Fogo KirkA Lych Gate, the entrance to Fogo KirkFogo BridgeFogo Foot BridgeHousing to the west of Fogo, nicknamed RashieDetail extracted from the original map of the Merse by Joan Blaeu, printed 1654. The Fogo mill is situated at the first water wheel symbol upriver from Fogo K(irk), close to the lower edge of this image >> Click here to refer to map with annotations which indicate various locations, including the modern names of all mills situated on the Blackadder Water and its tributaries. Detail 'Fogo, Fogo Kirk, and Mill' extracted from the original 1771 map of the County of Berwick, SE section, by Andrew Armstrong >> Click here to refer to map with annotations Ordnance Survey map of Berwickshire, Sheet XXII, surveyed 1858, published 1862; focus on Fogo parish
Fogo is a village in the county of Berwickshire, in the Borders of Scotland, 3 miles south of Duns, on the Blackadder Water. The settlement of Fogo lies within the northern boundary of the historical region the Merse, an undulating agrarian landscape that provides rich ploughland and pastures of excellent quality. It has always been the centre of the parish of Fogo, harbouring both the parish kirk and the (now closed) parish school. Fogo is first mentioned in a c. 1152 deed[1] as Ecclesiam de foghou (Latin for Fogo church), whereby Gospatric III de Hirsel Earl of Dunbar[2] makes a grant to the Tironensian monks of Kelso Abbey. Due to the importance of its kirk, possibly even having hosted a priory for some time, Fogo, for a hamlet of its size, is disproportionately often mentioned in medieval texts. A selection of the earliest manuscripts is listed in early history. In the following century, c. 1250, the whole estate of Fogo was valued at 40 merks. The settlement of Fogo and its upstream mill are depicted on the first printed map of southeastern Scotland, Joan Blaeu'smap of the Merse, which was published in 1654.[3]
The name Fogo has until now been derived from the terms "foggage pit, den or hollow" as well as a portmanteau of fog and hollow. Recent scientific research, published in 2022 in the treatise English Historical Linguistics also points to the Scots word fog, meaning grass left in the field during winter, suggesting a borrowing from early Scandinavian - compare Norwegian fogglong-stalked, weak, scattered grass or heather, typically growing on wet ground. In combination with the suffix hoh / hou, with the meaning heel in the sense of a projecting ridge of land or a promontory, the place name Fogo or foghou, as in the oldest deeds, could now be alternatively interpreted as a site where a ridge is covered with rough grass.[4]
The website The Berwickshire Place-Name Resource[5] has recorded numerous variations of names attributed to the hamlet of Fogo, ranging from CE 1139 to CE 1862; amongst these
foghou (1139, 1152, 1166, 1203, 1250, 1280)
fogghou (1150)
ffoghoh (1153)
fogho (1160)
Aldefoghou (1203)
Foggho (1242)
Fogeho (1243)
territorio de fogo (c. 1270)
Fogow (1408)
Fogo (1516 and later)
Fogoe (c. 1636)
Foggo (1752)
and even Fongu (1275)
Early history
The early history of the hamlet Fogo[5] is recorded on a number of deeds, all related to the most important institution in those days: Fogo Kirk[1] and its belongings in the surrounding Fogo parish. These deeds, documenting donations or dedications by the ruling lord, were handwritten in Latin on parchments that were kept at the site of the ecclesiastical owner, in this case, Kelso Abbey. A book published in 1846 reproduces the text of the whole collection of manuscripts[a] from Kelso Abbey, ranging from 1113 to 1567, and may be accessed online here (Vol 1 and 2).[6][7] Within those documents that refer to Fogo, apart from the omnipresent "Kirk" the text mentions "ploughlands", "meadows", "a manse" or "villa", "croft ... with adjoining land", "tenements", "tofts and crofts, and the dwellings that are on them", and a "mill".
