KIRKTON, a parish, in the district of Hawick,
county of Roxburgh, 4 miles (E. by S.) from Hawick;
containing 313 inhabitants. This parish is about eight
miles in length, from east to west, and two miles in
breadth, from north to south. Kirkton is bounded on
the north-east by the parish of Hobkirk; on the west,
partly by the parish of Cavers, and partly by that of
Hawick; and in all other directions, by the parish of
Cavers. Its surface is undulated, presenting in many
parts green hills of moderate elevation and of great
variety of form; and is intersected by the river Slitrig,
on the western bank of which the ground rises by a
gradual and continued acclivity to the boundary of the
parish. The scenery is generally pleasing; but the
want of wood renders it comparatively barren of beauty.
In this parish the soil is mostly fertile, and the pastures
rich; the whole number of acres is estimated at 10,200,
comprising arable, pasture, and uncultivated land, with
a very small portion in wood and plantations. The
system of agriculture is in an improved state; the lands
have been well drained, and inclosed partly with stone
dykes, and partly with hedges, kept in good order; and
the various improvements in the construction of implements
have been adopted. A quarry of very excellent
whinstone has been opened, which provides abundant
materials for the roads and for other purposes. Facility
of communication is afforded by the roads from Hawick
to Liddesdale and to Newcastle, which pass through the
parish; and there are various good roads kept in repair
by statute labour. The annual value of real property in
Kirkton is £3599- Ecclesiastically the parish is within
the limits of the presbytery of Jedburgh, synod of Merse
andTeviotdale. The stipend of the incumbent is £1*4;
the manse, with its offices, was built in the summer of
1840, and the glebe is valued at £11 per annum. Kirkton
church is a neat plain edifice, also built in the summer
of 1840, but inconveniently situated. The parochial
school is well conducted and well attended; the master
has a salary of £26, with a house and garden, and the
fees average about £15 per annum. About a mile southwest
of the church is an encampment, upon rising
ground; and still further west, in one or two places,
similar vestiges occur. Dr. Leyden, the eminent Orientalist,
received the rudiments of his education in the
parochial school of this place, his parents residing on
the farm of Nether Tofts: his native place was Denholm,
a village in the parish of Cavers.