HOUNAM, a parish, in the district of Kelso, county
of Roxburgh, 11 miles (S. S. E.) from Kelso; containing
280 inhabitants, of whom about 45 are in the village,
and the remainder in the rural districts of the parish.
This place, the name of which is of doubtful origin, is
not distinguished by any events of historical importance,
though, from its situation on the confines of England,
and the remains of numerous forts, it probably participated
in the frequent hostilities of the border warfare.
It measures about eight miles in length and six in mean
breadth, and is bounded on the south-east by the English
county of Northumberland. The surface is almost
one continued series of hills, forming part of the Cheviot
range, and is diversified with gentle undulations in some
parts, and in others with small valleys and narrow glens
intervening between the bolder hills. Through these
valleys the waters of the Kale and Capehope wind for
several miles, along the banks of which are some small
tracts of level laud. The highest of the hills is Hounara
Law, which has an elevation of 1464 feet above the level
of the sea; it is of conical form, easy of ascent, and is
about nine miles in circumference at the base. The
lower hills vary from 900 to between 1200 and 1300
feet. The Kale water has its source in the hills in the
parish of Oxnam, and taking a northern course, divides
the parish into two nearly equal parts, and after a very
circuitous progress, unites with the Capehope at the
village, a little to the west of which it forms a picturesque
cascade, falling from a rocky precipice. These, and various
smaller streams which flow through the parish,
abound with excellent trout. There are also numerous
springs of excellent water, and one of medicinal properties
westward of the village, which is in some repute as
a gentle diuretic.
In this parish the soil varies greatly in different
parts, but is notwithstanding tolerably fertile, and in
the valleys and lower grounds extremely rich; in the
higher lands it is a sandy gravel, and in some places
moss and heath. The whole number of acres is estimated
at 14,458; of these, about 13,540 are hilly pasture
and sheep-walks, 816 acres arable, and 102 in wood
and plantations. The crops are oats, barley, potatoes,
and turnips: the system of' agriculture is advanced; the
lands have been drained, and considerable portions of
waste reclaimed. The farm-houses, most of which have
been rebuilt, are substantial and commodiously arranged;
those of modern erection are of stone, and roofed with
slate. All the more recent improvements in agricultural
implements have been generally adopted. The number
of sheep fed on the pastures is about 13,000. They
are principally of the Cheviot breed, to the improvement
of which much attention is paid; those on the
lower pastures are of a mixed breed between the Cheviot
and the Leicestershire. Above 1600 stones of wool are
annually produced for sale. About seventy cows are
kept in the parish, and 120 head of young cattle: a fewhorses
are reared for agricultural purposes. The an-
nual value of real property in the parish is £5171.
Wood formerly abounded in some parts, and there are
still scattered remains of ancient forests; but the woods
have been nearly all cut down, and very few trees, if any,
have been planted in their place. The plantations are
chiefly of recent formation: those of Chester House
have attained considerable growth; and the younger
plantations at Greenhill, and in the vicinity of the village,
are in a thriving state, and, when mature, will add
greatly to the beauty of the scenery. There are also
some well-grown trees in the hedge-rows, including oak,
ash, elm, and beech; and birch, hazel, alder, and mountain-
ash appear to be indigenous to the soil. The plantations
are mostly plane, Scotch fir, and larch. In this
district the rocks are principally of porphyry formation,
and in the cavities are found grey amethyst, rock-crystal,
calcareous spar, quartz, agates, and jasper; the two last
afford some very beautiful specimens. The substrata in
the lower parts are chiefly clay, gravel, and sand. Greenhill,
a seat of the Duke of Roxburghe's, is a handsome
and spacious mansion, beautifully situated in grounds
tastefully laid out, and embellished with shrubberies and
ornamental plantations.
The village, which is of considerable antiquity, is
pleasingly seated on the eastern bank of the Kale water,
and at the base of a gently rising ground, which gradually
terminates in a hill of considerable height. It consists
of a substantial inn, and a few dwelling-houses,
each of two stories, and all lately rebuilt. Almost adjoining
it, is a neat range of houses which may be regarded
as a continuation of the hamlet. Fairs are held
on the Oxnam side of the parish, on the 31st July
and 15th October, for lambs and ewes, and they are
well attended. Facility of intercourse with the markettowns
is afforded by various good roads that pass
through the parish, and by handsome and substantial
bridges lately erected over the different streams, and all
of which are kept in excellent repair. For ecclesiastical
purposes the parish is within the bounds of the
presbytery of Jedburgh, synod of Merse and Teviotdale:
patron. Sir George Warrender, Bart. The stipend of
the incumbent is about £206; the manse, erected in
1776, and enlarged and repaired in 1832, is a tolerably
comfortable residence, and the glebe comprises about
nine acres, valued at £11 per annum. Hounam church
is very ancient, and was formerly a cruciform structure;
but it has been curtailed in its proportions, and is at
present a plain rectangular building, adapted for a congregation
of not more than 200 persons. The parochial
school affords education to about thirty children; the
master has a salary of £34, with a house and garden,
and the fees average £11. There are traces of ancient
camps in various parts: the Roman road called the
"Street" passes through the parish; and on some
rising ground near the village, overlooking the Kale
water, are the remains of an old fort, which has given
the name of Chester House to the lands on which it is
situated. On Hounam-Mains farm are distinct traces
of a very extensive circular intrenchment called the
Rings; likewise part of a circle of upright stones, supposed
to be Druidical; and in several parts of the parish
are similar stones, of large dimensions, in detached situations.
There are also some cairns, which are thought
to have been raised over the tombs of warriors killed in
battle.