The historically most enlightening of the manuscripts that mention facts related to Fogo - apart from the Kirk - are enlisted here:
Donation, 1152 (Kel. Lib., no. 71)
The Fogo church Ecclesia de foghou and some surrounding lands were donated to the monks of Kelso Abbey in c. 1152[b] by Cospatrick, Earl of Dunbar . This deed comprises various churches including "the church of Greenlaw, the chapel of Lambden, and the church of Fogo along with one carucate (ploughgate) of land", in Latin: cum vna carucata terre . et quandam terram que vocatur.[8]
Fogo mentioned by Pope Adrian IV, 1155 (Scotia Pontificia, no. 35)
The place name Fogo is explicitly mentioned in a letter dated 17 September 1155 that Pope Adrian IV wrote to Abbot Arnold of Kelso confirming the Abbey's possessions. The enclosed list includes amongst other estates "Kelso, Selkirk,[...] Home, Fogo, Simprim, and the church of Berwick".[9]
Donation of lands adjacent to Fogo, 1211 (Kel. Lib., no. 303)
This deed describes the boundaries of the donated lands in great detail. The boundaries then set are roughly the same as the current boundaries of Fogo parish more than 800 years later. In c. 1211 William, son of Earl Patrick of Dunbar, granted to Kelso Abbey "the church of Fogo, with all its pertinents, namely with the toft (mansio) that John, the dean, possessed in his time and with the adjacent croft, and also a certain piece of land adjacent to the same croft, extending southward as far as Grenrigg. From across Grenrigg by an ancient path as far as my meadow, which lies between Grenrigg and Aldefoghou. From that place towards the west, to the stones (cairn / Pyat Knowe, double hillocks; both north of the Blackadder, west of Fogo) set as boundaries between the land of the same monks and the land of the village men. From the stones down to a certain stream (Howe Burn) descending from Blindwell. Another piece of land in the eastern part of the village of Fogo, with its tofts (homesteads), crofts (cottages with their enclosures) and the houses thereupon. I have also given to these monks proceeding through all that land in my territory of Fogo which John the Dean held in his time in the name of the church of Fogo within these boundaries. A certain thorn bush that stands between the land of those same monks, descending along a certain ditch toward the north as far as the Black Eder. Likewise descending to the blakeder toward the east with adjacent meadows, pastures, haughs (valley plains), and heuchs (hillsides), as far as Ricardesfflatt. Likewise ascending directly south by a certain spring towards Estbucerterstrothir, then rising to the west along the path towards Westbucerterstrothir. From Westbuceterstrothir westward by a certain stream to the thorn bush. I have given to the same monks four acres of land adjacent to the land of the same monks, lying on the eastern side, on both sides of the road that leads to Berewic, which is called Ricardflat, next to Blackeder (Water)."[...] Finally "he therefore wishes the monks of Kelso to have and possess the church and all its pertinents in perpetuity, that is, with the lands and meadows that belong to it, and with all the liberties of the church, and all the revenues of the village of Foghou that John, the dean, used to have throughout his time."[c][10][11]
Fogo valued at 40 merks, c. 1250
According to a document from c. 1250 the church and hamlet of Fogo, Latin: (ecclesia) De Foghou were valued at 40 merks,[12] equal to 13 1/3 Pound Scots.[d]
Donation of chapel and mill, 1297 (Kel. Lib., no. 305)
In 1297 yet another grant was issued by Patrick Corbet, Lord of Fogo,[13] to Kelso Abbey, dated 20 August 1297; the subject of which is "the chapel of Fogo with the mill of the same, with [all] the lands[... ] [that were] conveyed to the chapel in the tenement of Fogo.[... ] The monks will manage to acquire three monks or three secular chaplains to celebrate divine service in the said chapel for the souls of his ancestors and successors."[14]
Recent history
The first schoolhouse[15] in Fogo was erected in the late 18th, maybe early 19th century, followed in 1864 by a larger schoolhouse immediately to the west.[16]
A row of cottages at the western end of Fogo, nicknamed "Rashie", is displayed on the original 1858 Ordnance Survey map of Fogo.[15]
Until the Fogo Bridge was constructed in 1641, crossing the Blackadder Water was restricted to the ford that was accessible by circumventing the Fogo churchyard to the left, the yonder track leading north towards Polwarth.
