et ee ee ee 7. oe Reteiere Pee rata oa - . ZS5-4.GO q. 16a HISTORY 7 BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ CLUB ae INSTITUTED SEPTEMBER 22, 1831 ? | uy “MARE ET TELLUS, ET, QUOD TEGIT OMNIA, C@RLUM ” aa VOL. XXXVITI._ Part I. 1968 Price to Non-Members 20s. PRINTED FOR THE CLUB © BY MARTIN’S PRINTING WORKS, MAIN STREET, SPITTAL 3 1969 OFFICE-BEARERS Secretary W. RYLE ELLIOT. F.S.A.Scot., Birgham House, Coldstream-on-Tweed. (Tel. Birgham 231). Editing Secretary Rev. J. 1. C. FINNIE, F.S.A.Scot., Manse of Eccles, Kelso, Roxburghshire. (Tel. Leitholm 240). Treasurer MARTIN JAMIESON, Esq., Kirkbank, Paxton, Berwick-upon-T weed. (Tel. Paxton 264) Librarian Miss BETTY BUGLASS, 29 Castle Drive, Berwick-upon-Tweed (Tel. Berwick 7549) HISTORY OF THE BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ CLUB CONTENTS OF VOL. XXXVIITI PART I. — 1968 Vignettes of some Berwickshire Gardens. Annual Address by the President, WILLIAM RYLE ELLIOT, Esq., F.S.A.SCOT. at Berwick, 2nd October, 1968 af : Acting Secretary’s Report The Mote Hill, Hawick, by R. E. Scott, Esq., Curator of Wilton Lodge Museum, Hawick : Crichton Kirk by the REv. JoHN B. LoGaN, Parish Minister of Cranston, Crichton and Ford St. Mary’s Church, Whitekirk, East Lothian, based on information contained in The Story of St. Mary’s, White- kirk and Tyninghame by the Rev. W. D. MAxwELL. D.D. Harbottle Castle by R. H. WALTON Alwinton Church—St. Michael and All reels by Riven WALTON, ; Excavations at Be are ea Berwickshire, 1967, by HELEN CLARKE, B.A. ~~ : The Tablet on Bee eer and Halls of ees by E. M. MEIN, B.L. ; The 1968 Meeting of the British Association by Mrs. MCWHIR Finds 1966/67 uy te Natural History Observations during 1968 by A. G. Lone .. The Macro-Lepidoptera of Berwickshire—Part XII a A. G. LONG, D.SC., F.R.E.S. Treasurer’s Report : New Members as from 5th October 1967 Errata—B.N.C. History, Vol. XXXVII—Part III. i ILLUSTRATIONS Excavation drawings, Coldingham Priory 1967 Edgars’ Walls - - - - - - : - facing 38 Site Plan - - - - - - - West Section - : - - : - - - - North Section - - - - - - - - - facing 39 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ CLUB VIGNETTES OF SOME BERWICKSHIRE GARDENS BEING THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS OF WILLIAM RYLE ELLIOT, F.S.A.SCOT. Ladies and Gentlemen, “ Hoc erat in votis : modus agri non ita magnus, Horus ubi et tecto ricinus iugis aquae fons Kt paulum silvae super hic foret.” So Horace wrote in his second satire, and gardens have ever been my first love. When I looked over the hundred and thirty Presidential Addresses seeing all that had been written, and so much ground covered, I realised that hardly anything had ever been re- marked on the gardens of Berwickshire. Certainly there are not the number, nor the fabulous gardens, that are found in other places. It would seem that the County had never really been garden conscious, and it still lacks in many respects this consciousness. Many of the great gardens have dis- appeared, and some are tragically in the process of decay and disappearance. The great garden of Blackadder with its cast iron conservatory and famous shrubbery has entirely vanished, as have the long terraces with the ancient yews at Spottis- wood. 2 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS Of the very ancient gardens there are none, but by the knowledge and thought of the late Mrs. Smith of Whitchester, a 17th century garden has been made round the ancient Peel Tower of Cranshaws. Here, at least, one is able to see what an early garden really looked like, planted as it is with those subjects which are known in those far off days. So many gardens I have known since childhood, that it has been difficult to choose those on which I wish to speak ; I have been torn between the gardens, the beautiful parks (and there are many more beautiful parks than gardens), the magnificent settings and views. It is doubtful if there were any gardens in these parts before Roman times but the Romans certainly introduced a certain form of Italianate garden, and surely there would have been one such at Newstead. With the arrival of Christianity in the County, and the foundation of the Abbeys, certain herbs and vegetables would be grown. It is significant that adjoming the Priory at Coldingham there is still a persistent growth of Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), perhaps the sole survivor of these monkish days. Most lovers of gardens will have read Parkinson’s “ Para- disus”’ and Pliny’s “ Dissertation on Gardens,” as well as Gerard’s “ Herbal.” “The wonders of the visible creation are the footprints of our Creator. Himself as yet we cannot see, but we are on the road that leads to vision when we admire him in the things that he has made,” are the words of Gregory the Great. In the reign of Edward V., 1486, Wiliam Caxton printed with his early printing machine “ The Dream of the Pilgrimage of the Soul” in which occur the following lines: “ Our world is crowned with fair red roses and the third with lusty primroses and lylyes intermingled and graciously arranged.” From the beginning of time man has created gardens. Two thousand years ago the Roman Empress Livius, the second wife VIGNETTES OF SOME BERWICKSHIRE GARDENS 3 of Octavius Augustus made herself a garden at her house on the Roman Via Cassia ; all that remains are the frescoes in a pavilion painted no less, by the artist Luvidius of whom Livy writes, and which depicts scenes of ideal formal gardens. But this is all far from Berwickshire, where except for the Chamomile, few early plants remain. The development of gardens was gradual and only perhaps came into full realisation in the XVIIth century, and even these gardens have dis- appeared, although in some of the derelict houses, always quite small, one could usually find in the tangled mess that had once been a garden, the old Rosa Spinosissima. In the process of time these buildings and their gardens have also vanished. It is sad that no one made a collection of such old plants, and roses that were there. It was really in the XVIIIth century that most of the great gardens of Berwickshire were made, and often these were not true gardens, but exceedingly well laid out parks with avenues and vistas, lakes and follies. What came to be erroneously called the “ English Garden” was really non- existent. In point of fact the idea of the “ English Garden ” referred to in Mediaeval French Records, merely referred to the green grass bowling alleys and pleached walks attached to the castles, though later the term came to include the vast lawns and herbaceous borders of the XIXth century. It is certainly odd that the French and Italians with their exquis- itely designed gardens should envy and emulate some of the rather nondescript examples of English gardens. Here I must rather sadly say that many of the gardens here in Berwickshire were, and still are, apt to be nondescript. In the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries there was a great deal of gardening activity, and during the period most of the many-acred walled gardens were constructed, many alas of little aesthetic value. Much more stress was laid on the planting of parks and the making of long and winding wood- land walks. There have been few Le Notres and Browns to 4 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS leave their mark, although many of the parks in the County are the most beautiful in Scotland. Even today in this Advisory Age when one is bombarded with “Advice” from every quarter on all subjects, and so much on every form of gardening, people seem to pay little or no attention, and the gardens have a lack of appeal, with little or no attention paid to scale and design. There is also a sameness of planting, and of the varieties of plants and shrubs grown. I do not say that they are not neat and well- cared for, or that they have not on occasion a good show of colour, but on the whole they are disappointing in conception. However, there are many lovely gardens, large and small, and it is of some of these that I would speak this afternoon. OF LADY RAMSAY’S GARDEN at BUGHTRIG “Most surely this is a real garden,” will indeed be your exclamation on your arrival at Bughtrig, and here must live a true gardener, plant lover and artist. The garden has been re-created and planted by Lady Ramsay ; her vast horticult- ural knowledge and unerring artistry have combined in the formation of one of Berwickshire’s loveliest gardens. Patience and foresight have been watchwords, and the hopes of planting the less common and perhaps more tender shrubs and plants have been realised. Against the West wall of the house is a now mature Magnolia Grandiflora, which blooms prolifically, not at all common on the Borders ; and at the entrance is a large Carpentaria Californica with its reputation for tender- ness. These two alone show what can be grown and matured if one has patience and is willing to try. It is a personal garden of great enchantment and endless delight. Differing very little, in aspect and soil, from other places, yet everything seems to grow well here. The groupings of form and colour give a unity to the whole, for there would seem to be many gardens within the entirety. VIGNETTES OF SOME BERWICKSHIRE GARDENS 5 There is a large collection of shrubs and species Roses, old and new, isolated specimens, and many growing happily in conjunction with herbaceous plants ; many of these are quite tate, or at least less common. Although the main garden is not entirely walled, its charm lies in not seeing it all at once, at every turn there is something new and different, a thicket of Rosa Moyesii, a fountain of Buddlia Alternifolia, clumps of white Delphiniums. Many species of lilies are grown interplanted in the borders; all screening the productive vegetable garden. Large curtains of Agapanthus Umbellatus stand in a terrace beside the range of glass which is filled with colour, displaying a notable collection of Hippea- trum. Somehow or other it reminds me of gardens I have seen in France, and certainly unlike other Berwickshire gardens ; it has a unique quality not only in the rarity of plants but in the whole composition, which delights the eye and heart, a gentleness and sense of peace. OF THE GARDEN AT LADYKIRK When Major Askew decided to demolish the old house of Ladykirk (which had joined to it, one of the few orangeries in the country), and build a new and convenient house within the walls of the great garden, it necessitated the creation of an entirely new landscape. To the layman this may sound an easy matter when there were so many natural advantages. These can, however, become a stumbling block and only a skilful and trained eye can form an intimate park-like setting in the confines of a walled garden. This has certainly been achieved at Ladykirk; where there is no feeling of being enclosed, only a sense of space. Major Askew has made this garden in the grand manner, and achieved both beauty and dignity. After passing through the impressive entrance and along the long drive, there is one anti-climax on arrival, for the plan is in perfect harmony with the park outside and with the new house itself. Mature trees have been moved and re-planted, as have hedges, giving 6 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS an immediate effect of maturity. Lawns have been laid where none were, and a classical dignity has been added in the re- erection of a late 17th century Venetian Temple. Nearby is a large stone water-lily pool with a central lead figure of a child with a swan. Both of these have superb lines, and are in- geniously placed “ off centre.” This rather unusual position- ing does not detract, but rather qualifies their elegant pro- portions. There are still many plans to be carried out yet the feeling is already one of completeness. The plan and planting which have been done are carried out with great care, and the aesthetic lines of the Entrance gates are reflected in this new garden. Looking at an old photograph, circa 1900, showing that part of the garden where Major Askew’s house now stands, there appear numerous and intricate beds filled with Begonias, and dotted with Cannas. Doubtless they were a feast of dazzling colour, but for once I do not look mournfully into the past, for in the new garden at Ladykirk the disciplined garden of the XVIIIth century has been re-incarnated in 1967. OF THE GARDEN AT PAXTON HOUSE The Adam family, celebrated architects as they were, very rarely planned or designed gardens. Save for the Gazeboes and Orangeries, they confined their artistry to the house itself, and Paxton is no exception, the park coming quite close to the house. The large walled 18th century garden lies to the north of the house, and is now much too large for modern needs. In one of the greenhouses is a fine tree of “ Cherry Pie,” (Heliotropium) which must be of great age, and the only specimen I have seen which has achieved such dimensions. On the south front of the house, with the magnificent views up and down the river, and towards the hills, Colonel and Mrs, Home-Robertson have made a formal terrace garden of dignified simplicity and in complete accord with the archi- tecture of the house. Over planting has been avoided and VIGNETTES OF SOME BERWICKSHIRE GARDENS 7 there is no discord there. During the past year the woodland vista to the west has been opened up, and has been inter- planted with a very fine collection of shrub and species roses. This is an unusual new artistic move, for the roses, some of which have eventual rampant growth, will in time intertwine with many of the trees and shrubs, and should have lasting reward. Shrubs and species roses when once established require the minimum of attention, and at Paxton have been planted some of the finer species. The whole design of the garden, from the formal terrace to this other woodland garden has a distinctive sense of space and flowing lines which blend into the landscape. It is a natural landscape garden where place and construction would, I have no doubt pleased and delighted William and Robert Adam. OF THE GARDEN OF MR. and MRS. CAIRNS of SPOTTISWOOD Nowhere in the County, nor perhaps Scotland, is there another garden such as this. High up on the slopes of the Lammermuirs (800 ft.) and having been evolved from the barrenness of the hills it is indeed a wonder, and quite out of this world. When Mr and Mrs. Cairns purchased this property there was virtually nothing there, some trees and a morass of scrub and undergrowth. The whole aspect must have caused consider- able misgivings, before which even the most heroic spirits must have quailed, not so Mr. and Mrs. Cairns, both of whom are known almost universally in the Rock Garden and plant world. By themselves they laboured, removing hundreds of tons of poor soil, and substituting hundreds of tons of peat and loam, no small task. I first saw it some twenty years ago before anything had been started, and when I saw it this year, in all its wonderment, I felt very humble indeed. I had never seen anything like it. It seemed impossible that this garden should be in this country, at all, let alone in Berwickshire. 8 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS It is a plantsman’s garden created with an artist’s eye, and true gardener’s loving care. The now mature setting is one of sheer delight, surrounded as it is by some acres of planting by Mrs. and Mrs. Cairns, of rare trees and shrubs, both decidu- ous and evergreen. ‘There is a remarkable collection of species Rhododendrons and Azaleas, and many are still being raised from seed, sent from Asia and the Near East. Many plants growing here are possibly in no other garden in Scotland. The Rock garden is full of treasures and laid out in a natural manner. Many a Botanical Garden would be put to shame although there is not that artificiality invariably found in those places. Everywhere one looks there is something to catch the eye, many species of Liliums, Desfontainea Spinosa flowers freely as does Hoheria Lyallii, and Romneya Coulteri grows in almost weed-like profusion. These are only some of the many plants of a decidedly tender nature which thrive in this Berwickshire garden. All have been planted and many raised from seed by Mr. and Mrs. Cairns. Such a garden is a shining example to us all as to what can be done with loving care, knowledge and patience. It is unique in its beauty, a plantsman’s paradise, and the most interesting and loveliest garden in Berwickshire. OF THE GARDEN AT NETHERBYERS There are few gardens anywhere quite like this, and certainly no other in Berwickshire. One can speculate about its date, as it could be possibly an early design, but not made until the latter part of the XVIIIth century. The design has a Continental plan and could quite possibly be Dutch or Flem- ish. When I was young, and while waiting to be presented to the exiled Emperor of Germany, the waiting period was spent in walking round a garden with one of H.I.H. Aides. Little did I think that the memory of this event would be brought back to me years after when I first saw the garden of Nether- byres, for it seemed exactly the same. It is eliptical rather VIGNETTES OF SOME BERWICKSHIRE GARDENS 9 than circular, and the stone walls are faced with red brick for further warmth and protection. These bricks are Dutch, and possibly late XVIIIth century. Many bricks were imported from the Continent to Berwickshire and Northumberland harbours. There is a perfection and finish in design, and a formality of pattern in the grand manner. [Everything is enclosed within the walls in what can only be described as a series of gardens, borders, vistas, box edged parterres, wide paths, all divided and sub-divided, yet the plan is so skilfully drawn there is no sense of restlessness, but a lasting and co- ordinated unity. In the centre is a grass mound, which dominates the garden, and which, according to a map I have of 1867, was once a fountain, if this was so, then the formality of the garden must have been complete, for on the opposite wall, is a very classic- ally designed, and stone built greenhouse, one of the only structures of its kind in Berwickshire. It is rare to find a period garden so completely unspoiled as this one. Sir Christopher and Lady Furness have preserved it with great care. It is the only garden on the 1867 map shown in accurate detail, which proves that it must have been important a hundred years ago. The planting is effective and there is a careful blending of colour, although I would like to see some Wistaria, Actinidia, Buddleia Foll, Vitis Coignetiae and Clematis Hybrids glorying on the walls. Outside the walls on the South East are the remains, or the foundations of a very large lily pool, which must have been removed in the last century, and perhaps intended to be part of a further extension to conform with a later style. Nearer the house Lady Furness has planted an Herb garden. It is a pity that more of these Herb gardens are not made for they have a charm of their own, delighting the eye and the senses. This small garden is given dignity with the placing of standard bay trees, in pots, thus reflecting the formalities of the walled garden itself. Netherbyres garden is one of the treasures of Berwickshire, a link with a vanished past when dignity and grace joined with 10 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS happiness and joy, for in these early gardens there is a feeling of silent happiness. It must at all costs be preserved from any possibility of outside attacks with suggestions of new roads, and what is called nowadays ‘“‘ developments.”’ OF THE GREAT GARDEN AT MANDERSTON Here is truly the splendour of the nineteenth century, an era which we must never decry ; we have so much to thank our Victorian and Edwardian forebears for ; their lavishness and prodigality may be of some concern for those left to contend with the legacies of vast lawns and even vistas gardens, yet our debt to them is very great. Manderston must be one of the last outposts of this almost vanished era. Much admization must go to Major and Mrs. Baillie for the love and devotion they bave given, and for their singular ability to retain an almost Sandringham atmosphere in a world of unhappy change Laid out in the XIXth century in the grand manner, the vast lawns, the vistas, the superb wrought iron work are all in keeping with the splendour of the house itself. On the South front of the house, looking over the lake to the Rhododendrons is a formal architectural garden with parterres skilfully rose planted. Here are also some magnificent stone Antique Italian urns which are in sober keeping with the dignity of this formal plan. To the North lie the walled gardens with their impressive entrance ; one could nearly call them intimate gardens, their very vastness precludes this, but they have great beauty and retain all the glory of the epoch in which they were made. The many greenhouses are unusual even today, being constructed of teak wood. Practically all things are grown in and out of season, and there is still a Stove house (shades of past days and lovely scented exotics). Nowhere in the County is there such a wonderful display of colour at all times as in the greenhouses, where everything is in impeccable order. In one of the woods VIGNETTES OF SOME BERWICKSHIRE GARDENS 11 has been found a natural Peat basin, and here Major and Mrs. Baillie are planting a Rhododendron garden, which already contains some of the rarest species to be found, and with future planting will prove to be one of the finest collections in the country, and may equal the “ Silver Wood ” at Hawick. Visiting Manderston is rewarding, for here the glory has not departed. OF THE GARDEN AT KIMMERGHAME There are two gardens which really seem to convey, what I believe is called the Country House atmosphere of the novelists; Mellerstain is one, and Kimmerghame is the other. Neither are really in need of the embellishment of many flowers, their setting itself is enough. Although I do not wish to speak of parklands and orna- mental plantations, the Park at Kimmerghame is particularly fine. Looking from the entrance the land slopes to the river, its northern bank being colourful with red dogwood, and golden willows. A short avenue has been recently planted, which in the years to come may rival the long romantic Lime walk, forefronted with old yews and carpeted with snowdrops. The great sense of distance is conveyed, and in some lights resembles an almost Corot like picture. The house partially destroyed by fire in the 1930’s stands rather majestically amid large and formal lawns, with orna- mental stone palisading and urns. Outside the drawing room is a small paved garden, a sheltered suntrap ; perhaps it is not quite in the true character, nevertheless it has been designed with precision. These compact and formal sunk gardens required the most careful of planting, and are probably some of the most difficult gardens to perfect, the proximity of the house and the architectural detail require the growing of very selected plants. A long and winding green walk leads to the large walled garden. This is a woodland walk of great beauty and the 12 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS under-planting is gradually being thinned out, and newer and more interesting shrubs are being introduced. Brigadier Swinton and his son, Colonel John Swinton, O.B.E., are constantly making additions to the garden, where it is a pleasure to see Davidia Viloriniana thriving. Why are there not more of these “ Dove Trees’ planted ? They are a lovely shape, and in the summer the pale foliage with the white “Doves” are a memorable sight. The walled garden is large, but has not the desert-like air that so many walled gardens convey. The entire South wall is very low and topped with ornamental iron railings, leaving one with an uninter- rupted view across the park. This for Berwickshire is unusual and certainly makes a very distinctive garden. All is in good order, the walls covered with old but well cared for fruit trees. The range of glass has a fine peach house and vinery, and conservatory ; and outside, ornamental borders, while along the other walls of the greenhouses grows a mass of the Violet “Princess of Wales.” How rarely do we find plantings of violets. In the past two years a new greenhouse has been built ; all electric in heating and humidising, and with a propogating pit ; this should prove invaluable, not only for early germin- ation but also for the striking of cuttings of the more “difficult” plant specimens. I would not say that Kimmerghame had many rare or exotic trees, shrubs or plants, but gradually these are being introduced. It is one of these gardens which “colour” well, and perhaps has the most brilliant Huonymus Alatus, a large old specimen, that I have ever seen, while other shrubs also turn to russet and gold in the early Autumn. The garden is well established and well kept, no small feat in these days. It still retains a nineteenth century air of long after- noons and of footmen bringing the tea equipage to those sitting on the seat which encicles the ancient tree on the lawn. VIGNETTES OF SOME BERWICKSHIRE GARDENS 13 OF THE GARDEN AT BELCHESTER There are few gardens that are not interesting, and the older ones have an atmosphere all of their own ; they have an air of tender melancholy. Such a garden is at Belchester. The walled garden is old, and from the horseshoe ornamented gate there is a wide grass path with a broad mixed border, a central semi-circular stone seat backed by yews looks down on a long double sloping border of grey foliaged plants. At the foot of the garden there is a long grass alley with ancient apple trees and where there has been a skilful planting of Meconopsis Baill, which, with the apple blossom makes a perfect picture. It is perhaps for the daffodils that Belchester is most notable. Mrs. Wilson, from her youth, has collected daffodils, and over the years has been able to naturalize many rare hybrids. There is not a spectacular mass, but they look very lovely, and are of horticultural interest. Hach year some new variety is added. Berwickshire’s finest Ginkgo Biloba grows at Belchester. On the lower terrace is a complicated sundial designed by the late Colonel Bates of Antons Hill. This tranquil garden is of lasting charm. OF THE GARDEN AT CAROLSIDE Although the house of Carolside has the dignified archi- tectural restraint of the Regency period, the garden itself would appear to be of an earlier date, and is in the rare form of a walled ellipse. Certainly elliptical and circular walled enclosures were the construction of skilled and thoughtful gardeners. The complete avoidance of angles, allowing con- stant dissemination of warmth to all parts of the walls. Unlike many walled gardens it has entirely unpretentious entrances which markedly contrasts it to English gardens of the same period. Elliptical gardens at once convey the 14 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS atmosphere of remoteness and charm, and here at Carolside this has been guarded and enhanced by the care given by Sir John and Lady Mary Gilmour. It is a wonderful example of permanent and labour saving planting of artistry and skill. Without the walls, have been constructed, what one can only describe as a series of gardens which add to its intimacy and interest. At no season of the year does this garden look undressed. Filled