In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Merse like this:
Merse, a district on the eastern part of the Scottish Border. In modern territorial arrangement it is the largest and most southerly of the three divisions of Berwickshire, and has been computed to comprise 129, 600 acres; in loose popular phraseology it is the whole of Berwickshire, including both the Lammermuir and Lauderdale districts; in proper topographical nomenclature, based on strict reference to geographical feature, it is all the low country between the Lammermuirs and the river Tweed, and includes all the Merse district of Berwickshire, with all the parts of Roxburghshire northward of the Tweed; and in ancient political designation it was the entire champaign country between the Lammermuirs and the Cheviots, included all the lowlands of Teviotdale, and was regarded as having Roxburgh town and castle for its capital. ...
It forms, in any view, the eastern part of what were formerly termed 'the marches;' was anciently called March, as being the most important part of the marches; and gives the title of Earl of March to the Earl of Wemyss. The champaign portion of it, whether understood in the widest sense or restricted to Berwickshire, is the largest and richest tract of low country in Scotland; admits some comparison with the champaign of the Lothians, but claims superiority in consequence of that champaign being intersected by the Garleton, Edinburgh, and Pentland Hills; and, as seen from any of multitudes of high vantage grounds,-looks to be a continuous expanse of parks and arable farms, yet is much diversified by gentle undulations and by a few considerable isolated heights.
The synod of Merse and Teviotdale ranks as second in the General Assembly's list; comprehends the presbyteries of Duns, Chirnside, Kelso, Jedburgh, Earlston, and Selkirk; and holds its meetings at Kelso on the second Tuesday of October, and at Melrose on the second Tuesday of April.
Merse through time
Merse is now part of Scottish Borders district. Click here for graphs and data of how Scottish Borders has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Merse itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Merse, in Scottish Borders and Berwickshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/26111
Date accessed: 25th April 2024
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