Fogo Bridge [de],[17] a single span, round-arched bridge[18] spanning the Blackadder Water, erected in 1641, rebuilt 1843. A record from 1798 describes the bridge as 'the only one in the parish'. A sandstone plaque on the northern parapet displays the year 1641 and the initials of James Cockburn of Chouslie and his wife Marion Douglas. These are the parents of Sir James Cockburn of Ryslaw, who paid for the bridge's erection, also the bearer of one of the two sculpted coats of arms along with those of his wife, Marie Edmonstone. The Latin inscription below states Latin: Cokbvrnvs Fecit Nomen Et Ipse Dedit Ryslav.
Fogo Church / Fogo Kirk,[19] Church of Scotland, including inner and outer graveyards, boundary walls and a Lych Gate.[e] The first church at this site was founded c.1100, repaired and extended in 1683, then extensively rebuilt in 1755. More exterior and interior repairs and alterations followed in 1817 and in 1854 a loft was added. The current shape of the edifice is that of a T-plan galleried church.
The village encompasses three more listed buildings, all designated Category C.
Fogo Manse, now Fogo House[20] including stable block, garden walls, boundary walls and gatepiers. The current house was built in 1842 to replace an earlier manse, originally situated nearer to the roadside, which had been built in 1787. Repairs ensued in 1814 and in 1822. As many original details remain intact, this later manse is seen to be one of the most significant buildings in the parish. The manse used to be the residence of the parson of the Fogo Kirk, and is now a private residence.
Fogo, Studio Cottage[21] including cobbled forecourt. A late 18th, early 19th century structure with later alterations, the first schoolhouse in Fogo, "a very small building, thatched, ... containing a schoolroom capable of accommodating about 40 scholars". If intended as a school from beginning on this would make this place one of only a few Scottish pre-1832 Education Act schools. In 1900 the building is referred to as an infants' school, the pupils having moved to the newly erected Fogo Former School.
Fogo Former School[22] including railings. Since 1864 this had been the parish Primary School for all pupils within the parish of Fogo. The school had accommodation for 123 pupils in two classrooms; in 1881 the average attendance was 57; in 1961, its final year as a school, only 19 pupils attended. It closed in March 1961 and the building is now a nursery. On some evenings the school is used by the Fogo section of the Scottish Women's (Rural) Institutes (SWI).
A footpath to the left of the churchyard leads down to an old, now disused ford over the river Blackadder. A footbridge that had previously been destroyed in a massive flood was restored in 2004 and named after the late Rev John Hunter.[23]
Just upriver from Fogo Bridge the remnants of a mill race[f] indicate the previous existence of a water mill. This mill is prominently mentioned in the 1297 grant by Patrick Corbet to Kelso Abbey stating, "the chapel of Fogo with the mill of the same",[14] on Joan Blaeu's 1654 map of the Merse,[3] and on Andrew Armstrong's 1771 Map of the County of Berwick.[24] The mill does not appear on the Ordnance Survey map published in 1862, only the mill race is indicated.[25] Today the site of the long demolished mill is unknown and the mill race is completely overgrown.
A roughly oval area a short distance from the northern bank of the Blackadder is depicted on a 1858 large-scale coloured map[15] of Fogo as plot 76, aligned at almost exactly half the distance between Fogo Kirk and Fogo Bridge, and at that time partially encircled by trees or hedges. It is known that the Tironesian Order was responsible for the establishment of Fogo Priory in 1253. It was thus widely assumed that the new church had been built atop the preexisting chapel, But this may not hold true, they may have coexisted for some time. A remark on the website People of Medieval Scotland that refers to the chapel explicitly states this is not the parish kirk.[26] Discussions are ongoing as to whether this enclosure on the opposite bank of the river could thus be the surmised site of "Aldefoghou" along with the long demolished Fogo chapel both mentioned in early 12th century grants.[27]
Population
The following figures show how the population of Fogo parish changed over time:
1755 - 1871
Year
Population
1755
566 - according to Dr Webster's survey of 1755
1797
450 - according to Sir John Sinclair's Statistical Account of Scotland
1801
507
1811
450
1821
469
1831
433
1841
455
1851
604
1861
559
1871
502
1881 - 1971
Year
Population
1881
468
1891
420
1901
445
1911
389
1921
383
1931
369
1941
- no census
1951
425
1961
256
1971
204
1981 - 2021
Year
Population
1981
-
1991
-
2001
161
2011
165
2022
167
The noticeable drop in population of the parish of Fogo between 1755 and 1797, as stated by Sir John Sinclair, is due to the fact that several villages were almost completely razed, and thus supplanted by larger farms. He adds that the remains of old houses are to be seen in every part of the parish. [28][29][30] Since the last maximum with 425 inhabitants in 1951 there has been a steady decline in the population, down to only 167 in 2022.