as it is with many rare shrubs and plants, it is perhaps most noteworthy for its collection of “ Old Roses,” certainly one of the largest collections of these roses in the south of Scotland. The placing of old roses is not an easy matter, for, lovely as they are, in some gardens they can look unhappy and ill at ease ; here as isolated specimens or in masses they are in full beauty, from the very old Bourbons to the modern shrub roses, and the various species ; from the glowing madder-red “ Tuscany ” with its heavy scent, to the huge bushes of the delicately frilled “ Pink Grosendorf.” As.I have said the plan of this garden is unique in its charm. Many of the more unusual clematis ; all things planted with great thought. The range of glass, interesting in itself as an example of the curved greenhouse, is well utilised, and has the same charm as the garden, there is a fine collection of fuchsias, and some old and well shaped camellias, as well as a mature prolific Stephanotis. The greenhouses are gay all the year. The Carolside garden is mature and is an ideal example of what can be done in these times with the maximum effect, and the resultant lessening of labour. It would be well to take notice of this garden, a great lesson in planning and planting may be learnt. OF THE HIRSEL The name of Dundock must be known to people throughout the world, and certainly at all times of the year this Rhododen- dron wood has beauty to offer; an aged and massive R. Nobleam blooms for Christmas, followed by “ Christmas VIGNETTES OF SOME BERWICKSHIRE GARDENS 15 Cheer,” succeeded by the various hybrids until late June. Planted in the 19th century the collection is frequently added to by Sir Alex Douglas Home, although the additions are mostly confined to hybrids. There are few species, but well grown Pieris can be found. In this peat pocket where Rhodo- dendrons grow so rampantly, one longs to see the introduction of more and more species. In the walled garden, one of Scotland’s finest Tulip Trees stands in the centre of the garden. Like Mellerstain, the Hirsel has perfect landscaping, but is less skilfully contrived. OF THE GARDEN AT HOUNDWOOD The beauty of this historic house bas been enhanced by the garden which has been created by Mr. and Mrs. Glen. So often, plans go wrong, colour schemes prove disastrous, scale is forgotten and the impression given is that it would have been better left alone. This is not so at Houndwood, where everything is in com- plete harmony with the architecture of the house and local landscape. Heaths, as can be imagined grow well here, there are many cultivars carefully planted in wonderful colour arrangement. So many rather tender shrubs and trees grow at this high elevation, all carefully grouped and being continu- ally added to. Desfontainea Spinosa flourishes well, and in Autumn the Yedon Euonymous, and Sorbus Solisfolia are a brilliant sight. Houndwood is a garden to wander in, at every turn there is something of fresh interest, and everything is perfectly maintained. One of Berwickshire’s outstanding gardens, at all seasons of the year there is much of interest. OF THE GARDEN AT LENNEL ‘The formal terraced garden is rare in Berwickshire, especi- ally in its Italianate manner, yet at Lennel there is a perfect example of this style. It has a nobility and classic grandeur. Built as it is on the hillside overlooking the Tweed by the 16 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS grandparents of Sir Islay Campbell, it has the maturity of the 18th century. Entirely in scale and perspective it blends with the landscape and with the architecture of the house itself. Sir Islay who is an authority and writer on gardens, has left these terraces simply planted. The whole garden has tranquility and dignity. I think this is due to, under, rather than over planting. The distinctive formality of the terraces, the lily ponds and the pillared classic recesses need no more than the roses and the plants that are already there. The maturity of the trees and shrubs, the uninterrupted vistas all add to the perfection of Lennel. With the reconstruction of the house, the surroundings have been further enhanced. In spite of its “grand manner” one is not overpowered but rather trans- ported into a more pleasing age. Nearby, Mrs. Sitwell has designed a garden for her new house, and already it looks mature. On simple and modern lines it has a certain elegance unusual in any garden. OF THE GARDEN AT MARCHMONT When I was a little boy I sang that my love was like an Arbutus tree, and the first time I saw an Arbutus tree growing, was here at Marchmont. Storm has since destroyed it, but a young off-shoot has been planted and is now beginning to grow. Why do not more people grow this delightful tree ? The Classic house has a terraced and formal garden which is plain and dignified. Magnolia Grandiflora grows well but only flowers spasmodically. On one wall is the beautiful old double white Clematis, the Duchess of Edinburgh (H.I.H. Alexandra Feodoranova) with its subtle scent of almonds. It is a joy to find this rare and long forgotten variety looking so happy. Viburnum Bodnantese flowers better here than in many places, starting to bloom in early Autumn. Another tree seldom seen in Berwickshire is the Holm Oak (Quercus Ilex) but there is a good well grown specimen at Marchmont. VIGNETTES OF SOME BERWICKSHIRE GARDENS 17 The walled garden has a good range of glass with some unusual plants. Like most gardens of the 18th century it is incorporate into the very landscape itself, and the quiet simplicity, the muted colours blend into the distant view, and one’s thoughts turn to Zoffany painting, and the McHwan family immortalised in their lovely garden, as if time had indeed stood still. OF THE GARDEN AT MELLERSTAIN It is difficult to speak of Mellerstain, for one is at once con- fused with the architectural beauty of the house, the dream- like quality of the setting, the park, the lake, and the daffodils, one forgets the garden altogether. Well do I remember in my youth seeing the long borders of mauve and cream coloured stocks, the double herbaceous borders sloping down to the stream. The pots of Lilac and Laburnum flowering early in the greenhouses. All these, alas in the exigences of the times have disappeared, although not, I hope, for ever. The days of herbaceous borders, and elaborate bedding out are surely over. Mellerstain is sufficient without a garden; the superb planning of the “grounds” with their endless vistas; the double lilacs ; the silver and mauve foliage and flowers along the south wall, the old fashioned roses, the formal parterre which needs no flowers, for it is a gem in itself. Perhaps nowhere in Berwickshire are there so many daffodils, nor so many varieties. Few places anywhere have achieved such perfect planting, carpeting the woods and reflected in the lake, they are a memorable sight. To the north west of the house is a part of the old garden with the early 18th century tea-house. Few of these Gazebos and garden houses remain (there are Gazebos at Dunglass and also at Ayton Castle). Here there are beds of old fashioned roses, and there is an air of sadness and melancholy. 18 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS I feel that I am unable to do justice to Mellerstain, it is so perfect in every way, like a beautiful woman who sits in dreamy contemplation of the past and of the mystery of the future. OF THE GARDEN AT NEWTON DON Berwickshire is certainly fortunate in having so many lovely houses, although alas, they have not always lovely gardens. There is a pastoral feeling around the garden at Newton Don. Nowhere is there anything to disturb, like the house itself there is a muted richness. The soft colours of most of the herbaceous and annual plants and the absence of anything garish. The terraces and lawns surrounding the house have the aloof yet unaffected style of the Regency epoch. Gone are many of the great herbaceous borders and much of the “Summer bedding,” yet the garden has lost nothing. Lady Aurea Balfour has somehow managed to keep the spirit of Newton Don garden. The soft colours are still there as they were when I was young, they may not be in such profusion, but they are still there. The ravages of time have left little imprint, there is no sense of sadness, but only the calmness of a land where it is always afternoon. OF COLONEL and MRS. TROTTER’S GARDEN, at WELLNAGE, DUNS You all must have seen the spectacular flowering of purple crocus on the drive side which leads to the Regency house of Wellnage. Nobody seems to know when these were first planted, but yearly they increase to a purple carpet of breath- taking loveliness. Architectural gardens are few in Berwickshire and it is rare to find the gardens so obviously planned by the designer of the house. There is a Classical correctness about Wellnage, and nothing has been done to spoil the even rhythm of symmetry. The planting that has been done by Colonel and Mrs. Trotter VIGNETTES OF SOME BERWICKSHIRE GARDENS 19 has but further enhanced the garden. The period atmosphere has been carefully preserved. Again it is an example of what can be grown in the County, and grown with success. The Eucalyptus Gunnii and Rareifolia grow well, and a lovely and rare Buddleia Cultivar, possibly Aureafolia. The Rose garden is beautifully planted, and has a quiet charm, as has the entire garden. There is something about a garden like this, it has an elegance all of its own. The devotion and care given to it must surely have made the Architect’s scheme of beauty and uniformity come true. OF THE GARDEN AT WHITCHESTER Even higher in the Lammermuirs than that at Spottiswood is the garden of Whitchester. It is a garden that might well have been transplanted from the south, and one can visualise the Downs and not the Border hills, for in the bleakness of the surrounding landscape Mr. 8. A. HE. Landale has made an enchanted spot. Facing south in a fairly exposed position is an orderly, beautifully planned garden. At such elevation it is a pleasant surprise to find so many rare varieties of shrubs and plants growing so rampantly. Again it is one of the places whete foliage colours well and where at all seasons of the year there is interest. Considerable care and patience have been given and the plan of the garden is ideal. Perhaps the outstanding feature of Whitchester are the greenhouses, having perhaps the finest collection of Camellias in the County. Whitchester is so unexpected and gives one the feeling of excitement. It seems almost a miracle to find this sophistic- ated artistry in the wildness of the hills. So many of us are put off by the tales that “ things just won’t grow,” yet here, there is just another proof that things will, and do, but we must have patience and persevere. 20 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESENT TREND IN GARDENING As I said in the beginning Berwickshire is not a garden conscious County. The cottage gardens of the past are gone. Perhaps never before has there been so much “ tidying up” all round. Buildings reconstructed, well designed houses, and schemes built, and with a general air of well being. Never- the less there is much stylisation and a good deal of arti- craftiness which is regrettable. As for gardens, so little planning, so little design, and such lack of initiative ; the same styles, the same plants or shrubs everywhere, and not very good varieties either. I fully realise that I will be misinter- preted here. Many gardens have a lovely “show,” but of whet, and for how long?. With the advent of “garden centres,” garden talks on T.V. and Radio, garden articles and hints in every type of paper, yet we have the same varieties of trees, shrubs, plants and roses everywhere, and so few carefully constructed gardens. I have searched in vain among the new houses and schemes in the country to find one example of good and original planning. I have seen well grown plants, effects of rather arranged colour, but scarcely a garden that would please all the year round, and which was in keeping with the house itself. At last I found one. OF THE GARDEN of MR. & MRS. HALLIDAY at BIRGHAM This is perhaps one of the best examples of a small garden in the contemporary manner, and it is indeed rare to find a modern house with a good garden. The house itself is a good example of 1967 Cottage Ornée, built almost to the road with the garden, an almost open plan, on its two sides. Carefully chosen shrubs flank the front door. The semi- elliptical garden is in perfect scale with the house. The simplicity of design and of planting gives it outstanding VIGNETTES OF SOME BERWICKSHIRE GARDENS 2] character. Each plant and shrub is properly placed with superb artistry. Yet all the shrubs and plants are within the scope of us all. So often the modern house or bungalow have a stylised and common-place garden, from the vulgarly ostentatious and hideous, to the pretty pretty which is even worse. This garden of Mr. and Mrs. Halliday’s is one of the rare examples of good planning and good planting. OF the PUBLIC PARKS, GARDENS and OPEN SPACES The entrance to the Public Park in Duns is an impressive piece of Victorian planting and an example of good planning both in colour and design. In most of the parks and schemes, and in the general “ tidying up ” too much emphasis has been laid on the massing of Floribunda roses. These are not always well chosen, however carefully planted, and in the end cause monotony. Wherever one looks there are unbroken beds of Floribundas. How much better it would be if things were varied and there were groupings of coloured Conifers, orna- mental, bertied and flowering shrubs, which after all have longer life, are pleasant at all seasons of the year and have a dignity of their own. Berwickshire is rather backward in its general garden planning and planting, but in the years to come, we can hope to improve and raise the County to the level of other more garden conscious areas. These, ladies and gentlemen, are some of the gardens I have known and loved. They are true gardens. There are many others in Berwickshire which are pretty, but only for a season ; and many others which have all the foundations of beauty, but which alas are not so. Much could be done, so many gardens could be made. They only need care, thought and great patience, ACTING SECRETARY’S REPORT _ In a summer which was not one of our best, the Club was lucky in escaping wet days for its outings, although once or twice, especially at Hawick, the wind was colder than was desirable. Our visits, to the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle, Hawick, Dirleton Castle and Whitekirk, Alwinton and Harbottle in Upper Coquetdale, and Crichton and Gifford, all attracted large attendances of members and friends; the average attendance was about 90, but 140 of all ages visited Upper Coquetdale under Captain Walton’s guidance. This year we experimented by holding meetings on Wednes- days, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The day of the week seemed to make little difference to the numbers attending, and at one of the Saturday meetings only two members out of some 90 present would have been unable to attend had the meeting been on another day. As ever, we are greatly in the debt of those who give up time to receive and conduct us, especially those busy parish ministers with whose Saturday afternoons we make free. ~The Council met thrice during the year, once formally and twice informally. It was decided to amend the Club’s Rules by deleting Rule 15, to abolish the ‘‘Pink Slip”’ and in future to print the Rules in the History in smaller type to reduce costs. The Council welcomed an invitation for the Club to partici- pate in a local history exhibition to be held in Edinburgh in March, 1969, under the joint auspices of Edinburgh Univer- sity and the Scottish Council of Social Service ; the Acting Secretary represents the Club on the planning Committee. The Club’s excavations at Coldingham Priory continued ; for the first time a full season’s work was possible, interrupted only by the weather. The whole of the west end of Edgar’s Walls has now been cleared out down to the twelfth century level. Much more mediaeval pottery has come to light, as 22 ACTING SECRETARY’S REPORT 23 well as several metal objects. The western steps were taken down in August and proved to be comparatively modern, butting on the mediaeval wall. They have been replaced and consolidated. While working through the fourteenth century level two complexes of empty holes were found ; some of these were almost certainly post-holes, but the other, larger ones have so far baffled the experts. The year’s work is fully reported elsewhere in the History. In this year’s work we have had the benefit of the advice of Mrs. W. H. Mulholland, M.A., East Calder ; in recognition of her help the Council offered her Associate Membership of the Club, which she has accepted. It is disappointing that only a few members of the Club have so far taken part in these excavations ; we are therefore all the more grateful to other Berwickshire folk who have given much help. I hope to write a description of the Wild Garden at Manderston for a later issue of the History. W. RYLE ELLIOT. THE MOTE HILL, HAWICK by R. E. SCOTT, Esq., Curator of Wilton Lodge Museum At first sight Hawick may appear as a town devoid of antiquity, yet behind its somewhat Victorian facade lies an unruly history of wars and political strife like every other town so near the Border Line. At the present time one might say that Hawick is dis- tinguished for three things: its Common Riding Festival, its prowess on the Rugby field, and its place in the fashion knitwear world. Imagine the scene as Stone Age men saw it so many centuries ago. The topographical features remain little changed. The valley floors were of swamp while the hillsides and moors supported a scrub of oak, alder and hazel, and an abundance of animal life which drew men to the area. Stone Age relics are few, but sufficient to tell us that early man roamed and hunted Teviotdale. The Bronze Age period brings much more evidence and there appears to have been a considerable colonisation and settlement on the hill-tops. When the Celtic-speaking and iron-using peoples came still presents problems. Their settlements are largely to be found in the Bowmont-Kale headwaters and in the hills south and west of Hawick. These homesteads appear to have been founded just before, or soon after, the arrival of the Romans to Britain in the Ist century A.D. The largest number of hill-top forts and settlements in this area belong to these peoples. We have no doubt too that the Romans eventually came to know the district, but the invaders left little visible impact in Upper Teviotdale excepting perhaps their signal station crowning Ruberslaw. The withdrawal of the Romans, however, brought about an important movement of population from the South as the Saxons set their eyes on new lands beyond the Cheviots. The 24. THE MOTE HILL, HAWICK 25 native tribes, now united in a general cause, resisted strongly for half a century with varying results. But final disaster came in 603 when Aedan, King of Scots, suffered defeat by Aethelfrith at Dawstone in Liddesdale, leaving the way open for a general rush of Anglian colonists. New settlements were soon established in the lower Tweed Valley with late-comers pushing forward up the tributaries to create new homesteads from previously undrained lands and uncultivated hillsides. One can well imagine such a party of colonists travelling the south bank of the Teviot, or ‘“‘the river that spreads around”’ as the natives called it, until they found a likely site on the rising apex of ground formed by the meeting of the Teviot and Slitrig Waters. Here they founded their “‘wick’’ or settlement, protecting it by an encircling hawthorn hedge— thence the name of HAWICK. The newcomers proved an industrious people willing to co-operate with the remnants of the local tribes and soon a new society was in the melting pot with a character and a speech all its own. The English language brought by the colonists became predominant, but some native words of Celtic origin persisted, adding at later periods a Scandinavian influence and a few more words inherited from the Normans, to form a distinct dialect quite unintelligble to the uninitiated, but a joy to the compilers of the Scottish National Dictionary. Tradition tells us, too, that around the 7th century, Cuthbert, the missionary saint of the Borders, founded a chapel on a grassy knoll on the same site chosen by the Anglo- Saxons who, we understand, were already of the Christian faith before leaving their old homesteads. That holy foundation, along with the “hedged town’, saw the beginnings of a close-knit community that grew and prospered over the centuries to the town of today. But other changes were still to follow. In the 12th century, following the Norman invasion, a French noble family, the Lovels, were rewarded with extensive lands in the Borders and came north from their Somerset estates to make their Scottish headquarters in Hawick. Here they created, in true Norman style, a huge mound of upcast earth from a circular ditch and 26 THE MOTE HILL, HAWICK on. top erected their wooden palisaded tower as a temporary residence until a more substantial building of stone was built across the river—a building that still stands and is now incor- porated in the Tower Hotel. A great deal of speculation about the origin and possible uses for our Mote were put forward by our earliest anti- quarians. A super-kind of tumulus for a great chieftain, a Druidical temple for sun worhsip, a seat of justice—were among the most favoured theories. This simple solution that the Mote was a typical Norman castle (and Roxburghshire is very rich in these—although not so well preserved) never seemed to enter into their arguments until some 60 years ago. In 1912, however, without interfering with the mound itself, three sectional trenches were dug across the one-time ditch. These excavations established the original dimensions and produced a quantity of Norman pottery and other relics of a 12th century date which are now on display in our local museum. Modern historians now agree as to the true function of the Mote—spelling it as you will. For 200 years the Lovels held sway in Hawick until their English allegiance lost them their Scottish Lands which passed to the powerful Douglases at the beginning of the 15th century. One of the latter family became Hawick’s “generous donor” when he created the town a free Burgh of Barony and gifted to the town extensive Common lands in the years following the disastrous effects of Flodden on Border economy. In these days lordships were tossed about on the winds of political change and at the whim of kings and when the Douglases fell foul of their royal masters their estates passed to the equally powerful Scotts of Buccleuch who were already well established in the Border area with their very centre in Hawick, where even today the name of Scott predominates. It is not the purpose here to discuss how Hawick fared during the 300 years of warfare between two bickering nations. Yet despite the unsettled state of affairs, the town continued to expand with the houses extending across the Slitrig and along the south bank of the Teviot. The town eventually became an important river crossing place and a market centre THE MOTE HILL, HAWICK 27 as well as being noted for the production of linen goods and woollen plaidings long before the introduction of the first stocking frame to the town in 1771. Hawick played its part in the Industrial Revolution with many changes taking place—changes involving not only methods of power but also in the manufactures with a gradual change from tweeds and spinning to the fully fashioned knit- wear production of the present day. But, perhaps, the greatest change in Hawick’s outlook took place in 1861 when, with the passing of the Burgh Police Improvement Act, the whole administration of the burgh was reorganised. The parish of Wilton, on the north side of the Teviot, was amalgamated with Hawick under a newly con- stituted Town Council with greater powers to expand and create a town of a real civic status. From that period the biggest change took place. Most of the old property was demolished and rebuilt, new streets were created and new factories appeared on the scene. An influx of woollen workers from other centres increased the population and brought new ideas. In fact a new town replaced the old and it is that once “new town” that confronts us today. But history is repeating itself. What was built only a hundred years ago is being replaced by houses of a more modern standard with amenities undreamt of a hundred years ago. CRICHTON KIRK by JOHN B. LOGAN, Parish Minister of Cranston, Crichton and Ford. This was one of the number of collegiate kirks which were built by noblemen or landowners and staffed by clergy to say masses daily for the souls of their founder and his family and kindred, not as parish churches. There were 38 at the Reformation, and they were a cause of complaint since they lived from the revenues of various parish churches. This kirk was founded in 1449 by Sir William Crichtoun, Chancellor of Scotland, rival of the Douglas family for power, ‘‘out of thankfulness and gratitude to Almighty God for all the manifold deliverances He had vouchsafed to him’. The Chancellor had just returned from France where, as Scottish ambassador, he had arranged a marriage between James IIT and Mary of Gueldres. The kirk was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St Mungo, and staffed by a Provost, 8 prebends (assistants) and 2 singing boys. The nave and aisles were never built: the beginning of a nave wall on the north of the present front door contains the belfry stair. The chancel and transepts could accom- modate the Castle retinue. Lord Chancellor Crichton died in 1454. The lands were then owned by Sir John Ramsay, then by Patrick Hepburn created Earl of Bothwell ; so they came to James Hepburn, the Bothwell who married Mary Queen of Scots (15th May, 1567). It is interesting that Mary had attended the wedding here in 1562 of Lady Jean Hepburn, Bothwell’s sister, and John Stewart, Prior of Coldingham, a natural son of James V. Mary was at the wedding feast in the Great Hall of Crichton Castle and watched a tournament. The kirk is simply built in what might be called Norman style, windows and doors Lancet or Early English. There is little ornamentation—some floral designs and carved heads on the exterior of the chancel, and in the interior the capitals of the pillars at the arches of the chancel and transepts are 28 f CRICHTON KIRK 29 garlanded. The squat tower has a belfry on top, and the outer walis show the marks of an earlier and higher stone roof that may have become too heavy for the walls : the chancel is buttressed. The interior retains the original stone barrel- vaulting. In the chancel the aumbry for sacramental vessels (a feature seldom preserved) stands above the dedication cross. Oppos- ite, on the south wall, are three sedilia, stone clergy stalls. The south transept has its piscina bow] intact. The kirk may have been damaged by Hertford’s English troops in 1544. We do not know what happened at the Reformation, but 80 years later we read that ‘“‘divine worship has been held in it for some time, owing to the ruinous condition of the Parish Church’. An