of Kirkton was bounded by the parishes of Hawick and Teviothead in the west and by Cavers on all the other sides. It had a length of 8½ miles, from north-east to south-west, and its width (east-west) varied from half a mile to almost two miles. The Kirk of Kirkton was in the north–east and Stobs station (Waverley line) was in the south–west of the parish. Area 6,222 acres. The two parts of the parish of Cavers were joined by a narrow strip east of Kirkton and south-west of Rubers Law. In the northern division was the village of Denholm, 5 miles north-east of Hawick, while in the southern division was Shankend station (on the Waverly Route) 7 miles south of Hawick. The parish was 13 miles long with a width varying from 4 miles to 70 yards. Area 18,352 acres From the 19th century there was a single school board covering both parishes, which ran three schools. In December 1894 an inquiry was held in Hawick regarding representations made by the Parochial Board of Cavers that an Order be issued under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 amalgamating the Parishes of Cavers and Kirkton. Following the inquiry, the parishes were amalgamated on 15 May 1895 and a new parish council was established covering both areas. At that time (1891 census) Kirkton had a population of 320, while Cavers had 1,211 of which 475 were in Denholm. Civil parishes in Scotland, as units of local government, were abolished in 1929 but persist for censuses, administrative records and other purposes. The parish of Cavers comes within the area of Denholm and District Community Council, whose area south of the Teviot lies within Cavers, except for the Bedrule area in the east. The southern less populated part of the parish comes within the Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Water Community Council area. The parish has a population of 1,085 (in 2011), of which 653 live in Denholm. See also John Leyden List of places in the Scottish Borders List of places in Scotland References External links CANMORE/RCAHMS: Teviothead churchyard RCAHMS record for Cavers House RCAHMS record for Cavers Mains, Temporary Camp (Roman) RCAHMS record for Cavers House, St Cuthbert's Church, Churchyard NAS record, Plan of Water Supply To Cavers Manse NAS record for Plans of Cavers Burial Ground GENUKI: Cavers Parish Villages in the Scottish Borders Parishes in Roxburghshire