Maps
The following maps refer to the images displayed on the right.
1654: The village of Fogo is enclosed on Joan Blaeu's map of the Merse, printed in 1654. Most locations apart from townships, castles, and abbeys are symbolised by a single icon - Fogo is represented by three icons, and, as a fourth, the mill upriver. The icons may be identified as the Kirk (with a cross), the Manse (with a spire), some unknown, but yet important building, and the mill (a millwheel).[3]
1771: On Andrew Armstrong's 1771 map of the County of Berwick Fogo is depicted as a cluster of buildings and a church, loosely set to the east of Fogo Bridge. Fogo Mains appears a short distance along the road to Cairn's Mill / Cairns Mill and Bogend. The site of a mill adjacent to Fogo is erroneously placed downriver of Fogo Bridge.[24]
1862: The first Ordnance Survey map of Berwickshire was surveyed in 1858 and published in 1862. The buildings and structures within the precincts of Fogo are now rendered in great detail: the kirk with the churchyard, the manse with its exterior buildings and the gardens, the older school building with the Studio Cottage behind, a row of houses to the west, another opposite the manse, Fogo Bridge, stepping stones across the ford, and two quarries.
Cospatric / Gospatric III de Hirsel Earl of Dunbar[2] – by other sources Cospatric II [31] – (b.~1090, d.1166) donated Fogo Church and lands to Kelso Abbey in c. 1152.
William Cospatric of Dunbar (b.~1187 in Dunbar, Haddington, Lincolnshire, Scotland, d.1253, son of Patrick of Dunbar, grandson of above Cospatric III) regranted Fogo Church and lands to Kelso Abbey in c. 1211.
Patrick Corbet of Fogo / Foghou (b.<1241, d.?),[32] son of William Cospatric of Dunbar, grandson of above William Cospatric of Dunbar) again granted the chapel of Fogo with the mill of the same to Kelso Abbey in 1297.
Gallery
View towards southwest facade of Fogo Kirk, gravestones
View towards southeastern facade of Fogo Kirk
View from the east towards Fogo Kirk across an adjacent field
Fogo Kirk - Bell Tower
The belfry of Fogo Kirk
Inside Fogo Kirk
An old headstone inside Fogo Kirk
18th century symbolic gravestones at Fogo Kirkyard
An Ornate Cross In Fogo Kirkyard
Commonwealth War Graves at Fogo Kirk
War graves, Fogo Kirkyard
Ancient Carved Panel at Fogo Church
Arable land just to the east of Fogo along the Blackadder Water
Farmland, Fogo, further downriver
The Blackadder Water taken from Fogo Bridge, view downriver
Crag, upriver from Fogo Bridge
Blackadder mill lade inlet on the right, view downriver towards crag and Fogo Bridge around the river bend
Mill Lade near Fogo, on the southern slope of the Blackaddder valley
Notes
↑The text was originally written by hand in Latin on parchment manuscripts, most of which derive from Kelso Abbey. In the book Charta de Calchou the handwritten Latin letters are set in type, including the original glyphs and ligatures, which must be deciphered to fully restore the Latin text.[6][7] The place name Fogo / Foghou, together with some of the above stated spelling variants, occurs on 15 different manuscripts of this collection, some containing multiple repetitions.
