broad, divided into several series by unequal intervals
of level ground. These terraces, as seen from the lands
below, form a singular feature in the landscape; and
some timber of mature growth, and various thriving
plantations on some of the lands in the parish, add much
to the beautj' of the scenery.
Near the river the soil is rich and fertile, but in the
higher grounds of inferior quality, abounding with heath
and moss. The crops are wheat, barley, oats, peas, and
turnips: the system of husbandry is advanced; the
farm-buildings are substantial and commodious, and the
lands are well inclosed. About 400 head of cattle are
kept in the parish, and much attention has been paid to
the improvement of the breed, originally the old Tweeddale,
by the introduction of the Alderney and the Northumberland:
about 16,000 sheep, also, are pastured here,
which are chiefly of the black-faced and Cheviot breeds.
Few horses are reared, except for purposes of agriculture.
The woods consist of oak, ash, elm, hazel, and
birch; and the plantations, of larch and other firs, intermixed
with the usual hard-woods. The substrata are greywacke,
greywacke-slate, clay-slate, and porphyry of red
and grey colour, the last of which abounds with crystals
of felspar. Slate has been quarried in several parts;
and a quarry at Hollylee, which was long abandoned,
has again been opened by the proprietor, and the produce
used for paving the halls of his mansion. The annual
value of real pro[)erty in the parish is £7072, of which
£S1S are returned for the Selkirkshire portion. The
chief houses are Glen-Orraiston and Hollylee, which are
both spacious and handsome structures, finely situated,
and embellished with thriving plantations: that of Glen-
Ormiston was purchased with the beautiful estate, in
1849, by the well-known Mr. William Chambers, of Edinburgh.
The village, as already stated, is indebted for its increase
to the mineral water of Innerleithen. It is neatly
built; and several good houses have been erected for the
accommodation of the numerous visiters who, during
the summer, take up their residence here for the benefit
of the water, which is found efficacious in various complaints.
On being analysed the water is found to contain,
in one imperial quart, 5'3 grains of carbonate of
magnesia, 9'5 grains of muriate of lime, and 21 '2 grains
of muriate of soda. The spring issues from a mountain
composed of greywacke, clay-slate, and red porphyry;
and there is a second spring, which varies a little in the
proportions of its ingredients, containing 10'12 grains
of carbonate of magnesia, 19'4 of muriate of lime, and
3r of muriate of soda. A handsome building has been
erected, with a viranda in front, for the use of the visiters
5 and the village is growing into some repute as a
watering-place. A club has been formed for the promotion
of gymnastic exercises, under the patronage of
several noblemen and gentlemen of the district; and is
supported with much spirit. The woollen manufacture
was introduced here about fifty or sixty years since, by
Mr. Brodie of Traquair, who erected a large factory for
that purpose, which, after his decease, was let to several
tenants, by whom the various departments of the trade
are still carried on, giving employment to fifty persons.
Facility of intercourse with Peebles, the nearest markettown,
and with the other towns in the district, is afforded
by good roads, of which the turnpike-road from Kelso
to Glasgow passes for nearly ten miles along the shores
of the Tweed. Ecclesiastically the parish is within the
bounds of the presbytery of Peebles, synod of Lothian
and Tweeddale; patron, John Booth, Esq. The stipend
of the incumbent is about £2.50; the manse is a comfortable
residence, and the glebe comprises twelve acres,
valued at £20 per annum. Innerleithen church, built in
17S6, is a neat substantial edifice, convenientlj' situated,
and adapted for a congregation of 350 persons. The
members of the Free Church have a place of worship.
The parochial school is well attended; the master has a
salary of £34 per annum, with a house and garden, and
the fees average about £40 per annum. There is a
friendly society, which is well supported, and has contributed
materially to diminish the number of applications
for parochial relief.