About the area

About our communities

Abbey St. Bathans

Abbey St. Bathans is a small village unique in it’s topography situated in a long winding steep wooded valley that follows the Whiteadder River. Despite being  called “Abbey” a Cistercian priory was founded here over 750 years ago by Ada the Prioress. All that now survives is a Kirk which is privately owned but available for hire for events www.abbeykirk.com. The Iron Age Edin’s Hall Broch is unique in lowland Scotland and is an easy walk from the free car park, up the road past the also unique “Toot” sign. The Southern Upland Way, Scotland’s coast-to-coast route, and the Sir Walter Scott Way, also pass through the village and every year the road is closed for a few hours for the famous Jim Clark Rally. The new and popular village hall is available to hire. for events and holds weekly table tennis and carpet bowling evenings on a regular basis. The river which runs nearby offers excellent brown trout fishing.

Bonkyl

Bonkyl (also known, over the years, as Boncle, Bonkil, Buncle and Bunkle) is thought to have been a settlement since the early 13th century. However, little remains now except some traces of the castle and the pretty Church of Scotland kirk, which dates back to the 1820s. Services are still held there, and it is a popular venue for weddings.

Preston

Preston, the biggest village in our community, houses the village hall which hosts local activities and is also available to hire. On the right, when approaching from Duns, stands whitewashed Cumledge Mill and Cumledge House, all that remains of the large Laidlaw Blanket Mill which once exported high quality woollen blankets across the globe. It unfortunately ceased trading in 1954 and was later demolished after never quite recovering from both the substantial damage of the August 1948 floods, and the increasing use of quilts and duvets. Opposite Cumledge Mill are the fascinating ruins of the Old Kirk & graveyard, the bottom cemetery is still in use.

Just outside the village on the B6355 road to Chirnside is Neil Logan’s Bridge, spanning Preston Burn, which records date back to 1775. This is now a listed building as it was enclosed to create a jailor cuddy, its toilet being a hole in the floor above the Burn! It is named after the last person to be held there, for the heinous crime of sheep-stealing.

From time to time there are a number of benefits that are available to residents living in the Abbey St Bathans, Bonkyl and Preston area and details can be found here.