↑Donation 1152: other authors state 1159, but 1152 is considered the most probable date during his rule from 1138 to 1166.
↑This is a complete translation of the Kelso manuscript 303, because the two existing translation miss out the most vital facts of the donation, namely the precise description of the borders that define the lands to be donated to Kelso Abbey (emphasized). The Latin text transscribed from a 19th century typeset print of the original Latin manuscript: Uniunensis sancte matris ecclesie filiis ⁊ fidelibus has lettras visuris ultum audituris tam presentibus qua futuris · Williamis filius Comitis Patricij de Dunbar saluto in domino · Universitati ultre notum facio me dedisse · concessisse · ⁊ hac presenti carta mea / profirmasse Deo ⁊ ecclesie sancte Marie de Kelcho ⁊ monachos ibidem deo servientibus ⁊ inperpetuum fruiturum · in liberam · puram · ⁊ perpertua elemosinam · Ecclesiam de foghou · cum omnibus pertinenciis suis · videlcis cum illa mansione quam Johannis Decanus possidebat tempe suo · ⁊ cum crofto adiacente · ⁊ quandam terram eidem crofto protiguam tendentem versus austrum usque ad Grenrigg · ⁊ ex transverso Grenrigg per quandam antiqam semitam usque ad pratum meum qui iacz inter Grenrigg ⁊ Aldefoghou / ⁊ ab illo prato versus occidentem usquem, ad lapides positos per divisa inter terram eorundem monachores / ⁊ terram hominum ville / ⁊ de lapidibus usque ad quendam rivulum descendentem de Blyndewelle Et quandam aliam terram in orientali parte ville de foghou / cum toftis ⁊ croftis / ⁊ domibus suppositis · Dedi eciam eisdem monachis ⁊ processi totam illam terram in territorio meo de foghou quam Johannis Decanus tenuit tempe suo nomine ecclesie de foghou · ⁊ per istas divisas · videluit a quadam spina [thorn/spine/prickle] que sita est inter terram eoresdem monachores descendendo per quandam sicam versus aqualonem usque in blak Eder · ⁊ sicut in descendendo per blakeder versus oriente / cum pratis / pasturis / ⁊ hawhes / ⁊ hogis adiacentibus usque ad Ricardesfflatt · ⁊ sicut ascendendo in directu versus austrum per quendam fontem usque in Estbucerterstrothir ascendendo versus ocidentem per quandam sicam usque in Westbucerterstrothir · ⁊ de Westbuceterstrothir versus ocidentem per quendam rivulum usque ad perduccam spinam · Perterrea dedi eisdem monachis quattuor acras terre protiguas terre eoresdem monachores ex orientali parte iacentes ex utramqe parte vie que tendit usque Berewic que vocantu Ricardflat iuxtam blackeder · Quare volo ut dedici monachi de Kelchou herant ⁊ possideant inperpertuum perfatam Ecclesiam cum omnibus pertinenciis suis · viderus · cum terris ⁊ pratis adiacentibus ⁊ cum ordibus libertatibus eiusdem ecclesie / ⁊ omnibus aisiamentis iperius ville de foghou quibus Johannis deanus utebatur toto tempere suo · Hanc autem Ecclesiam / mansiones / terras / prata / pasturas / ⁊ cetera aisiamenta intuitu caritatis dedi eisdem monachis ⁊ processi in liberam / puram / ⁊ perpetuam elemosinam pro salute aique mee ⁊ pro aliabus omnium antecessores ⁊ successores meores · ita libere / quiete / ⁊ plenaris tenenda perpertuo ⁊ possidenda: sicut aliquam aliam elemosinam liberius quiecius / plenius in regno Scocie tenent ⁊ possident ut autem hoc mea donaceto [et] processio futuris tempibus firme permaneant ⁊ stabiles persens sculptum sigilli mei apposicione corroboravi · Hiis Test · Digno P . frere meo · Digno Walter de Lyndesei terc vicecomite de Berewic · Bernardo fraser · Ada de Poolward · Bernarden de Haudenn · Note: sidescripts: fol. 117. and FOGHOU. A complete translation of the above text into English: "To the sons of the holy Mother Church AND to all the faithful who shall see or hear these letters, both present and future · William, son of Earl Patrick of Dunbar, greets you in the Lord · To the entire cosmos I make known that I have given · granted AND with this present charter of mine, I have confirmed before God AND to the church of Saint Mary of Kelchou AND the monks