Lennel Kirkyard Transcriptions

We have completed a major project to transcribe the exact text of each headstone in this ancient kirkyard just outside Coldstream. Our research thus far has found the kirkyard to be the final resting place of a Prime Minister, senior military personnel, provosts, a rugby internationalist and a Crimean War hero.

There is also mention on some headstones of those who fell in the World Wars and a former Newcastle United footballer who holds the record for the number of appearances for the Club (Jimmy Lawrence). Research is continuing into the background of each deceased person; where they lived, what they did, their family, and whatever else comes to light. We are grateful to author Gwen Chessel for a beautiful reflection on our Lennel Kirkyard project.

Our record of Lennel Kirkyard transcriptions is organised into three inventories covering the western, middle and eastern parts of the kirkyard. You can view all transcriptions in each inventory, or identify transcriptions using the search facility.

The Society reiterates the point that if any person does not want their descendants to be shown on our website, we would respect this wish and delete the transcription.

ALL TRANSCRIPTIONS MIRROR THE SPELLING ON THE HEADSTONES, so you may, for example, find a KIKWOOD and a KIRKWOOD on the same stone.

In previous years, the Society has been annoyed by the length of grass and weeds allowed to grow in the west and middle parts of the kirkyard and is working with the authorities to resolve this, to ensure that there is at least a twice-yearly cutting. Somebody has mentioned using goats to keep the grass short, but we think they were kidding! Or maybe they aren’t.

Click here for a Google Map overview of the Churchyard.

East Inventory

This is the newest part of Lennel Kirkyard, normally referred to as the' new cemetery', and at the time of writing still in use. Many buried here are known to local people.

Middle inventory

This inventory commences from the east wall, starting at the northern roadside and working in rows towards the riverside. The inventory is basically headstone in and surrounding the Lennel Kirk which was last used in 1705.

West inventory

This inventory is for that part of the cemetery, from the west wall to the middle path just before the Lennel Kirk and opposite a main gate on the Coldstream to Swinton road.

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