Farming By Jean Elliot

At one time there were some 200 small farms in Liddesdale, giving a bare existence. The land was poor and it was only in the second half of the 19th century that this improved, when proper and extensive draining and liming methods were introduced by Mr Jardine of Larriston. Over the years mechanisation and changes in animal husbandry have resulted in increased production with a decreased labour force.

Today much of the land is planted with sitka spruce. We have some 25 larger farms but the names of the smaller integrated farms are retained in the names of cottages, fields, sykes and burns.

The farms are either privately owned or are tenanted from Buccleuch Estates, Ltd. and are stocked with sheep and cattle of various breeds.

In the late 19th century the hardy blue-grey suckler calves (Galloway x Shorthorn) were pioneered and bred here and we have the oldest and largest sale, for that breed, in Britain.

The mart was founded by Hetherington Auctioneers, Carlisle and it was opened by His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch in 1890.

Prior to the invention of the cattle wagon all stock was either driven on foot or transported by rail to the mart which, since 1922, has been administered by the amalgamated companies of Harrison and Hetherington.