Liddesdale is a valley in the Scottish Borders with a long and fascinating history.

Its main village, Newcastleton, known locally as Copshawholm, is 20 miles south of Hawick and 23 miles north of Carlisle.

Liddesdale is more or less synonymous with the parish of Castleton.

Newcastleton Congregational Church spire. c 1972. Copyright: Andrew Bethune

This site brings together people who are interested in the area's history, whether they are current residents, lived there in the past, or their families come from Liddesdale.

It's a bit of an experiment, but my plan is to start by incorporating some of the articles which I have written over the past 20 years or so for the Copshaw Clatter ( a monthly community newsletter published in Newcastleton).

In the 1970s I wrote a history of Newcastleton Congregational Church which appeared in instalments in The Messenger. I have been updated and expanding this history, and will be adding it to the website when time allows.

There are pages on Liddesdale maps and transport.

In parallel with this site, I am running a blog where I shall post updates, and where anyone interested may ask questions or comment on the history of Liddesdale. It can be found at
http://liddesdalehistory.blogspot.com

Please get in touch if you'd like to contribute to this site.

Links to some other Liddesdale sites:

Waverley Route Heritage Association

Visit Newcastleton

Local History Online — for books, news, resources, information, courses and local history contacts. Also a calendar of events and local history books for sale online.