OLDHAMSTOCKS, a parish, partly in the county of
Berwick, but chiefly in the county of Haddington;
containing, with the villages of Bilsdean, Birnieknows,
and Oldhamstocks, 694 inhabitants, of whom 138 are in
the village of Oldhamstocks, 7 miles (S. E. by S.) from
Dunbar. This parish, the name of which (anciently
Aldhamstocs) is derived from the village in which its
church is situated, appears to have been formerly more
populous than it is at present, a decrease having arisen
from the abandonment of some collieries and salt-works
that were carried on here in the last century. The parish
lies on the shore of the German Ocean; is about
six miles in length from north-east to south-west, and
from two to three miles in breadth. It is bounded on
the north by the parish of Innerwick, on the cast by the
sea, on the south by the parish of Cockburnspath, and
on the west also by the parish of Innerwick. The surface
ascends gradually from the shore, and is diversified
with numerous hills of inconsiderable elevation, rising
one above another in succession towards the higher
portion of the parish j the grounds near the sea are
level, and the coast is indented with small bays. A
creek flows up to the village of Bilsdean; but there is
no river. The scenery, like that of almost every other
parish in East Lothian, is in general deficient in wood
and plantations; but round Dunglass, the elegant seat
(if Sir John Hall, Bart., there is more fine old wood than
in any other part of tlie county, except Tyninghame.
There arc also several young and thriving plantations in
the parish. The lower grounds are in the highest state
of cultivation; and even that part of the surface which
runs up into the hills of Lammermoor, though cold, is
by no means cheerless.
In general the soil is dry; towards the sea-shore,
very fertile; but towards the higher parts of the parish,
inferior and heathy. The state of agriculture is advanced,
and the crops are favourable; the farm-buildings
are substantial and commodious, and on most of the
farms threshing-mills have been erected. The high
lands afford pasture for sheep, of which a considerable
number are reared; and much attention is paid to the
improvement of the breed. There are limestone, ironstone,
coal, and freestone: the coal has been worked, though
now discontinued; and as the upper seam only has been
taken, it is supposed that there is still an abundant supply,
should it be requisite to renew the workings. The North-
British railway runs through the parish, parallel with
the Dunbar and Berwick road, and has a splendid viaduct
over the small burn or rivulet of Dunglass, which
separates East Lothian from Berwickshire: this viaduct
is 140 feet high from the water to the top pf the main
arch, and has altogether six arches, three of them upon
land on the East Lothian side of the rivulet, two on the
Berwickshire side, and one over the burn in the middle.
There is also a fine bridge over the Dunglass glen, on the
line of the Dunbar and Berwick road. The annual value
of real property in the parish is £.5775, of which amount
£4690 are returned for the Haddingtonshire portion.
Ecclesiastically this place is in the presbytery of Dunbar
and synod of Lothian and Tweeddale; patrons, the
Hunter family, of Thurston. The stipend of the incumbent
is £'297. 15. 6.; the manse is a comfortable residence,
and the glebe comprises about nine acres and a half.
Oldhamstocks church, erected in 1701, is a neat and
substantial edifice in good repair. The parochial school
is well conducted; the master has a salary of £'25. 15.,
with a house and garden, and the fees average about
£20 per annum. There are two other schools, supported
by the fees. It may be mentioned that James VI., with
all his retinue, remained a night at the ancient castle of
Dunglass on his way from Scotland to take possession
of the crown of England: he also made it a resting-place
in his coming back to visit his ancient kingdom of Scotland.
At that time Dunglass belonged to the Earls of
Home.