Ancrum

History

In the 13th century the Bishop of Glasgow William de Bondington had a residence here but the location is still being investigated. Much of the history of the area has been written about by Alexander Jeffrey in his paper to the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club. There is also wider background information in his 4 volume work History and antiquities of Roxburghshire and adjacent districts, from the most remote period to the present time. This latter work also has a section on Ancrum. Two local landmarks which are visible from certain areas around the village are the Waterloo Monument and the Timpendean Tower. Ancrum sits in a loop in the Ale Water which is where the name derives from (crooked land on the Ale). The Ale joins the River Teviot just to the south which in turn then flows past Monteviot House. Walter Kerr, laird of Cessford, seized the House of Ancrum in January 1544 which belonged to the Earl of Bothwell. Regent Arran sent a force against him. The area just north of the village was the site of the Battle of Ancrum Moor in 1545 when the village was substantially destroyed. Nether Ancrum became a burgh of barony in 1639.

Most-observed species

• Giant Hogweed

  Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier · Magnoliopsida
  5,789
• eastern gray squirrel

  Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin, 1788 · Mammalia
  2,600
• European hare

  Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778 · Mammalia
  1,215
• European roe deer

  Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Mammalia
  1,027
• Eurasian red squirrel

  Sciurus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Mammalia
  998
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  651
• Carrion Crow

  Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  606
• European rabbit

  Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Mammalia
  602

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2008-05-28
  12 km WNW of Penrith, United Kingdom
• M 3.6 — 2006-12-26
  2 km NW of Dumfries, United Kingdom