Act of Parliament of 17th November, 1641, declared that this was to be the Parish Church for all time coming—a prophetic utterance. Appar- ently the chancel was first used, then the transepts, then about 1729 very bad alterations included walling up the transepts and chancel, the north becoming a burial vault, the south a store for grave-digger’s tools, a gallery was erected in the chancel, a pulpit hung on the ring still visible on the south wall a window knocked through the wall beside it and the priest’s door below blocked up. The whole building fell into a deplorable condition until under the Rev. A. W. Ferguson and the laird, Henry Callander of Prestonhall, with the help of the congregation and other benefactors the kirk was carefully restored as near as possible to its original condition and re-opened on llth May, 1899, at a total cost including the Organ of £1,435. Later, Mrs. Callander gifted a reredos of carved oak. Five memorial stained glass windows by Ballan- tyne and Gardiner were gifted between 1899 and 1908 ; the window in the north transept commemorates Mr. Ainslie, late of Costerton, who founded Astley-Ainslie Hospital and is buried in the kirkyard; and there are two more modern windows, one a War Memorial. ‘The exterior (south) walls bear the marks of the bullets said to have been fired from the Castle by gallants shooting at the popinjay. The coat of arms above the main door is probably from the gravestone of Agnes Nicolson, third wife of Patrick Murray, Ist Lord 30 CRICHTON KIRK Elibank, who owned the estate in the beginning of the 17th century. Only the small window on the north of the chancel nearest the east end retains the original stonework tracery. The wrought iron gates were gifted by the Callander family and made by the Crichton blacksmith who died in 1968, who also made the wrought iron lampstands on the organ and in the middle of the kirk. During the present ministry, the 19th since the Reformation, further improvements have been made and furnishings added and the kirk is well attended when it is used on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, Cranstoun Kirk being used on the other Sundays. It was the scene of the celebration of the Quatercentenary of the Reformation by the Presbytery of Dalkeith, when Holy Communion was dispensed not only to a vast congregation sitting and standing in every place but standing outside and sitting in buses, praise led by the Dalkeith Silver Band. This is one of the most lovely and worshipful sanctuaries in Scotland, the atmosphere at services seemingly charged with centuries of prayer. At the time of daffodils glowing masses bloom all over the kirkyard like a pattern of cloth of gold. Here time stands still and God’s peace reigns. ST. MARY’S CHURCH, WHITEKIRK, EAST LOTHIAN The introduction of the Christian faith to Whitekirk is attributed in legend to St. Baldred in the late sixth century. He was a monk of Lindisfarne who made the Bass Rock a base for his missionary journeys. A cave near Seacliff is associated with his name and two curious rocks in the parish retain his name, one near Seacliff called St. Baldred’s Cobble, which, according to legend once stood, a danger to shipping in the channel between the Bass and the coast. St. Baldred used it as a boat (cobble) and brought it to the shore ; the other is off shore near Ravensheugh, and is known as St. Baldred’s Cradle because it is said to rock in a storm. It is unlikely that Baldred built a church at Whitekirk, but he may have used the site as a preaching station. By the 12th century Whitekirk is famed for its holy well to which came many pilgrims for whose accommodation a hospice had been built. This hospice is mentioned in the record of lands given by David I to Holyrood Abbey, but whether there was a church in existence at this date we do not know, certainly in 1356 a church existed as John of Fordun relates that English sailors bringing supplies to the army of Edward III during his invasion of Scotland plundered the ‘white kirk situated near to the sea’. In the will of Alexander Home of Douglas, dated 3rd February, 1423, we find mention of ‘the church of the Blessed Mary which is called Whitekirk’. This may refer to an earlier building possibly a 12th century Norman building. A late 16th century document from the Vatican library, which exists in translation, states that in 1439 Adam Hepburn of Hailes Castle, built the choir “all arched with stone’. This document is very inaccurate in many respects, and must be treated with caution. A copy of the chronicle of Adam Abel, an Austin canon of Inchaffray and later a Franciscan of Jedburgh, states that his 31 32 ST. MARY’S CHURCH, WHITEKIRK, EAST LOTHIAN cousin, Robert Bellenden, abbot of Holyrood from 1486 to 1499, built ‘the quhit kirk of lowdian’. Abel wrote in the late 15th century and since he came from Prestonpans he had local knowledge. On the external east wall of the choir above the rose window is the coat-of-arms of Abbot Crawford of Holyrood (c. 1460) who marked new buttresses which he had erected at Holyrood with his coat-of-arms. He may have been the builder of this part of the church at least. The design of the choir is unusual in Scotland as it lacks the large east window, and except for a small quatrefoil window it consists of a blank wall, which may have been intended to support a large painting with folding wings or tabernacle as it was then called. This painting would be lit by the light from the window in the south wall. This device was typical of Flemish builders at this time. Abbot Crawford of Holyrood was also titular abbot of a religious house in Bruges and may have brought builders from Flanders and perhaps also the painting. There was discovered in the churchyard a large flat Flemish stone, with an effigy carved upon it, formerly inlaid with brass, which may be further evidence of Abbot Crawford’s work. All three men, Hepburn, Bellenden and Crawford, belonged to the 15th century and as the architecture of the church is of this period, all may have contributed to its erection. The niche over the door probably contained a statue of St. Mary the mother of Jesus, and in the other two niches were probably statues of St. Andrew and St. John. On the gable over the porch entrance is a 14th century slab of stone, where an early medieval altar is clearly depicted, originally above the altar would be the figure of Christ on the Cross and on the altar a chalice which received the blood and water which flowed from His side after the spear thrust of the soldier. This is believed to be the front of the former sacra- ment house which formerly stood within the church. After the Reformation, when the flow of pilgrims ceased, the church was too large for the small local congregation and a wall was built across the eastern arch and the choir became the parish church. The pulpit was set against this new wall, ST. MARY’S CHURCH, WHITKIRK, EAST LOTHIAN 33 and the laird’s pew, belonging to the Bairds of Newbyth, a canopied structure in the classical manner was in 1691 set up against the east wall. In the mid-seventeenth century, during the siege of Tantallon, Cromwell’s men used the church as a shelter for horses and men. In 1691 the Kirk Session records state that one ‘James Wricht was appointed to open a school in the nave of the church, and in 1746 the minister reports to the Presbytery that there is a proposal to convert part of the nave into a granary, but the presbytery issued an interdict and put a stop to that proposal. On 6th January, 1697, a bell, gilded cock and globe were brought from Edinburgh and installed in the tower. On 28rd August, 1761, the parishes of Whitekirk and Tyninghame were united, and Whitekirk became the church of the united parishes. In order to accommodate the increased. numbers attending the services, the wall, erected in the choir arch, was removed, the south transept partly restored, and the whole church brought into use again. The Haddington loft was brought from Tyninghame church and erected in the north transept. In 1832 the Seacliff gallery was erected in a shallow aisle then thrown out from the north side of the nave. In 1891 the south east transept was rebuilt and the church again became fully cruciform. On 26th February, 1914, the church was set on fire and everything perishable was lost, only the tower, walls, and roof of the choir remained. Fortunately, generous benefactors made possible the restoration of this beautiful church under the skilful guidance of Sir Robert Lorimer, the foremost Scottish architect of his day. HARBOTTLE CASTLE by R. H. WALTON On June 21st, 1934, the Club visited the Castle where Dr. Hunter-Blair addressed the members. This address was so outstanding in its scope and detail of the history of the castle and its construction, that nothing has been or is likely to be written to surpass it. Members may read this account in the Club History (Vol. XXVIII, Part III, page 215) at their leisure, and I propose to confine myself to those points which will help them to enjoy their visit by being able to recognize those parts of the castle which, being ruined, might otherwise escape their notice. The castle has been in total ruin and a quarry for all-comers for the last three hundred years, and so some explanation is necessary. First of all, as many of you will know, the word Harbottle is of Anglo-Saxon origin meaning the Bothl, or building, of the Her or Army. This might lead us to suppose that the place was built for military purposes before the Norman Conquest, but the first ‘“‘castle’’ on this site was, in fact, built about 1157, at the express command of Henry II by Odinel de Umfraville, Lord of Redesdale, whose ancestor, Robert de Umfraville received his lands from the Conqueror. That the name happens to be Anglo-Saxon rather than some form of mediaeval English may point, merely, to an archaic local dialect. Henry II carried out an extensive programme of castle building and rebuilding along the Border at this time at Newcastle, Bamburgh, Wark on Tweed, Norham, and here at Harbottle, to combat the activities of the Scots under William the Lion. Harbottle occupied a logical position of defence at a spot where three major roads from Scotland converged. Harbottle, then was and remained to the end of its days, a Government castle. Naturally, the great family of Umfrav- ille, from their castle at Prudhoe on Tyne, supplied successive constables for the castle, who commanded with varying degrees of success. While in its original state, that of a Motte and Bailey earthen structure with wooden tower and stockade, 34 HARBOTTLE CASTLE 35 it was taken by a Scottish force in 1174, but, when rebuilt in stone about 1200, it withstood a much more serious siege by the Scots in 1296. During the disastrous reign of Edward II, Robert the Bruce captured Harbottle castle and dismantled it, and, as late as 1336, it was listed as “destroyed by war with Scotland’”’ and it does not appear to have been rebuilt until about 1390. In passing, it might be interesting to speculate as to the course of events if the castle had been a going concern at the time of the battle of Otterburn in 1388. One wonders sometimes how many soldiers would be required to hold one of these big mediaeval castles in time of war. It is recorded that Sir Robert Umfraville held Harbottle in 1399 with twenty men at arms and forty archers. The castle survived the fifteenth century without any action of note and served the purpose intended for it by Henry II, that is, acting as an earth-stopper on the Border. The early part of the sixteenth century saw an event which, if it had occurred in modern times, would have been regarded as a subject of extraordinary human interest. Following the battle of Flodden in 1513, Margaret Tudor, the widow of James IV of Scotland and sister to Henry VIII, became dangerously involved in Scottish affairs due to the attempts of the Scottish nobles to gain possession of her son, the heir to the Scottish throne. She had remarried, becoming the wife of Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus. In this dangerous situation, she fled to England arriving at Harbottle castle in October 1515, where she gave birth to a daughter Margaret, who became in course of time Countess of Lennox, mother of Lord Darnley and grandmother of James VI of Scotland and I of England. The sixteenth century saw a radical change of policy on the Border with an active policy of aggression on the part of the English Crown, replacing the defensive system of linked fortresses, and Harbottle was allowed to go to ruin. Possession of the castle had passed in 1436, from the Umfravilles to the Tailbois’ and in 1541 from the Tailbois to a succession of different owners, none of which were in any 36 HARBOTTLE CASTLE way concerned with its military role, which in any case had lapsed on the succession of James I. As I have said, it became a quarry for all purposes including the building of the present Harbottle Castle at the beginning of the eighteenth century, and now little remains. The plan of the structure in its later form appears to have been an irregular shaped inner bailey, or keep, on the original motte, an outer bailey set at an angle with a wall and a wide and deep ditch, a great cross wall running north from the motte with a gate tower in the centre and another tower over- looking the river. A turret occurs on the outer bailey wall due west of the motte. Dr. Hunter Blair showed that the mass of masonry which can be seen half way down the motte on the south is of much earlier date than that of the existing ruin, a surprise for those of us who have imagined for so long that it was of quite recent origin. A spring below the bailey to the north is probably the drain from the castle and similar to that at Wark on Tweed. An- other drain was once accessible on the south side of the motte leading to a clump of trees on the far side of the road. The late Bella Charlton of Harbottle used to play in it as a child. A chapel, supposed to be that attached to the castle, lies under the gardener’s cottage at the east end of the village. A well-made road runs along the north side of the castle into the Wellfield through which we walked and down to the river Coquet at the Devil’s Elbow, and this, I think, is the original entrance to the castle from Clennel Street. The Castle has belonged since 1731 to the Clennel family, passing in 1796 to the Fenwicks who took the name Fenwick- Clennel and who now occupy Harbottle Castle House, at the east end of the village. Ruins are just piles of stones and, more often than not, a home for nettles. If we could only paint the picture of this once magnificent place as it stood among the heather in summer and the snow in winter, the focal point for life in war and peace, then history would mean something more than a page in a book. ALWINTON CHURCH— ST. MICHAEL and ALL ANGELS By R. H. WALTON Although a church stood here in the eleventh century, the present structure represents a massive rebuilding in the mid- nineteenth century carried out by the Rev. Aislaby Proctor. A sketch of the church before rebuilding may be seen in the west aisle. There is no doubt that the church has always been unique in that the choir stands well above the nave with thirteen steps leading to it, and beneath these steps lies the entrance to the Selby vault last opened about a hundred years ago. The Selbys of Biddleston were the great Roman Catholic family of the district who, although periodically sequestered, always acted as benefactors of Alwinton church, the Biddleston porch on the south side serving for many years as their family chapel and burial place. The church contains in the west aisle two magnificent marble table tombs of the Clennel family of the early eighteenth century. The Clennels came into possession of Harbottle Castle in 1731. Of especial interest to antiquarians is a Roman building stone built into the south-east corner of the Choir on the outside of the building. It may have found its way there during a rebuilding in the 17th or 18th century as part of a load of stone from the ruins of the Roman fort of Bremenium at High Rochester. In the early part of the eighteenth century, Archdeacon Sharp visited the church and complained that no proper font existed. It is thought that the more ancient of the two fonts now in the church was that made to satisfy the Archdeacon. Up to a year or two ago, the churchyard contained no less than 27 table tombs, together with a large number of ordinary stones. The present vicar, the Rev. William Thomas, with a view to future re-use of the ground for burial, has had most of 37 38 ALWINTON CHURCH these removed, retaining only the memorials with existing family connections and those of historical and antiquarian interest. Some of the stones removed have been preserved in the form of a pavement on the west end of the churchyard. Improvements to the fabric of the church, including lighting and heating arrangements, and the individual care of many members of the congregation have, during the last few years, transformed a building which was once merely interesting into one which is a pleasure to look at. EXCAVATION DRAWINGS OF COLDINGHAM PRIORY 1967 PARISH CHURCH EDGAR’S WALLS ie) 30 ft Fig. 1 S.E. corner of Coldingham Churchyard showing Edgar’s Walls. : — “URI_ Og SLT ae ee HONJYL LS3M ~HONZYL LSV3 440M Q996L 430 f aduesjua payYs0\g West Section. MORTAR RUBBLE MORTAR RUBBLE © SIN ssi, \\ \\ Se PAVING. } eis Oe sere 4 CWE oh ET We FOUNDATION TRENCH bee a. ox WALL Ill BUTTRESS —> a @& Reo Layer 4 Fig. 3 West Trench. 1 "youery, Ise — aa "U01}IOG YON EXCAVATIONS AT COLDINGHAM PRIORY, BERWICKSHIRE, 1967 By HELEN CLARKE, B.A. Introduction Coldingham Priory (0.8. 1 in. sheet 64, N'T/904659) lies on the eastern side of the village of Coldingham, about one mile from the coast, skirted to the south by the Court or Cole Burn which debouches into the sea at Coldingham Bay. The site was of importance throughout the Middle Ages (1) because of its situation on the east coast route between England and Scotland, and its proximity to the Border led to a turbulent history. Reputed to be of Anglo-Saxon foundation, all the surviving remains date from the period of its refoundation in the late 11th century, or a later rebuilding in the 13th century (2). All that remains of the original monastic buildings are the north and east walls of the choir of the church, now restored and used as the parish church, and some fragments of standing masonry, notably that known as Edgar’s Walls which lies parallel to and some 80 ft. south of the south wall of the present church (3 and Fig. 1). Archaeological interest in the site has been alive since the 19th century, with excava- tions in the 1850’s and 1920’s (4), and most recently was shown 1 A.A. Carr, A History of Coldingham Priory (Edinburgh 1836). W. King Hunter, History of the Priory of Coldingham (Edinburgh 1858). D. E. Easson, Medieval Religious Houses, Scotland (London 1957) pp. 49-50. “ Historiae Dunelmensis ” The Surtees Society, 9, 1839. “The Priory of Coldingham ” The Surtees Society, 12, 1841. 2 G. W. S. Barrow, “Scottish Rulers and the Religious Orders,”’ RHS Trans., III, 1953, pp. 80-81. 3 “County of Berwick,” RCHMS, 6, 1915, p. 39 and Fig. 30. 4 R. Hood, “‘ Remarks on Coldingham Priory,’ HBNC, III, No. VII, 18f6, pp. 252-6. J. Stuart, ‘“‘ The Monastery of St. Ebba. The Priory of Colding- ham,” HBNC, V, 1863-8, pp. 207-19. J. A. Thomson, “ Coldingham Priory,” HBNC, XXX, 1938-46, Pp. 215-19. W. D. Simpson, “‘ Coldingham Priory, a famous border monastery,” Trans. Scot. Eccl. Soc., XIV, Pt. 2. 1950, pp. 26-31. W. D. Simpson, ‘‘ Coldingham Priory : a Famous Border Monas- tery,” Trans. AADN, IX, 1939, pp. 68-86. 39 40 EXCAVATIONS AT COLDINGHAM PRIORY in 1966 when, subsequent to the purchase of land at the south and east of the church by the Berwickshire County Council, members of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club conducted investigations in the south-east area of the priory grounds (5 and Fig. 2) where remains of a domestic building (possibly the medieval refectory) are visible (6). The recent activities led the Department of Adult Education and Extramural Studies at the University of Edinburgh to organize a fortnight’s excavation in June 1967 ; this was run on the lines of a Summer School, and it was hoped that it would provide information about the supposed medieval refectory as well as serve as a training course for beginners in practical archaeology. The excavation was only made possible through the organization of Mr. Basil Skinner of the Extra mural Department, the hard work of the students on the course and, particularly, the enthusiasm and co-operation of members of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club, to all of whom I should like to extend my sincere thanks (7). The Excavation The site chosen for excavation was the eastern end of the area south of Edgar’s Walls, within the bounds of the supposed refectory (Fig. 2). The western end of this area had been the object of the investigations of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club in March and April, 1966 (8), when traces of walls and column bases had been exposed, and this was therefore avoided by the 1967 work. Exigencies of time and labour, and the necessity of backfilling immediately at the close of the excava- tion made it necessary that investigation be strictly limited, and two trenches only, each 20 ft. by 4 ft. in size, were opened. The aim was to establish the course of the southern wall of the building, and the date of its construction. 5 T. D. Thomson, ‘“ Coldingham Priory Excavations,’ HBNC, XXXVII, 1968, pp. 206-11. 6 Supra footnote 3. 7 Records of the excavation, and finds, are in the care of the Berwick- shire Naturalists’ Club. 8 Supra footnote 4, EXCAVATIONS AT COLDINGHAM PRIORY 41 Summary of Excavations West Trench : Phase I The earliest period was represented by the southern wall of the refectory, associated with medieval pottery no earlier than 13th century in date. (Layer 4). Phase II After the refectory had fallen out of use the addition of internal stone partition walls (Walls I and II), a cobbled floor (Paving II) and a possible industrial hearth indicates its re-utilization as farm or domestic buldings. (Layer 3). Phase III The final phase of the building was represented by a well- laid paving of cobbles (Paving I) indicating its possible use as a farmyard or stable. There were no traces of walls to suggest that the floor was internal rather than external. Pottery from this phase consisted of a mixture of medieval and post-medieval sherds, the latter probably of 19th century date. (Layer 2). East Trench : Phase I The earliest feature in this area was a sandstone founda- tion, so solid as to suggest that it originally supported a high superstructure. This was associated with a single rim sherd of late medieval, perhaps 15th century, type. (Feature T). Phase II The superstructure supported by Feature I had been destroyed and removed, leaving few remains other than mortar rubble. There was no evident rebuilding or re- occupation of the site, and the mixed nature of the pottery indicates intrusion from upper levels through cultivation. (Layers 2 and 3). West Trench (Fig. 3) This cutting was so placed that it might reveal the course of the south wall of the refectory. 42 EXCAVATIONS AT COLDINGHAM PRIORY ~ Layer 2 On removing the turf and topsoil (Layer I) a well-laid cobble paving (Paving I) was discovered ; this extended over the northern half of the trench, cut into at its south-west corner by a later pit filled with humus, stones and burnt clay. The paving extended over the entire width of the trench and for a maximum length of 9 ft. 6 ins. from its northern section ; the southern edge of the paving ended in an irregular line, suggesting that the cobbles had been displaced or robbed-out at some period. The cobbles were directly set into dark humus with patches of burning and charcoal flecks, and were missing in some areas. The southern 9 feet of the trench were occupied by a layer of mortar rubble which implied the existence of a wall now collapsed (Wall I). The general appearance and construction of Paving I suggests its use as a floor for a stable, barn or farmyard constructed after the collapse of Wall I (see below) of an earlier period. The finds from Layer 2 consisted of a number of animal bones, 2 sherds of a brown-glazed post-medieval bowl, 4 sherds of late medieval pottery, a fragment of glazed tile of post- medieval type, and several badly corroded pieces of iron. Layer 3 The removal of Paving I and the layer of mortar rubble at the south end of the trench revealed Paving II, lying almost immediately beneath Paving I. It consisted of a floor of small cobbles set in mortar and bounded along its north-east edge by the remains of a wall (Wall II), the south-western face only being exposed. The wall-face was constructed of shaped blocks of sandstone and its interior was filled with earth and small stones. The south-western boundary of Paving II was represented by a row of large stones running diagonally across the trench and forming not only the edging of the paving but also the northern wall of a stone-lined channel (Feature IT). The channel was defined on its south- western edge by two. large sandstone blocks and measured 1 ft. 8 ins. wide at its eastern end, 11 ins. wide beside the west section of the trench where there was a patch of burnt clay. The filling of the channel consisted of burnt earth and charcoal, EXCAVATIONS AT COLDINGHAM PRIORY 43 and this suggests that Feature II may have been some form of simple industrial hearth or oven, although no evidence of its purpose could be deduced from small finds in the area. Some 3 feet to the south of Feature II lay the fragmentary remains of a sandstone wall (Wall I). This no doubt repre- sents the southern wall of the building which was bounded on the east by Wall II and which contained the paving and hearth. The collapse of Wall I had produced the mortar rubble observed in Layer 2 (above p. 42). The finds from Layer 3 were extremely scanty, consisting entirely of fragmentary animal bones and shells. There was no dateable material. Layer 4 The lowest level in the West Trench exposed the foundation of the south wall of the refectory, Wall III. Its northern face consisted of a well-laid course of sandstone blocks lodged in a foundation trench filled with dark humus and cut into the natural subsoil of red silty clay. The southern face of the wall had been much destroyed, but the existence of a solid stone platform suggests that the outer face of the wall had been buttressed at this point. The core of the wall consisted of rubble stones with mortar, and corresponded in construction with a stretch of wall exposed during the 1966 investigations (9). Its width of just over 6 feet plus the 2 feet buttress-base supports the view that Wall III represents the southern wall of a substantial building, and is presumably the wall which corresponds to the northern Edgar’s Walls. Wall III repre- sents the earliest structure in West Trench and the pottery associated with it places it firmly in a medieval context, although it is difficult to put the date of the pottery any earlier than the 13th century. There was no floor level associated with the wall, and there was so little of the wall standing (at most two courses of stone) that it is tempting to imagine that once the refectory fell out of use Wall III was almost entirely destroyed through robbing, and that the later Pavings I and II obliterated the original floors of the building. 