serving God there AND enjoying forever in free · and pure AND enduring almsgiving · the church of foghou · with all its appurtenances · namely with that mansion which Dean John possessed in his time AND With adjacent croft AND a certain piece of land adjacent to the same croft, extending southward as far as Grenrigg AND From across Grenrigg by an ancient path as far as my meadow, which lies between Grenrigg AND Aldefoghou AND from that place towards the west, to the stones set as boundaries between the land of the same monks AND the land of the village men AND from the stones down to a certain stream descending from Blindwell and another piece of land in the eastern part of the village of Fogo, with its tofts (homesteads), crofts (cottages with their enclosures) AND the houses thereupon · I have also given to these monks AND I proceeded through all that land in my territory of Fogo which John the Dean held in his time in the name of the church of Fogo AND within these boundaries · He saw a certain thorn bush that stands between the land of those same monks, descending along a certain ditch toward the north as far as the Black Eder. AND likewise descending to the blakeder toward the east with adjacent meadows, pastures, haughs (valley plains), AND heuchs (hillsides), as far as Ricardesfflatt. AND likewise ascending directly south by a certain spring towards Estbucerterstrothir, then rising to the west along the path towards Westbucerterstrothir AND From Westbuceterstrothir westward by a certain stream to the [perduccam] thorn bush · I have given to the same monks four acres of land adjacent to the land of the same monks, lying on the eastern side, on both sides of the road that leads to Berewic, which is called Ricardflat, next to Blackeder · Therefore, I wish that the monks of Kelchou should hold these lands AND may they forever possess the aforesaid Church with all its appurtenances, as seen, with its lands AND of the adjacent meadows AND with all the liberties of the same church AND all the revenues of the village of Foghou as Dean John used to do throughout his time · This Church, however, houses, lands, meadows, pastures AND Other easements I gave to those monks out of charity's regard AND I give freely, with purity AND eternal alms for the salvation of my soul AND for the sake of all predecessors AND My successors · freely and quietly AND to be kept in perpetuity AND To be possessed: as freely, quietly, and fully as any other alms are held in the kingdom of Scotland. AND possessed · so that these my gifts may firmly endure in procession for future times AND I have confirmed this as permanent by affixing the impression of my seal. These [witnesses] testify · Noble P, my brother · Noble Walter of Lindsey, third sheriff of Berwick · Bernardo fraser · Ada of Poolward (Polwarth) · Bernard of Haudenn" ·
↑From King David's time on a (large) loaf of bread cost 1 penny, i.e. the "penny loaf". As a merk was worth 1/3 of a Scottish pound a merk was equal to 240/3 = 80 pennies.
↑Lych Gate: a covered gateway at the entrance to a traditional churchyard
↑Mill race: the Scottish term, also used on Ordnance Survey maps of Scotland, is mill lade.
↑"Fogo". The Berwickshire Place-Name Resource, University of Glasgow. 1841. >> select tab "Historical Forms", activate "Show sources", then scroll to entry '(ecclesia) De Foghou c.1250' which refers to 'St A. Lib. (Liber Cartarum Prioratus Sancti Andree in Scotia), 32', Author: Thomas Thomson, Series: Bannatyne Club, published Edinburgh 1841). Retrieved 27 December 2025.
↑"Fogo". The Berwickshire Place-Name Resource, University of Glasgow. 1841. >> select tab "Historical Forms", activate "Show sources", then scroll to entry 'capellam de foghou 1280 x 1297' which refers to 'Kelso Liber (Liber S. Marie de Calchou), i no. 305', Author: Cosmo Innes, Series: Bannatyne Club, published Edinburgh 1846). Retrieved 27 December 2025.
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