East Linton, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Name: Sir William de Somerville, of Linton
Birth: 1175 in Stockton, Stratford-on-Avon District, Warwickshire, England
Death: 1215 (aged 35–36) in Linton, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Marriage: about 1195 in Lanarkshire, Scotland to Lady Margaret Somerville, of Newbigging
Children: (1) Baron William John de Somerville (1198-1230)
Findagrave Memorial ID #144414901
Linton
Parish Church This church on a small knoll, dates from the 12th century
and has been altered several times over the years. Photo courtesy of
People have lived in the area since prehistoric times: on the summit of Linton Hill there is an Iron Age fort. Linton was a substantial village in the Middle Ages.
The Somerville family first appear in the records as being from Linton in 1136. There was a tower built by the family close to the church, but it was destroyed by the forces of Henry VIII, during the Rough Wooing, and nothing now remains of it.
Linton Church stands on top of a sandy mound, and used to be surrounded by water and marshland. The history of the church dates back to the 12th century, but the current building dates from 1911 and like its predecessors it has no solid foundations. The porch door has been inset with the "Somervail Stone" showing a knight fighting two beasts which is a link to the story of the Worm of Linton.
A local legend concerning the founding of the church states that a young man killed a priest and was condemned to death. His two sisters pleaded for his life, which was granted on condition that they should sift as much sand as would form a mound on which to build a church. The sisters succeeded in the task, the church was built, and the man was freed.
Linton Loch was a substantial loch between Linton and Morebattle, but it was drained as part of the 19th century agricultural improvements in the area. source: Wikipedia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Linton,_Scottish_Borders
Linton, Kirk, Scotland by Irvine Smith
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