9 Supra footnote 5. 44 EXCAVATIONS AT COLDINGHAM PRIORY East Trench (Fig. 4) This trench was sited in the hope of establishing the southern and eastern end of the refectory. Feature I The northern end of the trench was occupied by a solid foundation of sandstone and mortar which extended across the entire width of the trench and for 11 feet from the north-west section. The structure was built in the skin-wall technique, with only one large well-shaped facing stone remaining in situ in its collapsed eastern face. A gap in the foundation at the north-west corner of the trench indicated an inner corner of the structure ; the wall at this point was faced with shaped stones, and in the corner so formed was a roughly circular posthole, 1 foot in diameter. There was evidence that the foundation had supported a stone superstructure which had later been removed ; the layers above and beside the foundation consisted of a mixture of mortar rubble and humus—a product of the destruction of the superstructure—but there was no appreciable amount of stone in the vicinity, suggesting that the superstructure had not collapsed. The finds from Layer 2, immediately above the foundation, were scanty, consisting of a few animal bones and oyster shells, 4 sherds of medieval pottery, 1 sherd of modern salt-glazed pottery, and a piece of modern glass. Layer 3 produced sherds of a heavy thick-walled pot of medieval type and some other sherds of this date, but also several modern intrusions, notably a clay pipe stem. Layer 4, the level associated with the construction of the foundation produced a single large rim sherd with a sharply cordoned neck, usually assumed to be of late medieval date. CONCLUSIONS The 1967 excavations showed that the structure at the south-east of Coldingham Priory precincts was built during the middle of the medieval period ; the pottery suggests a date of 13th or 14th century for the construction of the earliest feature produced by excavation, Wall III, possibly EXCAVATIONS AT COLDINGHAM PRIORY 45 corresponding to the phase of rebuilding after the devastation of the priory by King John (10). After an unknown length of time, but presumably at some date after the Dissolution, the refectory was re-used as farm or domestic buildings, partition walls being inserted in the interior of the building, probably to form small rooms or lean-to sheds. The final period of occupation is represented by a cobbled floor sug- gesting further domestic use, and could possibly be as late as the 19th century. The foundation in the East Trench, Feature I, appears to bear no relation to the refectory although its size suggests that it supported a building of considerable dimensions. The single sherd found beside it indicates a late medieval date (perhaps 15th century), for its construction or occupation, and this would represent a period prior to the reconstructions of the refectory as indicated by the upper layers of the West Trench. Possibly, therefore, it represents a phase of occupation while the Priory was still in use as a religious house. The slight extent of the excavations and the paucity of the finds make it impossible to dogmatize about the history of the building ; certain architectural featvres on the inner face of the north wall (Edgar’s Walls) suggest a date of foundation sometime during the 12th century (11) but no evidence for this was produced by the 1967 excavations. 10 D.4&. Easson, loc. cit. p. 49. ll RCHMS, loc. cit. p. 39. ABBREVIATIONS Hist. BNC. History of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club. Proc. BNC. Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club. RCHMS. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monu- ments of Scotland. Trans AADN. Transactions of the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland. Trans. RHS. Transactions of the Royal Historical Society. Trans. Scot. Eccl. Soc. Transactions of the ScottishEcclesiastical Society. THE TABLET ON HAUGHHEAD KIPP and HALLS OF HAUGHHEAD EK. M. MEIN, B.L. About a mile and a half from Kalemouth in Roxburghshire, on the left hand side of the road to Morebattle, a mound rises abruptly from the surrounding ground. This is Haughhead Kipp. (1) Northwards of the Kipp the land falls steeply down to the banks of the Kale Water. A little way down there is an old dovecote and on the haugh stand the ruins of the house of Haughhead. On the top of the Kipp, overshadowed by trees, there is a table stone with a stone tablet set into it. The inscription on the tablet reads : Repaired and Restored by The Lady John Scott Here Hoby Hall boldly maintained his right Gainst reef plain force armed w lawles might For tuenty pleughs harnesd in all their gear Could not his valient nobl heart mak fear But w his sword he cut the formosts soam In two hence drove both pleughs and pleughmen home 1620 1854 The tablet has an uneven, vertical break in it and the two pieces on which the verse is carved are inserted into a block of stone and set upon two uprights. It is difficult to say whether any restoration work was done on the inscription itself. The lettering is cut in a square Roman style with lapses into an occasional Italic letter and a few of the letters 1 National Grid reference. Sheet 36/72 72/26. 46 THE TABLET ON HAUGHHEAD KIPP AND 47. HALLS OF HAUGHHEAD have ligatures. The tablet measures 17 inches across, 13 inches in length on the left hand portion and 10 inches on the right- hand portion. The inscription has been quoted frequently, and rarely with accuracy, one of the earliest being in the Statistical Account of the parish of Eckford (1790). Scott quoted the lines in his Introduction to the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border where it seems to have undergone characteristic editing. Scott adds the tradition that it was a reference to a feud between Hall and the Kerrs and subsequent writers specify the Kerrs of Cessford. It hardly constitutes an objection to this guess that the Hall family was related to the Earl of Roxburgh, but, in fact, the quarrel was not with the Kerrs of Cessford. The history of the lands of Haughhead provides some light on the occasion recorded by the memorial. In June, 1588, William Scott in Hauchheid obtained a feu charter (2) to “‘ my lands of Hauchheid ”’ from Andrew Home, then Commendator of Jedburgh, at a feu of £4 Scots yearly. The Charter gives the usual rights to mills, rivers, fishing, etc. including doves and dovecots. On the same day Scott had letters of tack and assedation of the sheaves of the town (farm) and lands of Haughhead and their pertinents lying within the Barony of Eckford ‘“‘ payand thairfoir zeirlie .. . the sowme of thrie bollis beir and fyve bollis straikkit meill, gud and sufficient mercat stuff, betuix the feistis of Sanct Androis day and Candilmes allanerlie and delivering the samen within our girnell in the said Abbey as use is . . .” In 1594 Mark Scott obtained a precept of Clare Constat (3) as son of the deceased William Scott granted also by Andrew Home, Commendator of Jedburgh. Helen Scott, heiress of Mark, her father, was retoured heir in Hauchheid in the Parish of Eckford on May 23rd, 1620 (4), and about that time she married Robert Hall, probably one of the Halls of Sykes, as Robert Hall, portioner of Sikkiss was one of the witnesses to the subsequent enforcement of the Retour. 2 Chartulary of Jedburgh. 1479-1596 f89. 3 Supra £90, and Jedburgh Abbey. James Watson. 2nd Edition 1894. pp. 59, 60, 71. 4 Retours No. 105. 48 THE TABLET ON HAUGHHEAD KIPP AND HALLS OF HAUGHHEAD Sykes was near to Newbigging in Oxnam Parish. Like their neighbouring Halls of Newbigging, the Halls of Sykes were no better and no worse than the turbulent Borderers of their day. They appear in the Records of the Privy Council occasionally from 1545 onwards. Andro Hall of Sykes was required to give his bond for the keeping of the peace in February, 1571. He submitted to the Regent in 1577. In the same year Jok, his brother, went surety for him. Jok Hall was himself in trouble in 1579. In 1607 John Home, son of Home of Carolside, got a decree against a number of Halls for not flitting from certain lands so that Home could enter therein. Before Helen Scott succeeded her father in 1620 the superi- ority of the lands had passed, by an excambion in 1610, from Alexander, Earl of Home, successor to Andrew Home, to Sir John Ker of the Hirsel (5). Difficulties arose and in 1619 Sir John Ker, now “de Jedburgh ”’ obtained a Charter de Novo from the Crown (6) in which the lands of Hauchheid were included. Sir John Ker and his son John of Langnewton secured several grants of land around Eckford and Jedburgh about this time. Sir John Ker of Jedburgh, as superior, must have refused to infeft Helen Scott in Haughhead because a precept from Chancery was obtained on her behalf, dated July 28, 1620, requiring Sir John to give Sasine. Failing his so doing, John Rutherford, Burgess of Jedburgh, was made Sheriff for the purpose of the precept and was directed to give Sasine from the Crown. Sir John apparently still refused to give Sasine for John Rutherford acted and Sasine was recorded on August, 1620 (7). This is a rather late instance of the procedure to infeft a vassal when a Superior refused to do so. Robert Hall and Helen Scott jointly obtained Sasine in 1632 on a Charter (8) from Thomas, Earl of Haddington, of the lands of Haughhead, then occupied by them, and a piece 5 6 Supra, 1619 (2027). 7. Inventory of Charters, etc., belonging to the Marquis of Lothian. Part I. p. 60. 8 P.R.S. Rox. 1632. Vol. V. 81. THE TABLET ON HAUGHHEAD KIPP AND 49 HALLS OF HAUGHHEAD of land called Sandilands, then occupied by Margaret, Countess of Bothwell. The Charter was confirmed by William, Ear] of Lothian, in 1648, he having become Superior in 1642, to Robert Hall, Helen Scott his spouse in life-rent and Henry, their only son in fee (9). The date on the tablet on Haughhead Kipp is 1620, the same year in which Sir John Ker refused to infeft Helen Scott and there can be no doubt that it records an attempt by Sir John, probably acting through his son John of Langnewton to dispossess Helen Scott and her husband. It seems to have been an attempted act of Ejection, the term applied to heritable subjects when violence was used as Spuilzie was in moveables. By ploughing the land the aim was to give an appearance of legality to a plea that either the Sasine or a prescriptive right had been broken. Ploughing to break a Sasine seems to have been rare in Scotland. The more common. proceeding was to throw from the land the symbols, earth and stone, clap and happer, as the case might be, which were used in giving Sasine. A successful ploughing of the land might have had the effect of breaking a prescriptive right to the land after 40 years peaceable possession. This right was created by the law 1617 c.12 and thus would be fresh in the minds of men at that time. There is other evidence of Langnewton’s violence against the Halls. The Minutes of the Privy Council, 4th July, 1622, record a complaint by Robert Hall and Helen Scott: “ On July last (1621) complainer having gone from his own house on his lawful affairs, John Ker of Langnewton, Mr. William and James Ker, his brothers, Mr. George Fraser of the Quarrel- buss, George Haliburton in Pinackle, Thomas Crombe in Nisbett, John Broun, smith there, Stevin Bamburgh in Hauchheid, Adam Bambroche, his brother there, Robert Moffat, servitor to the said John Ker of Langnewton, Robert Wright in Cowboig, with others, came armed “ with swordis, secreittis, plait-sleives, Jedburgh stalfis, lances, long stalfis, forkis’’ and other weapons, to the complainer’s house in Haughhead, entered the house, laid violent hands on Helen 9 G.R.S. 1648. Vol. 58. 251-253. 50 THE TABLET ON HAUGHHEAD KIPP AND HALLS OF HAUGHHEAD Scott, his spouse, “ being grite with chyld,” and “‘ harlit her furth of the doore’’ and so cruelly struck her that she “ fell in a swowne and lay as a dead persone a long space.’’ They also cast out the whole plenishing and timber work, with bed clothes and other gear, and ‘“‘pudled and trod the same in the myris,’’ and the ‘‘violentlie pulled down and tirred the thack of the house and “sua expoised his poore harmles wyff and famelie and all that they haid to the injurie of the weather, it being for the tyme most tempestuous and stormie weather bothe of weitt and wind.” Robert Hall appeared for himself, and his wife, before the Privy Council. Mr. James Ker, Stevin Bambruch and Robert Moffat, also appeared, but none of the other defenders. These three were found guilty of being at the “‘ down casting ”’ of the house and for this were committed to the Tolbooth of Edinburgh. They were found not guilty of the rest of the complaint. The absent defenders were ordered to be de- nounced as rebels (10). On July 19 Andro Ker, another son of Sir John, and Mr. John Ker, sheriff and Town Clerk of Selkirk, gave caution of £100 that Stevin Bamburgh should not molest Hall or his family. Two days before the complaint by Robert Hall, Stevin Bambroch (11) in Haughhead and Isobel Rutherford his spouse, had lodged a complaint (12) that in May of 1621 John Ker of Corbet and Thomas, his brother, with twenty-one other men, of whom twelve were Kers, had broken open the doors of his house and attacked them, giving them “ ane number of baugh bla and bluidie straikis’’ breaking the ‘* kistis and the haill rest of the timber warke ”’ in the house. Apparently Stevin had recovered rapidly and vented within a month his anger upon the Halls. This attack upon his house and wife, in 1621, seems to have been the culmination of the attempts to drive the Halls out of Haughhead. 10 Privy Council Records. Vol. XIII. pp. 7, 8, 18. 11 The original form of the surname Balmer. 12 Privy Council Records. Vol. XIII, p. 2. THE TABLET ON HAUGHHEAD KIPP AND 51 HALLS OF HAUGHHEAD John Ker of Langnewton is the first named aggressor in the “ ryott ’? and no doubt he was the leader. He had a personal interest in Haughhead as the eldest son of Sir John and he was a violent man. Frequent complaints were lodged against him. For instance he was denounced a rebel for shooting “‘ in heugh rage and fury’ at John Halyburton of Muirhouselaw and his sons, and shooting John Erskine in Dryburgh ‘ throw the breiks.’’ His father was obliged to find caution for him and not to reset him. Langnewton proved too lawless for his generation, the first of more law abiding times on the Borders. The inscription on the tablet appears to have been cut at some time later than the event, possibly it was done in the time of Hoby’s only grandson, Samuel, The event would be remembered. The concourse of men, ploughs and oxen and Hoby’s bold defiance would be stamped upon the memory of everyone in the neighbourhood and it would be a year to reckon from, especially in the Hall family. Hoby left a reputation for being a God fearing man. He certainly used a wise economy of force with the ploughs. The Soam was the rope or chain by which the oxen were yoked to the plough. By cutting the ‘“‘ formosts soam in two” he would bring the team and plough to a standstill. Haughhead Kipp was an obvious choice of place for the memorial. It cannot be assumed, however, that the challenge took place in its immediate vicinity. The property was of less extent than it was subsequently, but the present ruins of a house may not be on the site of Hoby’s dwelling. The older portion of the ruin seems to have been built in 1740 if we take the tablet over the fireplace to record its erection. What was the extent of the coveted land in 1620 ? A dovecot required the possession of “ at least ten chalders (160 bolls) victual within 2 miles according to an Act of 1617, but a dovecot may have existed from before the time of Helen Scott’s grandfather or one may have been erected subsequent to 1620. Haughhead was included in the Barony of Ulston which was part of the temporality of the Abbey of Jedburgh at the Reformation, as Eckford was part of the spirituality. In the 52 THE TABLET ON HAUGHHEAD KIPP AND HALLS OF HAUGHHEAD Rent Roll of the Abbacy of Jedburgh there are two entries relating to Haughhead in 1626. “ Hall for the half of Hauch- heid worth 15 bolls payes 33sh. 4d. The Countess of Bothwell for the other half worth 15 bolls payes 13s. 4d.’ (13). The Countess of Bothwell was Margaret Douglas, widow of Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch and mother of the rescuer of Kinmont Willie. She was infeft in liferent in the lands and Barony of Eckford and other lands in Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire. She married for her second husband, Frances Stuart, Earl of Bothwell, lived at Haughhead and was buried at Eckford, aged over ninety years (14). It may be that there was kinship between Helen’s forebears and the Countess’s first husband. In the Charter of 1648 the land is described as Haughhead and a schott of land formerly etc. called Sandilands. In 1810 the land of Haughhead was stated to extend to about 100 acres, 85 acres ‘“‘ with a good-dwelling-house and offices also a dovecot well stocked with pigeons, and Kirkbank upon which has lately been built a commodious Inn and a new set of offices about 16 acres.”’ (15). Making a total of 101 acres. The extent of the half of Haughhead possessed by the Halls in 1620 was therefore about fifty acres. A husbandland in Roxburghshire extended to twenty-six acres so the land may have been measured originally as four husbandlands of which Hoby defended two in 1620. Helen Scott died in 1652. Hoby remarried and died about 1661. They lie buried in Eckford Kirkyard near the south door. On the east end of the upright of the table stone their names were legible in 1929, but twenty years later, the in- scription was to all entents and purposes illegible. Henry Hall the Covenanter, was the only son of Helen and Hoby, but he had at least three sisters. One, Margaret, married James Ker in Sprouston, and it may be that this marriage 13 Monastic Annals of Teviotdale. T. Morton, p. 62. 14 The Scotts of Buccleuch. Sir William Fraser. Vol. I, p. 161 et seq. 15 Edinburgh Evening Courant. Advert. August. 18, 1810, THE TABLET ON HAUGHHEAD KIPP AND 53 HALLS OF H AUGHHFAD constituted Henry’s kinship to the Earl of Roxburgh (16). Henry had an only son Samuel (17) and at least two daughters one of whom, Mary, married the famous Ringan Oliver of Smailcleuchfoot. Sir Walter Scott, in one of his letters, describes Haughhead as ‘‘one of the most beautiful properties I know.’ Hoby Hall seems to have had a similar mind that day in 1620. 16 History of the Sufferings of the Church in Scotland. Wodrow iii, pp. 205 /6. 17 Note on the Bluidy Banner or Haughhead Banner. E. M. Mein. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Vol. XXXI, 1946-47, pp. 134/8. There are references throughout the Proceedings of the B.N.S. to the Halls and to Haughhead. There are many errors in them. E. M. Mein. THE 1968 MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION The City of Dundee occupies a commanding position on the North Bank of the River Tay. It has a history which is perhaps second to none. There have been many historical incidents in which Dundee has played a leading part—it became a Protestant stronghold and was known as the Geneva of Scotland. The main industry for many years has been the production of textiles—also Dundee’s place in the world is well known where all classes of jute goods are manufactured. The University of today originated in Dundee College which was founded in 1881. Helped by a legacy of £135,000 provided by Dr. John Boyd Baxter and Miss Mary Ann Baxter, and also the sum of £400,000 raised by public subscription, this fine Universtiy had its beginnings. Now many fine building, and Halls of Residence have sprung up. The University standing on rising ground, surrounded by beautiful lawns and flowers, lends a unique dignity to the City. Here in these surroundings the 130th Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science was held. The inaugural ceremony took place in the Caird Hall. Preceded by the conferment of Degrees, this most interesting and colourful ceremony was witnessed by a vast audience ; Doctor of Laws was conferred first on Professor Dame Kathleen Londsale, D.B.E., F.R.S., the first woman President of the British Association. Next came the Right Honourable Lord Jackson of Burnley, F.R.8., last year’s President, followed by Sir Peter Medawer, C.B.E., F.R.S., who will be President at Exeter in 1969. Thereafter Dame Kathleen delivered her Presidential Address entitled ‘‘ Science and the Good Life.”’ She commenced by remarking “Sir Henry Dale, spoke in this hall in 1947, at the first normal meeting held since the begin- ning of the Second World War. He began by thanking your predecessor, my Lord Provost, the Local Committees ; the authorities of the University College as it then was and all 54 THE 1968 MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION 55 the citizens of this Royal Burgh, for their splendid act of generosity in inviting the Association to meet once again in Dundee, almost in continuation of the 1939 meeting which had been dissolved as a result of the outbreak of war.’? Dame Kathleen continued, ‘“‘ the City of Dundee has accomplished a great deal since then. You have a new University ; a new bridge over the Tay ; an increasing concentration of industry in the adjoining coastal areas; yet you have kept and even enhanced by skilful development of your water-front, some wonderful views of this peaceful and enchanting countryside by which you are surrounded, and you have invited us to meet here after the short interval of 21 years. She then went on to say “ it is customary for the President to give an Address, not on any specialized field of Science but of some aspect that is or ought to be, interesting to the public. Three years ago, when I arrived in Australia after a 30 hour flight from London, to preside over an International Symposium on the defects in Crystaline Solids, I was plunged at the Airport in to a Press Conference where I was asked questions which ranged from my opinion of the latest Pop Singer (of whom I had never even heard) and how to end the Vietnam War (which I wished I could answer). I therefore, (Dame Kathleen said) realise my limitations ; nevertheless I have chosen as my title Science and the Good Life—even though some of you know that I am a vegetarian and a teetotaler, may wonder what I know about the Good Life.” The President continued: “I have committed myself to a definition of the word—good—a word I find is like a red rag to a bull to some of the younger scientists. Dame Kathleen continued—‘‘ human happiness— is that the basis of the Good Life ? not altogether—one of the really frustrating things about life today is we are in an age of transition between the era of no science and that of a world— heaven forbid—entirely of scientists and our temporary dependence on the man to come and mend the roof. We are maddened by go-slow tactics on our railways or the bus that speeds past the request stop without a glance in our direction.” In the course of this most instructive, interesting and amusing address, the President said that “the modern scientific world is not, the kingdom of heaven on earth, far 56 THE 1968 MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION from it. Ihave loved my work, even after 45 years of scienti- fic research and been excited and thrilled by new facts about crystals and their properties.” She continued—“ I live in the South of England, I work at London University, every week-day I have a lovely journey through Sussex and Kent. LEHarly in the year I hear the ‘dawn chorus’ along the embankment. I see first the catkins then the celandines, primroses, forget-me-nots, violets, speedwells, hawthorn broom and wild roses.’’ Dame Kathleen went on to say “ I lived for 30 years on a road which at first was a pleasantly winding country lane, but which later became a highway to London Airport. Instead of the ‘ dawn chorus’ I heard the take-off of jet aeroplanes and the gear- changing of lorries. I attended a symposium of the Royal Society, the subject was ‘the treatment of noise” and its effect on the householder—nobody mentioned the continuous loss of sleep and the nervous tension in hundreds of thousands of homes in Britain to-day and the effect on our tempers, etc., I have now, in spite of a long daily journey to London and back, been more able to concentrate on my work than has been possible for many years.”’ Also, in the course of her address, Dame Kathleen called attention to the horrible situation prevailing to-day re the sale of deadly drugs and the resulting evils of their use. She summed up her address by saying, ‘“‘ whether our present system of School and University provides the breadth of interest and knowledge that enables a wide view to be taken, and whether a sense of responsibility is something at Univers- ity level, I do not know, but I am quite sure that the British Association itself would do well to foster, if only to provide a meeting ground for scientific specialists of all kinds. The responsible use of science will enhance the quality of life—its irresyonsible use could quench human life as we know it.”’ As usual, I endeavoured to attend as many lectures as possible in this busy and intensely interesting week. Sir Bernard Lovell, O.B.E., F.R.S., Professor of Radio Astronomy lectured to Section A on the influence of Radio Observation on the development of Astronomy. THE 1968 MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION 57 Sir Gordon Sutherland, F.R.S., Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, on the migration of scientists. He dis- cussed the magnitude of the problem. In the course of his talk, he said, ‘‘ two major conclusions can be drawn. The first is that the net loss of scientists, doubled in the six year period from 400 to 800.” He went on, “ but much more serious is the second conclusion, that in the same period we went from net annual gain of 400 engineers and technologists to a net annual loss of nearly 2,000.” Another lecture which proved most interesting was the Climate Background to the Birth of Civilisation given by H. H. Lamb of the Meteorological Office, Bracknell, Berkshire. During this Scientific Week the British Association launched a new plan, to bring young people into the organisation and stimulate their interest as to what is going on in the world at present. Sir Peter Medowar, next year’s President, at Exeter said, ‘‘ we hope if nothing else, it will do something to correct the drift of school children away from science, something which is due more than anything to ignorance of the nature and purpose of science.” Sir Peter, the President Elect, will be one of the youngest of Presidents for some years, he is 53. He is Director of the Nationa] Institute of Medical Research at Mill Hill, London, and a Nobel Prize Winner, and considered by many as one of Great Britain’s most brilliant biologists. As usual, there were a great many interesting excursions. A visit to Scone Palace was most enjoyable. The Palace is the historic seat of the Earl of Mansfield. Built on a site that has been in turn a place of ancient tribal assembly and an abbey. There is a wonderful collection of ivories in the State Dining Room, one of the Holy Family (Flemish). From the most ancient times Scone is associated through Scotland’s history with the crowning of her kings. In Scone Abbey was placed ‘ The Stone of Destiny’ and it was the custom that each King took his seat upon it at his coronation. In 1296 King Edward I of England ravaged Scone and removed the stone to Westminster Abbey. Despite its removal Scottish Coronations continued to be held at Scone, from that of King Robert the Bruce in 1306 to the crowning of King 58 THE 1968 MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION Charles II an exile from England on January Ist, 1651. Lord Mansfield is Lord Lieutenant of Perthshire and a Briga- dier of the Royal Company of Archers—Her Majesty the Queen’s Bodyguard while in Scotland. A visit to Balmoral Castle and a drive through the exquisite heather-clad grounds was most enjoyable—a privilege kindly granted by Her Majesty to the British Association, which is unusual while the Royal Family are in residence. Section X enjoyed a dinner at Seaforth Hotel, Arbroath, after seeing over a machine tool factory. Another outing was to Kindrogan Field Centre at Anochdu, some 35 miles from Dundee. Kindrogan provides a working base with comfortable accommodation, laboratories and equipment for individual naturalists, College, and University students carrying out their own special work. Also there are school pupils, mostly from England, who come to study the geology and botany of some of the most beautiful country in North Perthshire. We explored a part of the nature trail, and thereafter a much enjoyed tea was provided by the generosity of the warden, Bruce Inge, M.A., F.R.S. The usual official service took place in Dundee Parish Church—the Minister, the Rev. Hugh Douglas, C.B.E., D.D., Chaplain to the Queen in Scotland, preached a most inspiring sermon to a crowded church with the learned scientists seated in front in their colourful robes, making a most impressive picture. In the afternoon a visit to St. Andrews was enjoyed. The new botanical gardens were our objective. Numerous up-to- date glass-houses were in the course of construction—these are being equipped with every modern appliance for flower growing. We than walked through one of St. Andrew’s old- world gardens. A beautiful sunset, seen through the branches of magnificent ancient trees, with flocks of pure white pigeons flying around, made an unforgettable picture and lent an added beauty to this ancient place with all its history down through the ages. Again I was elected a member of the General Committee, and also I represent the Club on the Correspondent Society of Britain. I will travel to London on 2nd January, 1969, and THE 1968 MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION 59 attend the above Committee Meetings which are held at Birkbeck College, London University. The main object of both Committees is to prepare a programme for this year’s meeting which takes place in August at Exeter. FINDS 1967/68 During ploughing on Murton Farm, near Berwick, in 1966, a grave was broken into at 36/934491 measuring 3 ft. 10 ins. by 2 ft. 3ins. by 1 ft. ll ins. deep. The remains of two vessels found in it are said by Dr. D. J. Smith of Newcastle to be from a food vessel, and a pygmy cup of the Early Bronze Age. They have been handed over by Commander W. M. Phipps Hornby to the Museum of Antiquities in Newcastle. It is hoped that excavations at this site may reveal further remains. On 16th January, 1967, while excavating foundations for a new chapel at Longridge Towers workmen unearthed two vessels in almost perfect condition. Newcastle on Tyne University classed these as early bronze age. They have been returned to Longridge Towers. February 18th, 1968. Mr. George K. Houston intimates that he turned up a very nice top stone for a quern, when deepening a ditch on his farm at Hutton Castle Barns, the Dimensions of which are :— Diameter, 14 inches. Height 3$ inches. Conical centre hole 3 inches wide at top and 14 inches wide at its narrowest. Recessed at rim, 1 inch deep and 3 inches long to take a handle. The stone is of dense medium conglomerate. The under surface is about 50 per cent. worn flat towards the rim. 60 NATURAL HISTORY OBSERVATIONS DURING 1968 Notes compiled by A. G. Long. Geranium pusillum. Small-flowered Cranesbill and Hyoscyamus niger. Henbane ; both flowering in Horncliffe Dean, July 6. D.G. Long and A. G. Long. Aremonia agrimonoides. Roadside near White Hill, Earlston, May 12. A. G. Long. Galeobdolon lutewm. Yellow Archangel ; Cairnbank, Duns. Kstablished among trees and shrubs, June 10. E. O. Pate. Mentha X verticillata. Tweed bank below Lennel House, August 22. E. O. Pate. Senecio squalidus. Oxford Ragwort; railway siding near Chirnside, first observed in 1962, since then some plants each year but only three in 1968. ©. I. Robson. Hypericum humifusum. Trailing St. John’s Wort; railway track, Chirnside. C. I. Robson. Reseda lutea. Wild Mignonette ; on railway track, Chirnside, first seen 1962 and re-seeded each year since then. C. I. Robson. Chenopodium vulvaria. Stinking Goosefoot ; on Paper Mill tip at Chirnside. C. I. Robson. Nitella flexils. Submerged in a drain running into Kippetlaw Burn, August 22. E. O. Pate. BRYOPHYTA, all records by D. G. Long. Dicranum strictum. Grange Burn, near Shilbottle, NU 202068, September 22. Barbula spadicea. Langton Glen, NT 752531, May 20. Barbula trifaria. Whitadder, near Edrom, NT 819560 July 6. Orthodontium lineare. Langton Glen, NT 750523, May 18. Orthotrichum diaphanum. Langton Glen, NT 750523, May 18. Anomodon viticulosus. Langton Glen, NT 752531, May 20. Hygroamblystegium tenax. Langton Glen, NT 749523, May 18. Plagiothecium succulentum. Langton Glen, NT 749523, May 18. MOLLUSCA. Potamopyrgus jenkinsi. Jenkins Spire Shell; in the Whit- adder at Hutton Mill, very abundant, July 29, A. G. Long. 61 THE MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE-Part XII By A. G. LONG, D.Sc., F.R ES. FAMILY GEOMETRIDES (cont.) 368. Cabera exanthemata Scop. Common Wave. 806. 1876 1902 1927 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1960 1961 1965 Ayton Woods (S. Buglass, H.B.N.C., Vol. VIII, p. 127). Woods near water side, Lauderdale. Not so common as pusaria (A. Kelly, Lauder and Lauderdale, p 300). Common all over the district (G. Bolam, H.B.N.C., Vol. XXVI, p. 198). Gordon Moss, many, June 30 (E. C. Pelham-Clinton). Gavinton bridge, July 8. Kyles Hill, reared from larvae found on sallows, moths emerged, May 26 and 31. Reared June 4; Kyles Hill road abundant, July 22- August 3; Gavinton, July 31 Oxendean Pond, June 13 ; Gordon Moss, June 24. Gordon Moss, June 11, 14, 21 and July 18 (A.G.L. and E.C. P.-C.). Gordon Moss, at m.v. light, July 7 and 20 (A.G.L. and E.C. P.-C.). Lithtillum, July 20. Everett Moss, June 17. Lurgie Loch, July 22. Summary.—A common species among sallows and birch but not quite so abundant as pusaria. It usually starts to emerge in the first half of June and continues into late July or early August. 369. Lllopia fasciaria Linn. Barred Red. 807. 1873 1879 1880 1885 Eyemouth (W. Shaw, H.B.N.C., Vol. VII, p. 123). Ayton (S. Buglass, H.B.N.C., Vol. IX, p. 368). Gordon Moss (R. Renton, ibid., p. 295). Paxton House (G. Bolam, H.B.N.C., Vol. XV, p. 299). 62 1902 1927 1953 1954 1955 1956 1959 THE MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE 63 Fir woods, Newmills (A. Kelly, Lauder and Lauderdale), p. 299). Well distributed, fairly common but not abundant. Recorded for Coldingham (G. Bolam, H.B.N.C., Vol. XXVI, p. 206). Gordon Moss, four larvae beaten from pine, April 12 (E. C. Pelham-Clinton). Gavinton street lamps, July 31, August 6 and 11. Kyles Hill, July 24 ; Oxendean Pond, July 30. Gordon Moss, one at m.v. light, July 18 (E.C. P.-C.), Kyles Hill, Gavinton, Spottiswoode, Retreat, several July 10-31 (A.G.L.). Gordon Moss, July 18. Gavinton, one in m.v. trap, July 21. Summary.—The characteristic larva can be beaten from Pinus sylvestris in April. The moths emerge from about. the second week in July to mid-August and come to light. It occurs all over the county where Scots Pines grow but is never very abundant. 1877 1880 1902 1927 1952 1953 1954 1955 370. Campaea margaritata Linn. Light Emerald. 808. Threeburnford, common (R. Renton, H.B.N.C., Vol. VIII, p. 319). Gordon Moss (R. Renton, H.B.N.C., Vol. IX, p. 295). Addinston Policy, common (A. Kelly, Lauder and Lauderdale, p 299). Common throughout the district (G. Bolam, H.B.N.C., Vol. XXVI, p. 206). Gavinton, Lees Cleugh, Polwarth, June 28-August 12. Oxendean, Duns Castle woods, July 4-August 11. Gordon Moss, a few larvae beaten from birch, April 28, - one imago at dusk, June 27 (KE. C. Pelham-Clinton). Kyles Hill, larvae found on birch, imago hatched, July 9 (A.G.L.). Spottiswoode, Bell Wood, Gordon Moss, July 18- August 22 (A.G.L. and E.C. P.-C.). ‘Ly tt 64 THE MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE 1956 Green Wood, one, July 14 (E.C. P.-C.) ; Hirsel, June 29 ; Bell Wood, July 10; Gordon Moss, July 18 and August 10 (A.G.L.). 1960 Lithtillum, July 20 ; Gavinton, July 22 and August 20. 1961 Gavinton at m.v. light, July 30. 1964 Birgham House, July 2 (Grace A. Elliot). Summary.—A common species in wooded areas all over the county, the larvae feed on birch, beech and other deciduous trees. The moths start to emerge during the last week of June and continue through July until late August. =) Pell = sosreyg yuedq ot ge yooq enbeyy P nes ae ueyorydioy, pue Tagg ‘uATsoy 9% SorgmMyery I ae og iredoy omqorg ge sn “* TOIQBAROXW UWeYSUIp[OD I queudaoy jo spoaq uo Aynq dureyg Lo | squouleye49 Jo Suryeorjdng pur suid Ay, Aaeaqyy od Nd TE SHoog qniO 107 quey Ge “ Aqryrqery orpqnd pue syooq of souvainsuy saswidug hapung aa oe JospeT jo oseyomg i Se “++ ATOUOTVeIG pue sTIOUE}G ‘aseqysog ‘SeoTjON qni[Q jo sulqulg huauoyniy pun buywisg (oyeuIIysy [eUOSTAOIG) B9G6T ‘A104sTHT Jo Surquirg AY OALIGNAdIXA BIOSIS O10 ei 0 & 9L9S OOS € GI 09 0 8 O8P 6 IL 8élF — = a) ao eos eee 61 LV 8I L ST 0 g Vv 8 Tl 0 I¢ SI 9005 predaioao 00,7 ArqUq pue suotydiosqng “+ guomeuog qUeUBAOD Jo Sps0q me SIOIUSTA sie vee AIO4STF{ ANID JO e[vg SaLepungy one cee eee S1vo11TV bee eee ono sospeg Jo 9[8G eee aia fates soo] 90UB19UT, Ago see *** JOIUnP pus [enuUuy suoydiLosqny 896I ‘requiaydeg 449% Uo souRTeq 4IpPeID AWOONT *696T “adaWaLdas Puce ONIGNG avVaA aoa INAWALVIS " TVIONVNIA SMAdOSVAUL Carried from Genera] Account Investment Account Balance at September, 1968 Interest added ne Special Investment Dept. Interest added Shs Special] Investment Dept. Interest added ane W. O. MORRIS, Hon. Treasurer. eee eee £56 18 9 1 8 0 £193 3 3 ll 6 9 £63 0 0 18 1l BALANCE SHEET. £81 8 8 Cash in Bank Royal Bank of Scotland ... far, ase Trustee Savings Bank a 6a mee Trustee Savings Bank Special Inv. Dept. 58 6 9 ” > 204 10 0 63 18 11 £408 4 4 Audited and found correct P. G. GEGGIE, Hon. Auditor. Berwick-upon-Tweed. 3rd October, 1969. se ol. 8.8 acid 58 6 9 .. 20410 0 ove 63 18 11 £408 4 4 HISTORY BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ CLUB The Centenary Volume and Index, issued 1933, price 10/-, is invaluable as a guide to the contents of the History. Sigs " J ot . Bis» - x bee. 'y af ~ = ee SE . 1 i ae eS i oe ee es ae. a Cam 2 HISTORY OF THE BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ CLUB INSTITUTED SEPTEMBER 22, 1831 “MARE ET TELLUS, ET, QUOD TEGIT OMNIA, C@&LUM ” VOL. XXXVIII._ Part III. 1970 Price to Non-Members £1 PRINTED FOR THE CLUB BY MARTIN’S PRINTING WORKS, MAIN STREBT, SPITTAL 197] OFFICE-BEARERS Secretary W. RYLE ELLIOT. F.S.A.Scot., Birgham House, Coldstream-on-T weed. (Tel. Birgham 231). Editing Secretary Rev. J. 1. C. FINNIE, F.S.A.Scot., Manse of Eccles, Kelso, Roxburghshire. (Tel. Leitholm 240). Treasurer Ww. O. MORRIS, 2 Lyall Terrace, Upper Burnmouth, Eyemouth, Berwickshire. Librarian Miss BETTY BUGLASS, 29 Castle Drive, Berwick-upon-Tweed (Tel. Berwick 7549) HISTORY OF THE BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ CLUB CONTENTS OF VOL. XXXVII PART III. — 1970 The Postal History of Berwickshire Secretary’ Notes A Meeting to the Farnes Walter Scott at Sandy Knowe James Hogg—The Ettrick Shepherd Elsdon Church Elsdon Mote Hills Coldingham Excavations IV Coldingham Priory Excavations III Excavation at Early British Site on New Mains Farm, Whitekirk, East Lothian ‘ : B oe i, ie Heraldic Congress 1970 Obituary—Alexander A. Buist Bid “The Historical Diary” of Mr. James Watson of Duns Extracts from the Correspondence of JAmEs Harpy with JANE BARWELL-CARTER at the Anchorage, Berwick-on-Tweed The British Association for the Advancement of Science, Durham, 1970 = Natural History Observations during 1970 The Trichoptetra of Berwickshire . New Members Financial Statement Balance Sheet 175 189 191 oe 197 201 204 207 209 212 213 215 216 227 233 237 241 251 253 254 ILLUSTRATIONS © PART II.—1970 Dagger, Plate, Stone Cross and Penny found at Coldingham Proty 7-2: on ki oh aS : between Birds on the Farnes .. it Pages 212 213 191 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ CLUB THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE Address delivered to the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club at Berwick, ae Owover,” 1970, by “T.*D. Thomson, ‘C.M.G.,’ O.B.E., M.A., LILB., F.S.A.Scot., President. Rather surprisingly, the Centenary Index to the Club’s Fiistory has no entries for two of the more important factors in a rural society: pubs and posts. To remedy the first omission would be a lifework; to attempt the second is less demanding and it too presents a comparatively un- touched field. The neglect of our postal history is all the more remarkable when we consider that the Great North Road was so long the main line of communication between Scotland and England and that the important supplementary routes by Coldstream and by Lauderdale also pass through Berwickshire. For centuries before the Union of the Crowns messengers must have been carrying letters into, out of, and through Berwickshire ; for an early example we can turn to King David’s letter from Peebles, about 1135, to Edward the monk of Coldingham telling him to replenish the royal woodpile in Berwick’. South of the Border there was by Tudor times an organised system of posting routes to carry official communications between places of importance as far north as Berwick, but, at present, there does not seem to lLawrie, Early Scottish Charters, 137. WTP) 176 THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE be evidence of a similar arrangement between Edinburgh and Berwick. The posting stations were usually about fifteen miles apart, those between Newcastle and Berwick being Morpeth, Alnwick and Belford ; the whole route to London followed very much the pre-motorway line of A.1 and by-passed York. Not long after Sir Robert Carey’s three-day dash from Richmond to Holyrood with the news of Queen Elizabeth’s death—a dash which must have taken him up the Castlegate of Berwick, over Lamberton Moor from New East Farm, through Eye Water at Ayton Castle and then over Colding- ham Moor and through the defiles of the Pease—James VI and I established an official post between his two capitals. The couriers, like Carey, took three days for the journey, riding day and night. This service necessitated posting stations in Scotland and “‘ Coldbrandspeth ”’ is mentioned in this connection from the very beginning in 1603 (the other station on the Edinburgh road was Haddington). William and John Arnot of the Sparrow Castle family were in charge of it; they were bound “to keep continually in their stable or have in readiness three habill and sufficient post horses, with furniture convenient for the service of his Majestie’s packets only as well by night as by day, and two horns to sound as oft as they meet the company, or at least three times in every mile.” There may have been a trace of nepotism in this appointment, for William’s father was the Treasurer Depute of Scotland. The salary was munificent for those days ; £600 Scots or £50 sterling. However, even this cannot have gone very far to maintain the generous hospitality of Sparrow Castle as described by Taylor the Water Poet, who hitch-hiked from London to Scotland and back in 1618: “‘ We lodged at an inne, the like of which I daresay is not in any of his Majestie’s dominions ... Suppose ten, fifteen or twenty men and horses came to lodge at (this) house, the men shall have flesh, tame and wild fowle, fish, with all varieties of IRPC VI, 570, 782 cited in HBNC XVIII, App., 138. THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE 177 good cheere, good lodging and welcome, and the horses shall want neither hay nor provinder ; and at the morning at their departure the reckoning is just nothing.”* William was bankrupt by 1625. The postmastership nevertheless continued in the family for some time, for John Arnot was postmaster in 1640 when his daughter Margaret and his postboy James Foord were among those killed in that year by the explosion of the powder magazine at Dunglass. Another Arnot, James, succeeded John and died in office about 1673. James was succeeded by his widow Margaret Virtue ; she later married John Hume, who took over the job. The original posting station was beside the oldest of the Dunglass bridges and it is thought that the old sundial now adorning a wall at The Hawthorns in Cockburnspath village came from there ; it still shows the initials JH and MV—John Hume and Margaret Virtue.” However, we have got ahead of more general events. The posts of 1603 were literally “‘ The Royal Mail ” carrying only official correspondence (although no doubt a private letter slipped in occasionally). They did not become available to the general public until Charles I’s Proclama- tion of 31st July, 1635 ‘‘ For the settling of the letter-office of England and Scotland.” This commanded “ Thomas Witherings, Esquire, his Majestie’s Post-master of England for foreign parts, to settle a running post or two, to run, night and day between Edinburgh in Scotland and the City of London, to go thither and come back again in six days.” The post was to take all letters directed to post-towns and places near them; charges were to be twopence a single letter (i.e. a single sheet) up to eighty miles, rising until a letter from Edinburgh or Berwick to London cost eight- pence. The service was to begin in the first week of October that year.* 1Quoted in HBNC XVIII, App., 138. 2HBNC XXIX, 28. 8Robertson, Great Britain—Post Roads, Post Towns, Postal Rates, 1635- 1839, 3. 178 THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE On the route served this Proclamation also established that monopoly of letter-carrying which still exists; there was an exception for “common known carriers.” The circumstances of the times—Charles was ruling without a Parliament in England and Hampden and others were raising their voices about this, and in Scotland the signature of the National Covenant was not far of-—make.one wonder if the new arrangement was as entirely “for the benefit of all his Majestie’s loving subjects ” and for “ the advance- ment of all his Majestie’s subjects in their trade and-corres- pondence ”’ as the Proclamation makes out. Easy access to its subjects’ correspondence is a great convenience to any Government and as early as 1638 someone in England was writing to a Scots friend “I hear that the Posts are waylaid and all letters taken from them and brought to Secretary Cooke ; therefore will not I, nor do you, send by that way hereafter.”? When after the Restoration Patrick Grahame of Inchbrakie (Montrose’s cousin “ Black Pate”? who must have been a safe King’s man) was appointed Post- master General of Scotland his Latin grant under the Privy Seal described him as not only P.M.G. but also “ Censor of all posts.””* The benefits of such a Scorers of ote ene nce are not, however, entirely one-sided. In. the troubled times around the Glorious Revolution there was, in fact, an epidemic: of interferences with the mails. In 1689 the Committee of Estates in Edinburgh was much perturbed by the frequency with which the seals on the mail packets wete broken after leaving Berwick, apparently in the Cockburnspath area. ‘ The Postmasters of Cockburnspath and Haddington were therefore summoned to Edinburgh to explain themselves and were then ordained to seize the postboy if the seals were broken “until he gives ane accompt of the brekking up of the samin”.. Worse was to follow: in 1690 the Cockburnspath postboy, Andrew Cockburn, was held up and robbed of his mails by masked and armed men near Hedderwick, and in 1692 even the. 1Lang, Historical Summary of the Post Office in Scotland, 4, 5 THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE 179 proximity of the capital did not prevent a similar robbery at Jock’s Lodge.” At the other end of our.area, little anne to. have come to light so far about the early days of the Berwick post office. ‘The terminus: of the Tudor posting system in England presumably developed with growing traffic across the Border after 1603 but at present the office’s official opening is put at the inauguration.of the public post in 1635. There too the postmasters had their troubles and in January 1674 the then incumbent, Robert Rodhame, complained to the Scots Privy Council against his Cockburnspath colleague, Margaret Virtue, for causing an assault upon, his servant, presumably a postboy who had riled the lady. It is generally held that for a long time up to about 1813 there were two post offices in Berwick, Scots and English, but the evidence adduced so far does not seem to be conclusive ; certainly in 1809 the “ General Almanack of Scotland ” listed Berwick among the Scottish post towns. In 1820 the Berwick office was in what is now Victoria Building ie the end of the Old Bridge. Until about 1715 the Edinburgh-Berwick service was the only horse-post in Scotland, all the others being on foot. The mounted postboy cattied “a great Maile ” into which wete put as many sealed bags as there were post-towns upon the route. The Maile was then buckled. and sealed, to be opened only at the next post-town ; the postboy also carried a. haversack for letters picked up between post- towns. His mounts were a scratch lot, judging by the frequent complaints and reprimands received by post- masters—in the 1670s an unfortunate postboy had to drive his horse most of the way from Newcastle to Morpeth because it could not carry both him and his mail. _ The roads the posts travelled were, to quote the Minister of Bunkle a century later, “ bad beyond expression ””; the postboys could perhaps have supplied the expressions. 1The Scotsman, 17/3/34; article by Dr. W. E. K. Rankin. 2Old Statistical Account, III, 158. ret 180 THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE It was matter for comment by one early traveller when he found the stretch over Coldingham Moor “dry ” and statute labour was far from efficient, while the Auldcambus— Pease—Old Dunglass Bridge section must have been trying at best and terrifying at worst. It is small wonder that by 1715 it was taking the post six days to travel between Edinburgh and London—twice the time allowed in 1635. Not so far away from Berwickshire the common carrier was taking a fortnight for the seventy-six mile round trip between Edinburgh and Selkirk ; he preferred to travel in the channel of Gala Water rather than on the road.* However, there may have been some compensations, though perhaps not for the postboys. Lord Oxford, visiting Scotland in 1725, wrote that at Auldcambus there was “ Dame Sinclair’s, who has a tolerable new built brick house, but was furnished with little or no provision but what we brought along with us being forewarned of it ; she had a very good small French wine both white and red, the best that I think I tasted in all Scotland. But the best part of the entertainment it afforded was hay for the horses.””? This incidentally, is misquoted in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland as “‘ The best claret tasted in all Scotland was at Dame Sinclair’s in Auld Cammus village.”* The excellence of the hay is ignored. The first changes in James VI’s system were the removal of the posthouse from Cockbuznspath to “ Old Cambus ” in 1734 and not long after that, certainly before 1749, the opening of an office in Dunse (it may be noted that as far back as 1774 the spelling “ Duns ” was being used on a post office name-stamp), R. Grieve being the postmaster (another Grieve, James, was postmaster at Berwick in 1763 and a third, with the same initial, at Greenlaw in 1809). After 1750 Turnpike Acts began to provide better road maintenance than had been possible by statute labour, and lLang, Historical Summary, 13 ; and see PSAS XCVI, 318-347 for a very full account and examination of the Great North Road by A. Graham. 2HMC Portland, VI, 111. 3PSAS 1900-01, 498. THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE 181 the post speeded up again, It now took only three and a half days from London to Edinburgh, but five and a half in the opposite direction, apparently because of a day’s delay in Newcastle and other delays in Berwick and York. The Convention of Royal Burghs took the matter up and eventually secured a reduction of two days in the southward journey and five mails a week instead of three’. More locally, in 1768 the posthouse was moved from Auldcambus to The Press—the Packet House, which has recently been razed to the ground, and it may also be that about this time the Pease-Dunglass section of the road was eased by being moved a little inland. This would be just as well, for the first stagecoach was to reach Edinburgh from London in April, 1776, bringing the time for the journey down to two and a half days. ‘Traffic had siill, however, to cross the Pease Burn near the present ford and the tracehorses needed on the approaches were stabled in the building which still stands at Linhead. The next improvements were the building of the Pease and Tower Bridges about 1784, the institution of an Edinburgh- Berwick mailcoach in 1786 and the opening of post offices in Ayton and Eyemouth in 1793. We have been neglecting the rest of the County. Neglected it appears to have been until the Turnpike Acts and other activities in the mid-1700s, such as the building of Coldstream Bridge, led to road improvements and consequent extension of the postal system. Actually, Kelso, Jedburgh and Melrose had post offices four years before Coldstream was opened in 1772. Lauder followed in 1778 and two years later the seventh Farl of Lauderdale was memorialising the Postmasters General (there were two in those days) anent improvements in the service. By an odd coincidence, two years after this the Earl’s heir married the daughter of Antony Todd, Secretary of the Post Office, who brought with her a tocher of £80,000 ; in spite of this her husband earned the name of *“ Citizen Maitland” by becoming a friend of Marat and 1Post Office Records, Post 40. 