BIRGHAM HISTORY
What’s in a name?
Birgham - From the 7th Century
Located just 330 metres from the Tweed, opposite the hamlet of Carham in Northumberland, It is said that there has been a village at Birgham since the seventh century.
Today, adjacent to the village cemetery, an obviously ancient track still winds its way down to the river Tweed through a well-worn, deep gulley to the riverside site where it is thought a bridge or at least a ford crossed to Carham in England. If a bridge ever did exist, it was probably deliberately destroyed during the wars of the 14th century and never rebuilt.
The cemetery itself is reputed to mark the site of a thirteenth-century Roman Catholic chapel. Dedicated to St Magdalene, the chapel was first recorded in 1250 as was one of the original four within the parish of Eccles.. The remains of the chapel were said to be still visible less than 100 years ago. Its probable site may be indicated by a rectangular depression close to the north side of the burial ground.
The Anglo Scottish Border follows the line of the river Tweed from Berwick as far as Birgham. The Border then turns inland south following the line of the Roddam Burn and from then on westward the Tweed is Scottish on both banks.
Being only a river's width from enemy territory, Birgham was frequently harassed by the English yet there is no evidence of there ever being a protective ‘peel tower’ in the area. The nearest peel tower was at Leitholm two miles to the north.
Carham, just across the river from Birgham, was the site of a major battle in 1018 between the Scots and the Northumbrians. The battle, won by Malcolm Canmore (King Malcolm II of Scotland), helped determine the border of the then newly formed Scotland. Until this time Northumbria's boundaries had extended beyond the River Tweed towards Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Birgham has been known by various evolutionary adaptations of its current name over the centuries, its ancient name of Briggeham means a "bridge settlement" or “village at the bridge”. Its name suggests that there was once an ancient river crossing close by. It has long been thought that a bridge or at least a ford may have crossed the river from Birgham to Carham.
The Treaty of Birgham
In 1188 Birgham was the meeting-place of William the Lion and the Bishop of Durham, who represented Henry II. of England.
The Bishop had been dispatched northwards to exact from the Scots an undertaking to provide one tenth part of all their properties and revenues in order to help the English king raise funds for a new crusade in the Holy Land. The Scottish nobles were not impressed and refused to contribute towards King Henry’s demand.
One hundred years later Brigham was the meeting-place of a convention of Scottish officials and six representatives from England. Its object was to complete arrangements for the marriage between Prince Edward, son of Edward the first, and the baby Maid of Norway. The Treaty of Brigham, agreed on July 18, 1290, also provided for the independence of Scotland to be observed. The treaty also stated that;
Scotland shall remain separate and divided from England.
Scotland shall keep her rights, laws, freedom and customs.
The Scottish parliament will be held in Scotland and nowhere else.
The ruler of Scotland and the ruler of England shall freely rule their own kingdoms.
The treaty was rendered void by the death of Margaret, the Maid enroute to Scotland shortly after.
The signing of The Treaty was undertaken in The Treaty Field, now believed to be the local park. The ground where the park is situated was donated to the village by Colonel Marjoribanks Egerton to commemorate the signing of The Treaty.
“Go to Birgham!”
Have you heard of the phrase, "Go to Birgham!" which is said to signify much the same as “bidding you go to a worse place”.
Probably not recently, but two hundred years ago the phrase was not only familiar in the Borders, but throughout all of Scotland, and has apparently been in use for more than five hundred years.
Having taken its rise from Birgham being the place where the Scottish nobility were sent when they dastardly betrayed their country into the hands of the first Edward; and the people, despising the conduct and the cowardice of the nobles, have rendered the saying, "Go to Birgham!"
An expression of contempt according to this excerpt from an 1826 book “The Border Tour” which reads:
“Most, will no doubt be familiar with a very curious expression of this sort with which our people frequently give vent to their bad humour - namely “Go to Birgham!”
This or some exclamation of a more ruffian and profane cast, but of the same import, a passionate peasant is sure to employ, when he is much irritated or wishes to break off abruptly some angry altercation”.
“But why should we bid our enemies “Go to Birgham!” which is known to be a village, from time immemorial, with a very kind, inoffensive and industrious set of people as is to be found around the world?”
Above: ‘Then and Now’ - Once the village Post Office and Grocers, now a residence - ‘Southholm’.
Birgham...just a quiet wee village in the Scottish Borders!
But what of days gone by?
Birgham is probably best known as the “Treaty Village”, the place where the “Treaty of Birgham” was signed in 1290. But little has happened in the village since then…. or has it?
Would you believe that highway robbery, a miraculous rescue, apparent suicides, a murder mystery, poaching, prisoners on the run, trespassing, robbery, tragic drownings, arson, assaults, burglary, traffic and farming accidents and even a horrendous plane crash have all featured in the distant history of the village and its immediate environs.
A local interest book was published in 2023 which captures the history of the village as reported by the local and national press from 1750 to 1960.
If you want to find out more about the history of the village, a few copies are still available for sale. Please contact the author by email: gordon@motorscot.com
The Birgham Hawker Tempest
While conducting research for the village’s recently published history book it was re-discovered that in November 1945 a young RAF pilot was tragically killed while performing aerobatics during a training flight, when his Hawker Tempest V aircraft [NV709 shown here] exploded in midair, just to the southeast of Birgham, with the aircraft’s main wreckage falling on the outskirts of the village, just west of Homebank Farm.
The Marshall Memorial - Plans are well advanced to erect a memorial in the village to the memory of the pilot, RAF Flying Officer Rowland Gomm Marshall of Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, who was based at 56 OTU, RAF Milfield, near Wooler, in Northumberland.
