Yetholm Online

Village History

Yetholm and the surrounding area is steeped in the Borders folklore and tradition. Being situated so close to what was once a fiercely disputed national border line, it was often used as a refuge for groups and individuals fleeing from one country to the other. Even to this day, in the hills above the village, there exists a 'Common Gate' where you can literally step through from Scotland to England (or vice versa).

This disputed land was particularly suited to groups of travellers and there is a strong Gypsy association with the area. Kirk Yetholm itself was the sight of the crowning of the last gypsy King and Queen - Charles and Esther Faa Blythe - and the village still boasts its very own Gypsy palace to this day. Pictured above is the recently unveiled Gypsy Commemorative Stone, which stands on Kirk Yetholm Village Green.

There is a wealth of information available to anyone who wishes to study the history and genealogy of the Romany travellers, which is far too extensive to include in this site alone.

For those who are more interested in studying their own family history, we have included a list of locally associated family names and occupations within the genealogy pages on this site and there has even been family traces linked back to Presidents of the United States

.The Yetholm area is largely rural and as such has depended on agriculture for its existence. Farms in the area have been held by generations of the same families and associated trades such as blacksmiths, butchers, engineers and even rabbit catchers have all contributed to the lifestyle of the village

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To go directly to occupations and family names, please click on the following   

Family Names & Occupations

With the strong agricultural associations and straddling the Bowmont water as it   

does, Yetholm was once a thriving mill village, with a long line of water-powered mills         involved in corn-grinding and saw-milling. Again, reference is made to these mills and the   millers within our genealogy pages and their geography can be traced on our map of the area.