182 THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE naming a son after Charles James Fox. With the opening in 1788 or 1789 of an office at Greenlaw the main lines ‘of postal communication in Berwickshire can be said to have been well established, that is, provided one did not live in Dunse. Writing the Old Statistical Account in the early 17908, the Reverend Dr. Bowmaker points out that formerly the Dunse postbag came by Auldcambus, then by The Press, but of late years via Berwick “ by which circuitous convey- ance our Edinburgh letters are charged fourpence instead of threepence in consequence of the distance round by Berwick ... But though the bag, for the convenience of the Post Office is now sent to Berwick and the distance by that means increased, there is no reason that we should pay more for our letters now than we should have done had they continued to be sent from The Press. Besides” (and this must have really hurt) Kelso’s létters also came by Berwick and Kelso upon application got a reduction of a quarter in the charges “ but the memorial from the town of Dunse upon the same subject was treated with sullen silence.” ' . Furthermore, there had from time immemorial been a free delivery of letters within the town but the postmaster was now demanding an extra halfpenny for delivery. A memorial had been sent to the Deputy Postmaster General in Edinburgh but no redréss had been obtained and in consequence a copy was sent to London, which only replied that “ the matter was under consideration.” Dr. Bowmaker ends magnificently: “As that is likely to be all'the answet which we are to get we have resolved to demand that justice from the laws of the land, which our fellow subjects have teceived and which these officers have refused us.?”2 I have not been able to trace these memorials, but Post Office Records kindly provided a copy of one dated July, 1793, from certain “ gentlemen of the County of Berwick residing in the Neighbourhood of Dunse and the inhabitants of the said Town” asking for a post five days a week instead of three. This memorial took three months to 10]d Statistical Account, IV, 387. THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE 183 work its way through the usual channels in Edinburgh, three days to get from Edinburgh to London and at most twenty-four hours to receive a favourable recommendation from Francis Freeling, SELES to the Post Office, to the Postmasters General. This gave Dunse what it asked for and in addition routed the mail via the new office at Ayton, so the charge may well have been reduced at the same time. The argument of the recommendation by the officials has a certain melan- choly interest nowadays. The existing revenue from the Dunse office was about £200 a year and'a runner thrice a week to and from Berwick was costing six shillings a week, say {15 a year. From Dunse to Ayton was five miles less than to Berwick and therefore a runner on that route should only cost seven and sixpence a week, say {20 a year. Therefore “the petition might be complied with and the revenue benefitted ’’ by’ increased business. About the end of the century the present A.1 route by Houndswood and Grantshouse—the New Post Road—was constructed. This does not seem to have had any im- mediate effect. on postal development and when a new office was opened at Coldingham in 1805 it worked initially via The Press. It is recorded that The Press remained open until 1812 or 1813, and thé present Cockburnspath Hotel was opened on the new road about 1816, which makes me doubtful whether the New Post Road was in fact fully operative until some years after the new bridges at Ayton and Dunglass-were completed. On the other hand it would not be surprising if The Press remained open long after there was a need for it ; the postmaster’ (who in 1809 was D. Home) would. be the ee poh as to BepOt himself out of a job. Karlston was opened in ae but there were few other changes in our postal map for nearly a generation. The same cannot be said of the postal charges, but of them more later. However, the Industrial Revolution was getting into full swing and one of its side effects was the expansion of local posts as business increased and more and more 184 THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE people left home. There had been a local Penny Post in London frorn 1680 and one in Edinburgh from 1773, but although an Act of 1764 authorised the extablishment of such a post in any city or town little use seems to have been made of this power until the early 1800s. Until then, outside the limits of the post-towns (within which delivery was supposed to be free) there had to be special arrangements for private messengers, or village messengers, or carriers actually employed by the local postmaster. Coldingham provides a useful example of such an attangement. Around 1800 there was a “Society of Coldingham and its neighbourhood subscribing for the support of a daily runner for carrying their letters to and from Press Post Office.” This service was costing £3 18s. a year in 1804; it carried all Coldingham mail, not merely that of the subscribers. The mails were handled, not surprisingly, by the celebrated “ Bailie” John Hamilton, Schoolmaster and Pooh-Bah of Coldingham, who became Postmaster, at the annual salary of £4, when the office was opened in 1805. Under the Penny Post system a penny was charged for the carriage of a letter to or from the post-town, in addition to the charge for the main journey. However, there seems to have been no particular limit to the mileage this penny would cover: the Edinburgh Penny Post eventually operated to Penicuik and the Glasgow one to Balfron, which is about twenty-five miles. The system appeared in Berwickshire in the 1820s, when offices were opened at Chirnside, Swinton, Leitholm, Horndean (all 182 5/26-, Hutton and Paxton (both 1829/30) and finally Ladykirk 1832/33). Berwick operated to Hutton, Ladykirk and Paxton, as well as to Norham. Ayton operated to Chirn- side, and Coldstream to Hutton, Ladykirk, Leitholm, Swinton and Horndean as well as to Etal and Ford. Leitholm had also a connection with Kelso, and Earlston with Melrose. Dunse operated to Chirnside and Leitholm but apparently covered the Westruther area as well, judging by a letter in my possession sent from England to THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE 185 Spottiswoode which had passed through the Dunse Penny Post in spite of being addressed to Greenlaw. In 1839 Cockburnspath, after a century of dependence first on Auldcambus and then on Dunbar and an unsuccess- ful application in 1794, achieved an office of its own again, and Berwickshire by then had a fairly complete skeleton of postal routes, except for the hill villages. Uniform postage rates and the railways were coming and the articles for the new Statistical Account had recently been written, so this is a convenient point at which to take stock. We then had sixteen offices in the County (today there are thirty-six) and most of these enjoyed a post on every weekday, travelling on very fair roads ; the new line of the Edinburgh-Newcastle road via Lauderdale had recently been completed. Three coaches daily were changing horses at Cockburnspath Inn, one being the London-Thurso mail which dropped and took up bags at Ayton. Cold- ingham had a daily connection by runner with Ayton via KEyemouth. Coldstream enjoyed the daily service of the Edinburgh-London mail curricle and daily connections with all neighbouring towns. Dunse had a post twice a day to London and once to Edinburgh. Earlston had the daily Edinburgh-Kelso coach in both directions. Leitholm had good connections by three different Penny Posts to main centres. The Minister of Greenlaw remarked that ‘“ communi- cation by the curricle mail is uncommonly rapid”; so it was : forty hours to London and three and a half to Edin- burgh. Hutton and Paxton had a daily runner to and from Berwick, as had Ladykirk to Coldstream. Lauder had the daily Edinburgh-London curricle. Nenthorn’s post town was Kelso but a private post delivered letters daily for a penny and newspapers free (was he employed by a Kelso newsagent ?). Westruther had a private courier to Lauder, but only when Spottiswoode was occupied.’ 1840 saw the establishment of the General Penny Post, with its uniform charges for postage throughout the INew Statistical Account, Berwickshire. 186 THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE United Kingdom, depending only on weight, and the introduction of adhesive postage stamps. The railways arrived in Berwickshire a few years later. Locally, such developments brought the opening of a further fifteen post offices in the next twenty years; by 1859 all the modern offices had been opened save Eccles (1871), Dryburgh, Longformacus and Hume (1881), St. Abbs—originally Coldinghamshore (1882), Nenthorn (1884), Abbey St. Bathans (1888) and Marchmont (1897). Nationally, the same twenty years saw the number of letters delivered in the United Kingdom rise from 76m. in 1839 to 545m. in 1859 (and in 1969 873m. letters and parcels were handled in Scotland alone). After 1840 there is still a great deal to be learned of the routings and re-routings of our mails, through the full flower, of the railway age and then in its decline. One development which can'be briefly mentioned now was the introduction on 2nd February, 1891, of the Railway Letter Service, which enabled one to hand a letter to the guard of a train for posting further along the line ; for this service the railway company was allowed to charge a fee, denoted by its own stamps, in addition to the ordinary postage. In these days Berwickshire actually had railway stations and the service must have been very useful to those who missed the ordinary post, especially newspaper correspondents. For the present I must’leave the story of the development of our posts at this point, but it would be even more incomplete without some reference to the postal charges of the two centuries with which I have mainly dealt so far. From 1635 to 1839 these charges depended on both the weight of the letter and the distance it had to travel, and they were usually paid by the recipient. ' In the eighteenth century a single sheet letter from Berwick to Edinburgh might cost twopence or latterly fourpence ; from London to Edinburgh it would be sixpence. :« The Napoleonic Wars brought several increases over a few years, so that by 1812 the letter from Berwick cost eightpence and that from London 1/1d. An ounce letter on the latter journey cost THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE 187 1/1d in 1635 and 4/4d in 1812, and I have seen a two-ounce letter from New York via Bristol to Edinburgh which in 1839 cost the recipient 14/14d. That odd halfpenny calls for explanation. Up to ray mail-carrying vehicles were exempt from tolls on turnpike roads. In 1813 it was enacted that such vehicles, if they had more than two wheels, should pay tolls in Scotland and that to help to meet these the Post Office might charge an extra halfpenny for letters to and in that country. - Author- ity was eventually brought to see that letters to Coldstream and Kelso from England could justly be exempted, but as usual this took time—and would of course be ground for further complaints from Dunse. These high charges, which persisted until the end of 1839, must have been a great hardship to the general public and have discouraged correspondence unless, like many people, one resorted to subterfuge. Guards and drivers of coaches and crews of coasting vessels sometimes made a regular business of carrying letters illegally, and letters also found their way into pesca of merchandise and college students’ food boxes. A slightly more respectable way of avoiding postal charges resulted from a ruling in Cromwell’s day, in 1652, that correspondence to and from Members of both Houses of Parliament might pass free through the post, a privilege which lasted, though with later restrictions, for nearly two centuries. Outgoing letters had to be signed on the outside by the privileged sender, who before long found that the giving away of “ franks ” was an inexpensive way of making friends and influencing people. Franks were in universal demand ; without them it is doubtful if people like our own David Hume would have been such voluminous corres- pendents. Even during his last visit to Bath, shortly before his death, when his financial circumstances and those of his friends are likely to have been comfortable (to say the least) he was writing to Crawford, then Member for Roxburghshire, saying ‘“‘ Pray, send me two or three franks ; 188 THE POSTAL HISTORY OF BERWICKSHIRE all the Members have left this place.”’ Franking and its attendant fiddles ceased with the introduction of Uniform Penny Postage, and by January, 1840, Queen Victoria was setting a good example to Lords, Commons and the general public by paying the postage on her own letters. This sketch has had to be confined largely to the develop- ment of the posts in the eastern part of Berwickshire, mainly because the Great North Road was the first trunk route and partly because that lies on my own doorstep. The study of the other routes promises to be equally full of interest, and I hope to present this in some later number of our History, as well as to bring down to the present the development and retraction of the postal service throughout the County. As a final thought in these days when a “* sweetie-shop post office”’ is regarded as degrading to a community which has enjoyed a Crown office, it may be worth recalling that the first Postmaster of Edinburgh after the Restoration was the King’s Confectioner and Comfit Maker.” It remains to say how grateful I am to many people: to Dr. Carrick for the photographs which have illustrated this paper, to the friends, Naturalists and others, without whose generous help it could not have been written, to the staffs of the Berwickshire County Library and the Post Office Records Department and, as ever, to my wife for comment, patience and urging to completion. 1Greig, Letters of David Hume, II, 327. 2Lang, 5 (note). SECRETARY’S NOTES As the Hon. Secretary of one of the oldest Antiquarian Societies in the Country, I do hope that the Berwickshire Naturalist’s Club will resist the blandishments of reforms and innovations. History and Archaeological Clubs and Societies have, within the last two decades, sprung up like mushrooms. Enthusiasm has been engendered through the popular (if perhaps doubtful) media of television and newspapers. In a world of advice as ours, what to do and what not to do, theories and contradictions ate propounded until all is lost in a mist of what is now called modern efficiency and method. Let the Berwickshire Natural- ist’s Club be something solid and unchanging, something above pressures from the world. Let us keep to its solid traditions and the dignity it has possessed since 1831. I feel it a great pity that people still resign because they are ““unable to attend the meetings”. The ‘History’ is perhaps one of the most important parts of the Club, and is an internationally known publication. Like all publications it is not always able to interest everyone all the time, but it is indispensable to every lover of the Borders. The last season was again successful in every way. Yarrow Kirk The May Meeting was held at Yarrow Kirk where the minister the Rev. G. M. Thomson, M.A. gave its history, and, afterwards Mrs. Ludovic Kennedy paid a tribute to William Wordsworth, whose bi-centenary it is, and we will always remember her reading of the Ballad ‘Willie’s Drowned in Yarrow’. Traquair House In the afternoon Traquair House was visited when the’ Club was welcomed by Colonel and Mrs. Maxwell-Stuart. Hulme, Alnwick The June Meeting was held in brilliant weather at Hulme, Alnwick, the first of the Carmelite foundations in the North. The Secretary spoke, and afterwards a Pic-Nic luncheon was taken before proceeding to Alnwick Castle, a visit which was thoroughly enjoyed. 189 190 SECRETARY’S NOTES Newton Don and Farne Islands Two extra Meetings were held—a Botanical visit to Newton Don organised by Dr. Long, and a wild life sail to the Farne Islands organised by Miss Buglass. Smailholm Tower In July a visit was paid to Smailholm Tower where an address was given by the Rev. J. I. C. Finnie. Later the Club was received at Abbotsford by Mrs. Constable-Maxwell-Scott, and the Club enjoyed many privileges not often accorded to the general public. Elsdon . The September Meeting was completely organised by Captain R. H. Walton of Wilkinson Park, and visits were made to the Mote Hills at Elsdon and to the Elsdon Church and Pele Tower. Seton Collegiate Church was visited in August when Dr. Stephen Van Dyk spoke of the Early Cistercian Order in Scotland and of Collegiate Churches of the period. Earlier in the day a visit had been paid to the Myreton Motor Museum, and later the Club had tea in Haddington. A.G.M. The A.G.M. was well attended when the President, T. D. Thomson, Esq., C.M.G., 0.B.E., M.A., LL.B., F.S.A.SCOT. delivered an address on “The Postal History of Berwickshire’. The Club has lost several members whose deaths are much regretted and whose presence at the Meetings will be missed. Among them was Lady Biddulph of The Pavilion who was nearly the oldest subscribing member. We extend our sympathy to Mrs. Buist of Kirkbank and to Captain Walton of Wilkinson Park. . Alexander A. Buist, M.a., w.s. was for many years the Editor of the Club’s ‘History’. A separate obituary notice is published. Mrs. Walton’s death leaves a blank in many of our lives. Of great personal vivacity and charm she endeared herself to many members of the Club. Reticent and disarming she shared Captain Walton’s historical and archaeological interests, and was herself a geologist of no little knowledge. She helped the Club in many unknown ways. The Secretary wishes to thank the Council and all the members of the Club for their continued support and unfailing kindness to him. \ Ww 4 Puffins Arctic Tern A MEETING AT THE FARNES ELIZABETH BUGLASS On Saturday, 2nd July two boatloads of members together with a very few visitors went out to the Farne Islands. The first boat got away in good time but those of us in the second were not so fortunate as we had to wait for Mr. Shiel coming with stores for the people staying on the Islands for bird ringing. At the end of an hour the Librarian was trying to quell open mutiny and having a good idea of how Captain Bligh must have felt!. However Mr. Shiel appeared and we were soon on our way on a fairly calm sea and in good weather which stayed with us all day. We went out to see the seals and then to an inlet near the Pinnacles which rise forty feet out of the sea just off the south west corner of Stapel Island. From our somewhat lowly position they looked tremendous. The sides of these huge rocks are broken up into ledges which are used by the birds as Nesting sites. A landing was made on Stapel Island which is the only one of the outer group on which visitors are allowed. The birds which we saw here were:— (a) Puffins with their delightfully coloured beaks which are used for digging into the soil to make nesting burrows. The beak loses its gay colours in the winter, which the birds spend a short distance from their breeding grounds. (b) Kittiwakes which only come to land for the breeding season. It is the only one of the gulls which bothers to build a proper cup-shaped nest which is fastened on to cliff and other ledges by mud. The young stay in the nest until they are more than six weeks old then they fly straight away. It is from its call kittee-wayke that the bird gets its name. (c) Guillemots which come near to the nesting cliffs late in January when they begin “dancing” ceremonies on the water. They also take part in display flights many hundreds strong. 191 192 A MEETING TO THE FARNES They make no nest and the female lays one egg on the bare rock. This egg is pear-shaped and thus will not roll away. The birds leave about August and spend the winter at sea. (d) Shags have bred on the Farnes since the early thirties. These birds have black plumage with a greenish tinge. During the breeding season they have a crest on the crown of their heads. (e) Cormorants. These large black birds which are related to the shags are the only web-footed birds which do not have water-proofing in their feathers, and when they come to land they stand with wings outstretched. They can very often be seen on the Tweed at Berwick diving for fish of which they eat their own weight every day. (f) Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. These last are too familiar to need description. After two hours on Stapel Island we embarked and sailed to the Inner Farne which is now the home of the Terns, and it is a rash person who braves the dive-bombing of these birds without some sort of head covering. They even make a noise like a machine gun. One is usually so intent on dodging the birds to worry about the particular variety. However on the Inner Farne one can see the Common, the Arctic and the Roseate Tern. The only way to distinguish between the Common and the Arctic Tern is to remember that the beak of the Common Tern is red with a black patch at the end, while the Arctic Tern’s beak is red all over. The Inner Farne has a long ecclesiastical history starting with St. Aidan who was first Bishop of Lindisfarne (635-652 AD). Then came St. Cuthbert who started life as a shepherd boy on the Border hills. He became a monk at Melrose, then Guest-Master at Ripon, and rose to be Prior at Lindisfarne where he was noted for his holiness, self-denial and his efforts to convert the wild, still pagan Northumbrians. In 676 he retreated to the Inner Farne to live quite alone. Near the shore he built a small cell. Its walls were low and circular being made of unhewn stone and turf. He excavated the inside to such a depth that when he was praying he could see nothing but sky and so there would be no distractions to take his mind from God. This cell or Oratory was divided into two parts, one of which he used as a chapel and the other as a place to sleep. A MEETING TO THE FARNES 193 St. Cuthbert lived here for nine years, growing barley and such other food as he needed. Visitors who came to him for advice stayed in a small hut which he built for them. In 684 he became, after much persuasion, Bishop of Lindis- farne, but two years later went back to the Farne where he died a few months later as a result of his self-imposed austerities. Then followed a long succession of hermit monks, but it was not until the twelfth century that another notable came to the Farne Oratory. This was Bartholomew who was a well known figure of his time in the North of England. _ After a wild youth in Whitby he went over to Norway where he began to “‘see visions” which made him mend his ways. He returned to England and became a monk at Durham where St. Cuthbert appeared to him and sent him to the Oratory on Farne. Here he lived for forty years. At first he “indulged” himself with fish but later turned to a diet of bread and roots, he even denied himself water. It was said that the devil appeared to him in many guises. However we may consider it likely that these apparitions were hallucinations induced by extreme hunger. The last hermit on the Inner Farne was Thomas de Melsonby Prior of Durham, whom his monks had elected Bishop against the will of Henry II. Fearing Henry’s revenge he resigned his See and fled to the Farne where he spent the last two years of his life in the usual fasting and devotion. Shortly after this the Convent of Durham established a monastic house which was known as the House of Farne and which existed down to the Reformation. It was during this time that the chapel and the tower were built. The monks grew crops and grazed sheep, but also received supplies from the neighbouring noblemen in Northumberland. WALTER SCOTT AT SANDY KNOWE One might ask, how did Scott come to be at Sandy Knowe at all? The answer is that Walter Scott’s great grandfather, who was Walter Scott of Teviotdale, nicknamed ‘Beardie’ because he wore a long beard, having refused to cut his beard as long as the Stuart dynasty was in exile. Beardie took up arms and intrigued in their cause and lost his possessions and was nearly hanged but for the kindly intervention of Anne, Duchess of Buccleuch and Monmouth. Beardie gave up fighting and instead followed the more peaceful pursuit of managing the estate of Mackerstoun, being | related to that family through his mother Barbara MacDougal. Beardie had another useful relative in his great-great-grand- father, who was Walter Scott—Auld Watt of Harden, and the aid of his successors was called in when Beardie’s second son, Robert Scott, went to sea, was shipwrecked near Dundee on his first voyage, took a dislike to the sea, and refused to go back. His relative Scott of Harden gave him a lease of Sandy Knowe. He took for a shepherd an old man Hogg, who, because of his regard for the family, lent him all his savings of £30 to stock the new farm. Scott and Hogg went to avooler to buy some sheep. The old shepherd examined all the flocks till he found one that he thought was suitable, and went to fetch Scott to buy it. What was his surprise to see Scott riding a hunter which he had bought with the £30 lent him by Hogg. However Scott rode the horse to hounds at Harden with such skill that he was able to sell the horse for double the price, and, the farm was stocked. Robert Scott of Sandy Knowe married in 1728, Barbara Haliburton, a member of a Berwickshire family who, among 194 WALTER SCOTT AT SANDY KNOWE 195 their possessions, owned the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey. This they sold but retained the right of burial. Walter Scott (father of Sir Walter) was born in 1729, became a Writer to the Signet, and in 1758 married Anne Rutherford, eldest daughter of Dr. John Rutherford, professor of medicine in Edinburgh University, and of this union Sir Walter was born on 15th August, 1771, in Edinburgh. He was a healthy baby until at 18 months he suffered from what was called a fever, probably infantile para- lysis, and lost the power of his right leg. On the advice of his maternal grandfather he was sent down to his other grandfather at Sandy Knowe for fresh air and good country fare. A maid who was sent with him from Edinburgh, afterwards told how she took such a dislike to the ailing child that she carried him up to the Craigs intending to cut his throat with her scissors and to bury his body in the moss. Others were more considerate of the ailing child, and Scott tells us that when he was about 3 years old, he remembers being wrapped in the skin of a sheep, warm as it was flayed from the carcass. This was done whenever a sheep was killed for the use of the household. On this particular occasion there were two old gentlemen kneeling before the young child on the floor. One was his grandfather, Robert Scott, the other was General Sir George MacDougal of Makerstoun. Sir George was dressed in a small cocked hat, deeply laced, an embroidered scarlet waistcoat, and a light coloured coat, with his white hair tied in a military fashion, and was kneeling on the ground and dragging his watch along the carpet to induce the child to crawl after it. Whether it was the desire to catch up with the old General’s watch, or the result of being wrapped in those sheepskins, but more probably the fresh air and good food of Sandy Knowe, by his eighth year, when he left Sandy Knowe for Edinburgh, young Walter was able to stand and walk and run. Whatever may have been wrong with his leg, there was nothing wrong with his lungs, for he tells us that his aunt Miss Janet Scott, used to read books to him until he could repeat long passages by heart. When the parish minister was visiting the farm Scott used to shout out one of the ballads, much to the annoyance of the minister, who said: “One may as well speak in the mouth of a cannon as where that child is’. 196 WALTER SCOTT AT SANDY KNOWE This same Aunt Janet accompanied young Walter when he was sent to Bath for a year, for the benefit of his health. They travelled by sea to London, on their way to Bath, and Scott relates that when he visited London again 25 years later, he found that his recollection of the Tower and Westminster Abbey was very accurate. The years spent at Sandy Knowe were valuable years, for it was during those years that the foundations of his literary work were laid, and his interest in the story of the Borders first aroused. His grandmother, born and bred in the Borders, knew many tales of the Border chiefs and their warlike excursions. Many a tale of Watt of Harden, Wight Willie of Aikwood, Jamie Telfer of the fair Dodhead and many others. His family had in the past been involved in the cause of the Stewarts, and there was an uncle by marriage a’ Mr. Curle, farmer of Yetbyre, who had been present at the execution of the Jacobites in Carlisle, and last but not least, there was the old shepherd, who, on fine days would carry the young child out and lay him on the ground, round which his sheep were grazing, and would make the hours fly with many a tale of the past, of all these we may be sure the boy Walter Scott heard with ever increasing enthusiasm. JAMES HOGG—THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD James Hogg, ‘“‘The Ettrick Shepherd”, has been called “‘the only true successor of Burns”, although others would say that “Hogg could not succeed Burns, who was in intellectual power as well as in mastery of song, far above him”’. In fact Burns had an influence upon Hogg and inspired him to write songs. Hogg said: ““The first time I ever heard of Burns was in 1797, the year after he died. One day during that summer a half-daft man, named John Scott, came to me on the hill, and, to amuse me, repeated ““Tam O” Shanter”. I was delighted. I was more than delighted. I cannot describe my feelings; but in short, before Jock Scott left me, I could recite the poem from beginning to end, and it has been my favourite poem ever since. ““He told me that it was made by one Robert Burns, but that he was now dead, and his place would never be supplied. He told me all about him; how he was born on 25th January, bred a ploughman, how many beautiful songs and poems he had composed, and that he had died last harvest on 21st of August. Every day I pondered on the genius of Burns. I too was born on 25th of January, and I have much more time to tead and compose than any ploughman could have, and can sing more old songs than ever any ploughman could in the world. I wept because I could not write. However I resolved to be a poet and to follow in the steps of Burns. . .” Unkind critics have suggested that it was his admiration for Burns, and his ambition to be his successor, which induced Hogg to say that he was born on 25th January, 1772, whereas the parish registers gave his baptism as on 9th December, 1770. Hogg certainly was careless about dates, for in later life we find him giving one of his children two separate birthdays. We can surely forgive Hogg this little foible when we re- member that it was Burns who so inspired this man of nearly 30, who could neither read nor write, except with the utmost difficulty, to write etal and prose which give pleasure to many to this day. 197 198 JAMES HOGG—THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD He tells us that having no proper ink horn, he used a little glass bottle with a cork tied with string. This little bottle, with a pen and some pieces of paper, he had stitched together himself to make a book, were his writing materials. So laborious was the task of writing that he had to remove coat and waistcoat before beginning, and he could only write five or six lines at a time, before he had to stop because of cramp in his hand. He used to sit down on the rocks after he had attended his sheep and settle down to his labour of writing. As he never rewrote a word he went over and over in his mind every word that he was going to use until he was word perfect. His schooldays had been few—only the winter months of two winters—for as a boy of 6 he was sent to herd a few cows for a half year’s wage of a ewe lamb and a pair of new shoes. At 14 he had saved £5—-which he used to purchase a violin, and all his spare hours were now devoted to music. This love of music is to be found in his poems, especially ‘Kilmeny’, where the very language is musical quite apart from its poetical merits. Hogg was fortunate in his mother, whose memory was a storehouse of old ballads, which she continually related to her children. Sir Walter Scott visited her in her home, in order to take down from her recitation, some of the almost extinct ballads afterwards published by him. These stories, legends, and fairy tales, were to appear in Hogg’s poems, such as his most famous poem, “The Queen’s Wake’, which he published when he was 43. The Queen’s Wake established his reputation. It consists of a collection of tales and ballads, supposed to be sung to Mary Queen of Scots by the native bards of Scotland, assembled at a royal wake at Holyrood, in order that the Queen might learn something of Scottish song. ““Each Caledonian bard must seek Her courtly halls on Christmas week, That there the royal wake may be - Cheered by their thrilling minstrel say, No ribaldry the Queen must hear, No song unmeet for maiden’s ear, Nor jest nor adulation bland, But legends of our native land.” The Ettrick Shepherd was no dreamer, dreaming away his master’s time. That he was a shepherd, and a good one, is JAMES HOGG—THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD 199 shown by the fact that he spent ten years in the service of the same employer. Furthermore, he knew enough about sheep to publish an essay on sheep, which brought him in far more money than his other writings. Hogg was also fortunate in his employers, for when they found out that he was eager to learn to read, they lent him books and newspapers, and encouraged him in every way. The versatility of his muse is seen in ‘The Poetic Mirror’, a collection of poems in imitation of the style of Wordsworth, Byron, Scott, Coleridge and others. Hogg intended to publish a collection of poems by these poets, all of whom were invited to send poems for inclusion in the proposed book. Some did not bother to answer, while others sent such poor poems that Hogg felt that the book was bound to be a failure, so he decided to turn the whole thing into a kind of humerous reprimand of their bad manners. Hogg wrote the poems himself, and in each case imitated the style of the supposed author, including even an imitation of himself. After he had published a collection of Scottish ballads under the title of “The Mountain Bard’, he was invited by Scott to visit him in Castle Street, Edinburgh. Hogg arrived straight from the cattle market where he had been doing business. Not being very sure how to behave in a drawing-room, he determined to watch what others did, and to follow their example accord- ingly, when he saw Mrs. Scott, who was an invalid, reclining on a sofa Hogg threw himself down upon another sofa opposite, to the great dismay of Mrs. Scott who saw her fine chintz soiled and crushed. During dinner he delighted the admirers of The Mountain Bard, who had been invited to meet him with his pithy and original conversation. But as the evening progressed, and the wine circulated, he forgot his good manners and called his host, Mr. Scott, Sherra, Scott, Walter Wattie, and ended up by referring to Mrs. Scott as ‘Charlotte’. While in Edinburgh he attended a debating society, at which he was a frequent speaker and a great favourite with his audiences who laughed, wondered at and admired him for his original ideas, of which there seemed to be no lack. Hogg was the most unfortunate of men. When his writings brought him in some money he tried farming but always it was a failure, and he lost his money. It was the same with the publication of his books. He visited London in 1832 to arrange 200 JAMES HOGG—THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD publication of a selection of his prose writings called “‘Altrive Tales’’.. Altrive Lake was the only farm he was able to keep, because he received it rent free from the Duke of Buccleuch. But the book named after the farm was not so fortunate, for as soon as the first volume was published the publisher went bankrupt. Another book called ‘Montrose Tales’, given to the same publisher for some unknown reason, had a similar fate, for again the publisher went bankrupt. Again Hogg tried a weekly newspaper called “Spy”. It was largely written by himself, and his outspoken language soon annoyed his readers, and before a year the paper ceased publication. The Queen’s Wake which contains the well remembered poem ‘Kilmeny’, appears to have been the only publication which brought some relief to his poverty. As a poet, he ranks among the greatest that came from our native soil, and as a man, he arouses our admiration, for poverty could never embitter him, misfortune could never make him despair, he was always elated with cheerfulness and hope, and ready for new adventures. ELSDON CHURCH By Rev. WILLIAM TELFER First of all, let me say, what a pleasure it is to welcome you here to Elsdon Church, this morning. It is not often that I have to speak to so large a company in this church. Well, there has been a church here for at least a thousand years, and possibly longer. The oldest part, a small Saxon window in the north-west corner of the building—you will see it when you look around. Then, built into the west wall, two round pillars which are Norman. This might indicate that the wall may have been further back, at one time, than it is now. The main building, however, was built about 1400, the pillars in the nave being obviously different. The Church is dedicated to St. Cuthbert whose body is said to have rested here for a short time in 875 during its last journey with the monks from Lindisfarne. There is a Cuthbert Cross outside the porch of the main door—just under the eaves—but this is a modern piece. You will notice the thickness of the walls—look at the window sill on the south side of the nave. The thing is that it was a fortified church. “Half house of God; half castle ’gainst the Scots.” Sir Walter’s words are true of this building. In the days of the Border raids it was a fortress; the women and children were crowded into the church and locked in, while the men did the fighting or raiding outside—which was their prin- cipal occupation. High up on the pillar nearest the porch are some deep scratches which were supposed to have been made by the bowmen sharpening their arrows before leaving the church. Other marks on the pillars near the door were where the warlike villagers whetted the edge of their swords. They, no doubt, had stones at home where they could have done this, but they thought that consecrated stone would be specially effective for their purpose. In the North Transept there are a number of memorial monumental slabs, one bearing the Umfra- ville arms, others the arms of local families. Most interesting is an old Roman monumental tablet, brought from Bremenium 201 202 ELSDON CHURCH (Rochester, a village up Redesdale) in 1809. The inscription is much defaced and has been translated: ‘‘Julia Lucilla saw that this stone was erected to her very meritorious husband, who was an inspector under the surveyor of public works. He lived 47 years, 6 months, 25 days”. The south transept was restored as the Hedley Chapel not many years ago—the Hedleys are a numerous clan who have lived in these parts from the Conquest. Built into the wall is a piscina—a small trough for cleansing the vessels after Mass, the water running away through a narrow stone pipe directly into the earth. Two incised slabs are also built into the wall. In the chancel are more memorial tablets—one to the family of Reed of Troughend—a family going back 900 years here- abouts; and one to the Halls of Whitelee (the last house in England before you get to Carter Bar) on which there are the emblems of mortality—a skull (upside down) cross bones and hourglass. On the south wall there is a sedilia—a stone seat for three (not very comfortable). Here the priest, deacon and sub-deacon sat during sermon time at the Mass. We are particularly proud of the East Window—of plain pase gone of the finest examples of Northumbrian leading. I ope that no one will ever suggest that it might be a stained- glass window; all the colour is provided by the changing seasons outside. It’s marvellous to look out when the hills are covered with snow. Incidentally, in the restoration of the cathedral at Iona, the east window is of plain glass, which gives a view of breathtaking beauty over the sea to the Island of Mull. The choir stalls were originally in Newcastle Cathedral and acquired by an enterprising former rector; they are quite lovely. The same cannot be said of the pulpit which came from a church in County Durham. Notice the carved lectern and carving in the sanctuary, the work of a local shepherd who died this year at 92. As a youth he was taught woodcarving by a local schoolmaster and this is some of his work, which makes it an additional joy to have it in the church. There is a board recording the names of the Rectors of Elsdon for about 750 years in the north transept. It ends with the name of the last resident incumbent in 1961—there is no room left on the board for my name. It includes the Revd. Charles Dodgson, afterwards Bishop of Ossory, and grandfather of Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland. ELSDON CHURCH 203 The Revd. Louis Dutens, a French Huguenot, was Rector from 1765 till 1812. He was a diplomat and scholar and F.R.S. He built the church and tiny school (which was in use until 1932) at Byrness, the last village in England before Carter Bar. He was not able to speak English very well, so the people stayed away from church until he invited some of the farmers to dinner and told them, ““You say you no understand when I preach, but you comprehend clear enough when I ask you to dine.” You must see the horses skulls in a glass case at the back of the church. These were found during some restorations in 1877, in the belfry. Various theories have been offered for them. Some ancient pagan survival connected with the venera- tion of the horse as a sacred animal, or some method of improve- ment of the acoustics. With regard to the former, visitors’ comments in the Visitors Book are often amusing. A few weeks ago some one signed his name and then commented: “Why these horses heads? Has the Church gone back to witchcraft?” (Perhaps he thought we carried them round in procession on the Greater Festivals. With regard to the latter, at the end of last year one of the leading manufacturers of modern hearing-aids wrote me to say that they were staging an exhibition of hearing devices throughout the ages (trumpets etc.) and they had heard about the Elsdon skulls and could they have information about their use to aid acoustics, I told them what I have told you and they got a mention at the trade exhibition. ([ may add that the present Rector has a loud voice and no artificial aid is required.) Do look round and feel free to ask me any questions. There are some interesting tombstones in the churchyard and also some stone coffins. I hope that you will enjoy the remainder of your visit today at the Tower and the Moat hills. ELSDON MOTE HILLS By R. H. WALTON This motte and bailey earthwork was once thought to be pre- historic, Roman and, in fact, everything but what it was. It is, of course, a typical fortified site of the period of the Norman occupation of England, following the battle of Hastings in 1066. Erected at first as a military strong point from which to conduct local pacification operations, the motte and bailey became the residence of the lord’s deputy commander, as soon as the work of pacification was completed. Although verification is far from complete, tradition has always asserted that Redesdale was granted by the Conqueror to Robert de Umfraville (“Robert with the beard’), one of his most trusted followers, on condition of keeping it free from “thieves and wolves”’. This is a very common form of grant at the time of the Conquest and conveniently covered all eventualities. William’s followers, either Norman or Fleming and of direct descent from Vikings, were admirably suited to the task of subjecting the Anglo-Saxon and Danish inhabitants of England, especially if they were given a free hand. Some lands were, of course, acquired padechallys perhaps by arrangement with the native owner or by marriage to a daughter, the latter event coinciding with the retirement of the parent. Other wise, no doubt, stronger measures had to be taken, typified by the motte and bailey which we see now at Elsdon. After all, the ‘‘thieves”’ referred to in the grant simply meant all of the local inhabitants who remained uncooperative after the take-over, whilst the ““Wolves” were always present and to be hunted as dangerous vermin right down to the end of the sixteenth century. 204 ELSDON MOTE HILLS 205 Redesdale men, as a whole, were classed as “‘thieves”’, together with the men of upper Tynedale, until the accession of James VI of Scotland to the throne of England. This may be taken as the measure of their attitude to authority through the ages. As we know absolutely nothing of the history of Elsdon from documentary sources at the time of the Conquest, we can only assume that this motte and bailey fort was constructed as the first step towards the take-over of the new Umfraville possessions. Firstly to provide static protection for a mobile garrison and secondly to provide a base for the agricultural work of the estate. It was one thing to crush resistance but quite another thing to provide food for the coming winter and for subsequent years. Thus, the principle of motte and bailey design lay in the provision of a high, steep-sided, conical hill on which to site a palisaded fortlet and, separated from it by a deep ditch, a small field enclosed within a high banked and palisaded fortification. Connecting motte and bailey was a light, easily-destroyed foot bridge. The idea was to house the Norman garrison on the motte and leave the unreliable work force safely down in the bailey. Incidentally, the term “‘bailey’’, later applied to the stone walled outer defences of a proper castle, is thought to be derived from the Latin word, “vallum”, meaning an earthen barrier. The method of constructing the whole motte complex was to choose ground, if possible, of an elevated nature and provide a ditch of sufficient depth to give the soil necessary for the motte. The latter was the immediate necessity. This was crowned with a heavy timber fort or house, surrounded in turn by an outer fence of the same material. This building was often mounted on stilt-like timbers buried deeply iny the mound whilst it was being raised. Evidence for this was found at Wharram Percy, in Yorkshire. The bailey was designed to form a defence for the farm buildings, living quarters for the workers and any stock there was. Needless to say, the workers, being of local origin, could not be trusted to live on the motte. In later years, some of the motte and bailey castles were rebuilt in stone to the extent of building a wall around the bailey and a keep in one corner. “Shell” keeps, ringing the top of the motte, exist as we can see at Mitford, but the natural instability of the earth mount 206 ELSDON MOTE HILLS made this construction unreliable. Most of the shell keeps cracked sooner or later; Clifford’s Tower at York illustrates this. It might be thought that Elsdon was the actual residence of the first Umfravilles, but this is unlikely. First, because such great lords were constantly on the move between their various properties, marrying here, hanging there, stern but just parents to both retainers and serfs. Secondly, because, with one of his reliable Norman commanders in charge, Robert would prefer to spend as much time as possible close to the King, from whom all blessings flowed and to keep in touch with current intrigue, which was such an essential part of court life in the middle ages. Harbottle saw the raising of another motte and bailey at about the same time as Elsdon and this was converted to a stone castle in 1157, whilst Elsdon was, probably, stripped of its valuable timber as its purpose declined in importance. The inexplicable depression in the top of the motte may be the result of excavations to extract the timber legs of the wooden castle. So, with the passing of the Norman occupation of England, men came to forget, Norman married English and their children married in their turn so that, after a hundred years or so, they all became English ; some of them still “thieves” perhaps, but one nation. COLDINGHAM EXCAVATIONS, IV By DUNCAN NOBLE, M.A. Excavations which I directed took place at Coldingham Priory between 22nd March and roth April, 1970. The team included Mr. D. Price-Williams, B.A., assistant director and surveyor, and students from Whitelands College, Putney, Woolwich Polytechnic, and London University Extra-Mural Department. Iam very grateful to Mr. Thomson, President of the Berwick- shire Naturalists’ Club, and members of the Club for much assistance and advice; to Brigadier Swinton of Kimmerghame for arranging the loan of heavy tools; to the Principals of Whitelands College and Woolwich Polytechnic for financial help which allowed their students to take part in the excavation. Without the tireless efforts of Dr. Hazledene, Walker, of Whitelands College, the dig would not have been possible and I wish to record my gratitude. My thanks are due, also, to Mr. R. B. K. Stevenson, Director of the National Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh, for his advice on the dating of finds and for the opportunity for dis- cussion with his conservation staff. Visitors to the site included Mr. P. H. Ogle-Skan, Under Secretary, Ministry of Public Building and Works, and Mr. I. Ritchie of the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments. The aim of the excavation was two-fold, to uncover evidence for the earlier church, and to investigate the Abbey Yards field east of the church, where, there was reason to believe, there was a range of monastic buildings. Excavation beyond the west end of the church proud the entrance to an earlier church, with a mortared threshold between plinths. White plaster peminined on the inside of the northern wall. In the Abbey Yards a trench “‘A” 7.5 metres by 1.5 metres was laid out on a north-south alignment, parallel to and close alongside the wall of the churchyard to the south-east of the 207 208 COLDINGHAM EXCAVATIONS IV church. There was reason to believe that Mr. C. Romanes found remains of buildings there between 1920 and 1923. Trench A produced at its northern and southern ends two stone walls running east-west. They were of rubble with their inner sides faced still with ashlar masonry. Across the 5 metres between them was a layer of brown clay which was the packing under a since robbed stone floor. Beneath this layer and lying on bedrock was a grave orientated east-west, lined with shale slabs and covered with capstones. It contained an adult skeleton positioned with hands on pelvis and feet to the east. The grave was completely filled with soft earth and a most interesting feature was that over the whole of the area inside the slabs, and immediately under the capstones, was a continuous layer of sea pebbles. In no place had it subsided. On either side of this grave, and extending across the space between the walls, was a large amount of human bones. There were at least two burials 7” sity but subsequently disturbed, and a mass of bones of many disturbed burials which appear to have been added later. There were 24 skulls found with this jumble of bones. Much more of this area remains unexcavated. Selected bones are being studied at the Duckworth Laboratory of Physical Anthropology, Cambridge. This mass burial raises questions which can only be answered after further excavation. Certainly, the bones were not buried after the clay packing of the floor was laid down. No pottery was found associated with them. Beneath the bones were several pits in the bedrock. A second trench, B, in this area ran in a south-eastern direction from near the south end of trench A. ‘This, when extended, will enable different parts of the site to be linked stratigraphically. The sections of this trench reveal a mass of rubble which appears to date from the destruction of the priory. Below this are ground levels and in the bedrock are pits of the same kind as those that appeared in A. Most welcome small finds, although not, unhappily, stratified come from the late fill in B, above the rubble. They are a turner, or two-penny piece of 1663 of Charles II, and a penny of Bishop Kennedy of St. Andrews dated 1452-1480. (Figs. 4 & 5) Problems now awaiting resolution are the extent of the burials, and the stratigraphical connections between the two churches and the burials and Edgar’s Walls. COLDINGHAM PRIORY EXCAVATIONS—III T. D. THOMSON, M.A., F.S.A.Scot. This third interim report covers the 1970 season and follows on from the first two reports and Mrs. Clarke’s report. Once again a full season’s work was practicable, from March to October. It is a pity that the number of members of the Club taking part did not increase, but the labour force was again reinforced in the summer by the George Watson’s College Archaeological Society and a small party from Tweedmouth Secondary School. Two Coldingham ten-year-olds were willing helpets on many Saturdays. Work began with a swing, as two parties from London University under the direction of Mr. D. S. Noble, m.a., White- lands College, spent much of their Easter vacation opening up the west end of the Norman Church of 1100 (immediately west of the present Church) and some parts of the area east of the present Church which was partially excavated by Mr. Romanes in 1922. Mr. Noble reports briefly on these operations at p. 207; he intends to continue them in 1971. The tenacity of the workers under very unpleasant weather conditions was a credit to both them and their leader; the Club is greatly indebted to all concerned, to the Governors of Whitelands College and Wool- wich Polytechnic who provided finance for this expedition, and to Dr. Walker and Dr. van Dijk who initiated it. Gratitude is also due to Berwickshire County Council, who not only lent tools but also provided up to £150 to enable the Norman remains to be consolidated and left exposed, a job which should be carried out in the Spring of 1971. Our own operations, at Edgar’s Walls, continued eastward from the point reached in 1969. Baulk 1 and Trench 1 were taken down to the medieval level and in part to the Norman level, and the second pillar against the north wall (PNz) was fully exposed; its base and first round are in good condition but 1HBNC XXXVII 206-211, XX XVIII 95-102 and 39-45. 209 210 COLDINGHAM PRIORY EXCAVATIONS III the higher courses have been badly damaged at some time. A covered drain came to light 4’ 10” south of the north wall; its top is on the medieval level and its base is apparently on the Norman one. It is on the line of what appeared further west to be a kerb and it looks as though it continues eastward into the area still to be excavated, so it has not been disturbed for the present. Slightly above the medieval level and some 6’ south of PNz we found considerable traces of what might be a burned door, including a quantity of nails and other iron objects which are now under examination in Edinburgh. It may be that this is related to the burning of the Priory in 1430, which would establish yet another level in the history of the building. Other finds in Edgar’s Walls this year were comparatively few, mainly a small quantity of broken pottery including some sherds of water-piping. Further eastward Trench 4 was Be ended to the north wall and the somewhat dilapidated steps in the thickness of the wall at the central doorway were exposed. The cobbling in this area was removed and nothing of significance was found immediately under it. All old iron from the site is being treated with great respect in view of the reports received from the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland on 1968 Miscellaneous Finds 1 and 2? and 1969 M.F.12. M.F.1/68, the dagger thought to be 17th century, is reported on thus:— “The dagger hilt is not exactly paralleled, the shaping of the iron guard not being known among the relatively rare surviving daggers of the kind. The firmly attested association of the little sheath knife with the dagger is valuable, and the shape of its handle dates both to about 1500, or early 16th century... The others in Scotland are all certainly later than yours.” (Fig. 1) M.Fs 2/68 (the triangular piece of metal with rosettes) and 12/69 were reported upon together:— “The plate of armour (M.F. 12/69) is from a bripaodine a leather (or cloth) jerkin lined with iron scales which are rivetted on, horizontal rows of rivet heads showing decoratively, on the face of the material. Pieces of a rather similar one to yours, IHBNC XXXVIII 102. COLDINGHAM PRIORY EXCAVATIONS III 211 also probably 2nd half 15th century, were found during excava- tions by the Ministry of Public Building and Works in 1963 at the Dominican Friary, Boston, Lincs. They are rare in England; in Scotland even representations (effigies, pictures) are not known, and indeed there are only three other instances of bits of medieval armour here, one lost long ago; the survivors are a helm in Glasgow and some excavated bits at a castle in the north. A minor point is that there are two varieties of decorative poppyhead rivets, one being thought to be a repair and the minor discovery (M.F. 2/68) being perhaps from a strap of the repair phase.” (Fig. 2) These important finds will be preserved in the National Museum, which hopes to provide facsimiles for exhibition in the County Library in Duns. The most important find of 1970 was a stone cross (Fig. 3) measuring 134” x 10” x 6” thick. It has the same rather rude carving, somewhere between a Durham cross and a Maltese cross, on either side of it while on the shoulders are what may be described as ‘“‘knuckle’” mouldings. This cross has been provisionally identified as of the ““Norse-Colonial’” period (8th- toth centuries); if this is confirmed, it is the first discovery in the Coldingham Priory area of anything which is specifically earlier than King Edgar’s foundation of 1098, except for a late 8th century coin found in the churchyard in 1883 and since lost?. I am indebted to Dr. Carrick and the National Museum for the illustrations to this report. IHBNC X 260. EXCAVATION AT EARLY BRITISH SITE ON NEW MAINS FARM, WHITEKIRK, BAST LOTHIAN By RENNIE WEATHERHEAD, Esq. Under the direction of David Clarke, Esq., Research Assistant at the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, a group of volunteers from various organisations excavated at weekends during Autumn 1970, part of an apparently large 1st/early 2nd century British site on New Mains Farm, Whitekirk, East Lothian. This settlement was first hinted at a few years ago by the plough turning up an urn containing several bronze items including a spiral armlet, and a beaded torc. During 1969 excavation revealed an area of cobbling, and finds included native pottery fragments and a Roman brooch. This year’s work involved digging 4 trenches in different parts of one field, and each yielded signs of settlement. The two largest trenches produced more cobbling. In one of these trenches the outline of a possible circular hut was recognised, and eventually about half of this hut was exposed. The floor was cobbled, and formed a saucer-like depression. ‘The level outside the hut was higher than the floor, and was of an orange clay, whereas the floor was covered with stones having many bones among them, and mixed in with fine black soil. The diameter of the hut was approximately 6 m. There was a slightly raised area in the hut, and this may have been a sleeping platform. A length of wall, part excavated, yielded 3 pieces of querns, 2 of these almost complete. These were of the type introduced by the Romans. Other quern stones were found in another trench. Numerous pieces of crude pottery were found, only the trained eye being able to distinguish between them and stone. Other items found include a bone implement, a pounding stone, and a piece of bronze. It is of interest to record that for this period, the site is the only one known to be in an undefended position for this area. 212 potvageiitgies riniipivtayite ' im 8 2 2 4 5 6 x 8 2 to 4 2 Mw ya F ‘ 1 18 i ais Pe se aS ag a Zs : ft | shined Ue j Fig. 1. Dagger of c. 1500 found at Edgar’s Walls, Coldingham Priory. Photo: National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland. (P. 210). Sead etm ace derma beg ee a ew SB a mt te 1 ee Fig. 2. Plate from a late 15th century Brigandine, found at Edgar’s Walls, Coldingham Priory. (Pr 2rn)s Photo: National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland. 1g 3. Face and side of Stone Cross found at Edgar’s Walls, Colne Priory (8th-1oth Centuries). (P. 211). Photo: J]. M. Carrick. ae a oS Fig. 4. Penny of Bishop Kennedy, St. Andrew’s, 1452-80. INS cms, Fig. 5. “* Turner ” of Charles II, 1663. Both found in Trench B at Coldingham Priory. (P. 208). HERALDIC CONGRESS 1970 By C. J. DIXON-JOHNSON, T.D., J.P., F.S.A.Scot. It was with great pleasure that I attended The English Heraldic Congress at Cambridge as representative of the Club. The Congress, held at King’s College, Cambridge, during the week beginning 7th September, 1970, under the chairmanship of C. W. Scott-Giles, Esq., O.B.E., M.A., F.S.A., F.H.S., Fitzalan Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary, was attended by some 200 people, many of them from overseas. Lectures, most of which I attended, followed by questions and discussions, were given by Mr. Scott-Giles on ““The Heraldry of Cambridge Colleges”; by Mr. R. O. Dennys, Somerset Herald, on ‘“The Heraldic Imagination” ; by Dr. C. Pama, a member of The Heraldic Council of South Africa, on the recent legislation on Heraldry in that country ; by The Revd. Professor Goetchius on the work of The Committee on Heraldry of The New England Historic Genealogical Society ; by Mr. C. R. H. Humphrey-Smith on “‘Quarters for a Difference” ; by Mr. G. W. Potter on ‘Symbolism in Modern Corporate Heraldry”; by Mr. Norman Manwaring on “The Aesthetics of the Shield in Heraldic Art and Design”; by Dr. C. M. J. F. Swan, York Herald, on ““The American Indian in Heraldry” ; and by Mr. James Blundell on “‘14th Century Memorial Seals’. In addition, Mr. Roger F. Pye, F.S.A.Scot., who lives in Portugal, gave the Fourth Constance Egan Lecture, taking as his subject ““The Armory of the Western Highlands”. Visits were paid to various places of Heraldic interest in and around Cambridge. The lectures which I found most interesting were those given by Dr. Pama, Mr. Blundell, and Dr. Goetchius. Dr. Pama told members that when South Africa left the British Commonwealth and their heraldry ceased to be controlled by The College of Arms, the government set up a committee to consider what should be done to put heraldry etc. on a legal 213 214 HERALDIC CONGRESS 1970 footing in South Africa. As a result of information received from 34 countries having heraldry, it was decided to model their system on that of Sweden which was modernized in 1945. The Heraldry Act of 1962 set up a system of Heraldry with a Heraldry Council and a State Herald to register and grant coats of arms. The Heraldry Council is the ruling body and the chairman is to be always a Judge. There is also a Coat of Arms Committee appointed by the Minister from members of the Council learned in such matters. There seems to be no law against unofficial arms, i.e., not granted or registered in South Africa, but those granted or registered are protected. Both English and Africaans are used, but acceptable terms had to be compiled in Africaans. The fees for a personal grant are at present £65. Mr. Blundell showed members a great many transparencies of 14th century seals, many from Durham, and explained how they had evolved. He referred several times to the work of Dr. Hunter Blair in this field. Many of the seals of not more than an inch across showed great detail of design when blown up to four feet square on a screen. Dr. Goetchius told members that the Committee on Heraldry of his Society was formed in 1864 charged with the duty of seeing whether any of the settlers or more recent arrivals had the right to bear arms. The Committee published a roll of such arms as it could find, and still keeps it up to date, as well as recording assumed arms and assumed corporation arms. The Committee has stated frequently that any one may apply to register the arms of a settler or immigrant, but that no effort is made to connect the applicant with that person. Dr. Goetchius explained that there is no law in U.S.A. against people making coats of arms, etc. for themselves, but that the Committee, whilst recording their use will not approve or give a seal of approval, and does its best to persuade applicants for arms to be recorded not to assume arms recorded for others, and to counteract the work of “‘Arms Firms’. It seems that in spite of the interest shown in heraldry in the U.S.A., that country is a long way behind South Africa in putting it on a legal basis. In case it should be thought at this stage that the Congress was all work, I hasten to add at this point that very pleasant receptions wete given by The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical OBITUARY—ALEXANDER A. BUIST 215 Studies, The Mayor and Corporation of the City of Cambridge, The Chairman and Council of The Heraldry Society, in addition to the Congress Banquet. At the closing session motions were passed to do with brissures to distinguish different members of the same family; the com- mercial and undignified uses of the Union Flag; the proper care of parish and similar records, and, most important for us in the north, that the next Congress should be held in Durham. OBITUARY ALEXANDER A. BUIST, m.a., w.s., F.s.A.scot., of Kirkbank The death of Alec Buist has left a gap in many of our lives, but we shall ever retain the memory of a great scholar and gentleman. The son of a well known Angus family, he was educated in the family tradition at Rugby and Balliol College, Oxford. At both school and college he was distinguished for his classical scholar- ship. Even in the early days he had already made a name for himself as a poet. In legal circles he was respected for his sound and reliable judgment, but it was in the literary circles where he really shone. At Kirkbank, his Border home, which he loved so much, there was an atmosphere of quietness and charm:— “‘A land where it was always afternoon”. Alec had an infectious gaiety and spontaneous—tho’ sometimes acid, wit. It was always a joy to visit Kirkbank. His immense fund of classical knowledge shines through all his poems and writings. Generously he gave of his talents and his time. For many years he was the Editing Secretary of the Berwickshire Natural- ists’ Club, and afterwards its President. ‘The welfare of the Club was of utmost importance to him. He had an old fashioned courtesy, and one might truly realise that he was one of the last of the great literary figures of the Border Country, taking the place of the late Sir George Douglas of Springwood Park. Who is to take Alec’s place- In this age of restlessness and greed men such as Alec A. Buist become rarer and rarer. The Berwickshire Naturalists will certainly miss him, and I have lost a very dear friend. WILLIAM RYLE ELLIOT. “ THE HISTORICAL DIARY ” OF Mr. JAMES WATSON of DUNS By GRACE A. ELLIOT James Watson, a Writer in Duns during the first half of the 19th century, left among other works, a large foolscap Ms. Volume of more than two hundred pages. This was his personal record of relevant facts concerning Berwickshire and is the “Historical Diary’ now under discussion. It was found in the collection of Old Documents of Berwickshire which the County Council bought in 1958.* Col. David Milne Home of Wedderburn, who saw the Ms. in 1874 was the first man to call it a ‘Diary’. In an article to the local press he spoke of Mr. Watson as having been “‘A learned and greatly respected inhabi- tant of Duns who had spent all his life there, and who knew more about the history of the Town of Duns and neighbourhood than any other person; well known for his archaeological researches, the result of which he was in habit of putting down in a Diary.” This short statement emphasises the importance of Mr. Watson’s interests and why it is proper to remember something of the man himself. When James Watson succeeded to the family business in Duns upon the death of his father in 1803, he was twenty-three years of age ; a lawyer by profession and heredity, there was no doubt about his ability to make a success of both his legal and his personal life ; that he did so is amply shown by his reliable work among his private clients in the capacity of land agent and notary and in his term of office as Clerk to the Justices of Peace between the years 1841-1856 ; as Precis of the Feuars of Duns and in his presence on other committees. His characteristic diligence in business can be detected easily in his historical researches. From the start of his career he found time to pursue quietly and with some perfection his favourite hobby—the history of his own County—deriving from it great pleasure and satisfaction *See B.N.C.Hist. Vol. XX XVII Pt. 3, 1967. 216 HISTORICAL DIARY OF MR. JAMES WATSON 217 which lasted throughout his life. He probably began collecting old documents when he cleared up work in the office after his father’s death, as many small Demand Notes and Bills were found, in 1959, to be pasted into an old legal day-book signed and dated 1804 by Mr. Watson. At a later date, which cannot be determined, his great delight can be imagined when he opened the chest of old papers given to him by Miss Lorain, ‘“‘which had belonged to Mr. Winram and her father,” in which he found the original charter granted by James IV. in 1489 to the town of Duns.* This he eagerly copied and translated so that he could give the original back to ““Mr. Hay of Duns Castle to whom it properly belonged.” The search for documents and charters went on until the collection became large and valuable. Some of these he copied into a book together with countless references regarding Berwickshire, many of which are not to be found elsewhere. His cultured methodical mind and insatiable appetite for local history led Mr. Watson at the age of eighty to copy all this again into the present foolscap size volume we know as the ‘Historical Diary.’ Berwickshire is certainly fortunate that this book was with those documents bought in 1958, as it could have been sold elsewhere and so lost to the community, like other Mss. known to have belonged to him. The Diary itself is of unusual form. It begins with an extract from the “Quarterly Review’ which Mr. Watson copied on to the Flyleaf and is typical of himself who, coming to the end of his life wishes to express that what is written on the pages within are the fruits of his labours, which he leaves to posterity and the student of the future ; “‘Under the greatest debility of his fame, amidst even a weary sameness of existance, man still feels the tender tie of life, and is solicitous not to be forgotten ; and he who preserves a monument from mouldering into ruin, or who trescues an inscription that is nearly effaced humours a useful propensity, the universal passion; and he is entitled in his turn, not to be overlooked as a trifler or as a labourer about nothing. Operare nihil agendo.” On the Title page he wrote: ‘‘Berwickshire.” “Notes respecting the Antiquities, old families, etc., of the Shire are only to be found in different works, and in detached *B.N.C.Hist. Vol. VIII pp. 91-94. “Mts Hay of Duns Castle has graciously presented the charter to the town of Duns.” 218 HISTORICAL DIARY OF MR. JAMES WATSON portions. For my own information, I have collected from these authorities what is contained in the following pages, abridging and putting under the heads of Parishes such things connected with each, as J thought most worthy ; and which afford an easy reference to any particular subject. These Notices are taken from Nisbet’s Heraldry, Ragman’s Roll, Keith’s Catalogue of Bishops, Noble’s College of Arms, Redpath’s Border History, Chalmer’s Caledonia, Robertson’s Index, Statistical Accounts, Presbytery Records, Records of the Sheriff and Commissary Courts, Charters and other Documents.” “James Watson, 1827. Recopied 1860.” Following this is an index of Subjects and Places, and then Mr. Watson’s Introduction to the Diary. This begins with Agri- cola’s invasion of Britain and ends with the Valuation Roll of the Benefices in Berwickshire mentioned in Bagimont’s Roll during the reign of Alexander III, 1249-1286. The Parishes are arranged alphabetically and at the commence- ment of each Mr. Watson has pasted a map of that particular one, cut from Thomson’s map of Berwickshire, 1821. Besides the historical information, there is a record of population and rentals of the parishes at various dates, and a Roll of Ministers who had served in them with the dates of their ministry. Under the parish of Bunkle and Preston is a Pedigree, an Armorial description and Motto of the Earls of Angus; other families are dealt with similarly elsewhere. Nor does Mr. Watson forget the importance of Place Names. In Coldingham parish he mentions ‘Bogan’ as meaning ‘a boil or large pimple’ and adds that ‘‘On the North side of Coldingham Manse there is a road called the ‘Chirret’ from the French ‘Charette’ a ‘road for wains’ This we know today as the “Chariot Way.’ In his records of Coldstream parish Mr. Watson has made a succinct remark when’ he wrote that “Sir John Ramsay of Wyliecleugh, second son of Sir John Ramsay of Dalhousie, killed the Earl of Gowrie in August, 1600, in the sham attempt on James VI.* and was by that pedant created Viscount Hadding- ton in 1606, and afterwards Earl of Holderness. He married Lady Elizabeth Ratcliffe, daughter of Robert, Earl of Sussex, and died in 1625 ; they had no children. So much the better :” he added. *This refers to the Gowrie Conspiracy. HISTORICAL DIARY OF MR. JAMES WATSON 219 There is an important Appendix in the Diary which com- mences with a Roll of the Sheriff’s Principal of Berwickshire, dating from 1100 A.D. when ‘Udward de Swinton’ is the first recorded. There are few omissions up to 1748 when Sheriff’s Principal were discontinued and Deputes were appointed; from this date there is a list of those men who served in that capacity, together with their terms of office, until 1868, the year in which Mr. Watson died. There are also the names of the Sheriff Deputes from 1447 who served before the Jurisdiction Act of 1748, as well as those Sheriff Substitutes who served from 165 2- 1863. Then follow the names of Sheriff Clerks of the County from 1556-1841, and the Justice of Peace Clerks from 1654- 1856; the Lords Lieutenants of the County from 1690-1860 ; the Lords of Council and Session, both Extraordinary and Ordinary Lords, from 1561-1850; the Commissaries of the Commissariot of Lauder from 1634-1824 when these were transferred to the Sheriff Courts in January of that year; the names of the Commissary Deputes from 1634-1803, as well as a list of the Members of Parliament before the Union from 1560- 1706, and after the Union from 1710-1859. All which records were compiled for the first time in this manner by Mr. Watson, from the Sheriff Court books etc. of Berwickshire. Perhaps the most important of all else in this Historical Diary is the unique ““List of Notaries, Conveyancers and Procurators who had practised in Berwickshire from 1573-1867, collected by James Watson, Writer in Duns. ‘Na man may be a Procurator quha is excomunicated, or a Common Tulyeour* or fechter and Notar Publict, nor any that cannot write or reid.” Ex ‘Balfour’s iPractises.’ ”” James Watson must have been very proud of this painstaking and laborious search towards the compilation of such lengthy lists, which must have taken many years to complete, for all the dates of each man’s years in business are there as well. Many other items of value are to be found in the Diary, such as the “Retours of the Lands of Berwickshire” for different dates, and copied from the original documents which were in Mr. Watson’s own collection, as well as ‘Rolls of Heritors’ and of the ‘Men of the three Battalions of the Fencible men’ which were formed in the County in 1714, in part preparation against the 1715 Rebel- lion. There is a copy too, of the ‘Oath of Purgation’ which ** One who engages in broils.’ 220 HISTORICAL DIARY OF MR. JAMES WATSON many people were forced to swear, either through fear or against their better judgment, or which they refused to do, in face of the great cruelty which prevailed during the latter part of the 17th century. The pages of this unusual work are full of interest and those who care to examine the contents will not be dis- appointed, except perhaps that it does not contain Mr. Watson’s Ms. on the Linen manufacture in Duns, nor the Plans and Register which he made of the Burial grounds there, and which he gave to the Heritors of the parish in 1822, as mentioned by Col. David Milne Home in the ‘Berwickshire News’ of 1874, ““Of which he had made a special examination and study, think- ing they would be of use as nothing of the kind had previously existed.” Nor did Mr Watson include his own poem* upon “The Choice of a Wife.” Yet these omissions do not in any way detract from the great worth of the Manuscript, a valuable gift of knowledge to Berwickshire by a quiet unassuming man who loved his county, and for whom no praise is too high ; who perhaps ‘under the greatest debility of his frame and sameness of existance’ managed at a great age to re-copy into an ‘Historical Diary’ those things he thought most worth while as an offering to posterity. This excellent work together with what is now left of his collection, those ‘Recently Acquired Documents of Berwickshire’ is now preserved in the County Library Head- quarters in his native town of Duns, thus fulfilling, more than a hundred years later, the wish of James Watson, that neither he nor his work should be forgotten. Mr. Watson died at Duns on the 27th December, 1868, in his 88th year. “THE WATSON FAMILY IN BERWICKSHIRE” Since like many other historians, James Watson left behind no record of his personal antecedents in the form of a pedigree, it is natural for us to wonder who he was and what of his family. Fortunately, his son Charles, when -tving his Presidential Address to the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club in 1880, mentioned thet ‘his great great grandfather had tenanted Nethermains of Chirnside in 1705’. From this statement it was easy to search through various documentary records of Chirnside parish and the tombstones in the churchyards of Duns for mention of the *See Collection of Documents in Duns Library. Folio 9, F.23. HISTORICAL DIARY OF MR. JAMES WATSON 221 name, where a direct line of the family was found from 1700- 1907. but there are still gaps which can be filled in as there are other families of the name living in the county at the same time, who may have had some connection with the original Chirnside one. These relationships have not been proved as the results do not appear necessary for the purpose of this article, nor have any modern representatives been discovered and it is thought that there are no direct descendants of this James Watson left in Duns. The family name of Robert occurs from the earliest Chirnside records until the 18th century as do James, John, and Thomas. ‘The first recording of the name in Berwickshire is in 1496 when Thomas Watson witnesses a sasine ‘in favour of George Home of Wedderburn and Mariota Sinclair his spouse in the half lands of Hetschaw in the bailliary of Lauderdale.’ 14 Nov. 1496.1 1542. Robert Watson in Chirnside was among the jurors in the Retour of Inquest held in the Court room of Lauder to ‘declare that Richard Spens was nearest lawful heir of his deceased father Richard Spens in the lands of Hardens in Berwickshire.” 1550-3. The earliest records of the lands of Evelaw which belonged to Dryburgh Abbey, is a Deed dated in Sept. 1550 where Jonet French wife of Robert Cranstoun in Broxmouth, renounces her ‘right in conjunct fee and liferent of her third part of Yfflie (Evelaw) in favour of Robert Watson her son by the deceased Robert Watson her spouse’.® 1553. Another Deed by the same about the lands of Yfflie. It is not known whether the Watsons of Evelaw were con- nected to Chirnside but it is thought that they may have been so. 1592. William Watson in Chirnside was dead before this date and it is suggested that the next three men were likely to have been his sons.4 1592. James Watson son of William Watson in Chirnside becomes an ‘apprentice Cordiner’ in Edinburgh.® 1610. John Watson in Chirnside pays a fine of £20 for trespassing in Godscroft.® 1Hist. MMs. Comm. ‘ Homes of Wedderburn.’ 2Hist, Mss. Comm. ‘ Roxburgh, Marchmont and Seafield.’ 3Lawrence Archet’s ‘ Edgars of Wedderlie.’ 4McVie of Mss. in B.N.C. Library. 5Hist. Mss. Comm. ‘Home of Wedderburn.’ ®Do. 222 HISTORICAL DIARY OF MR. JAMES WATSON 1627. William Watson in Nethermaynes was one of those who rode the bounds of Chirnside Common on 4th a 1629:+ This is the first mention of the Watsons being at Nethermains; where they seem to have been tenants only, although they must have owned property there too, which the next-charter verifies. Unfortunately nothing has been found BES the family a 1627 and 1672 at Chirnside. 1672. When Thomas Watson, merchant burgess of Edin- burgh died, his daughters, Jean and Anna Watson as heirs portioners, claimed ‘an annual return of {100 corresponding to 4000 merks from the lands of Chirnside.* This man was likely to have been the son of James the Cordiner, 1592. 1675. Thomas Watson in Chirnside. A Sasine given 25th May, 1675, is probably the completion of the 1672*claim by his daughters. 1683. Allison, daughter of Robert Watson was born 7th January, 1683. This Robert was probably a grandson of William of Nethermains. 1705. Robert Watson in Nethermaynes, son of Robert above, was the great great grandfather of Charles Watson of Duns, President of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club, 1880. 1701. James Watson, son of Robert Watson of Nethermains was born, and thereafter this branch of the family are at Duns. The relationship of the Watsons of Chirnside, and those of that name living in Duns before 1700, has not been established, but no doubt a connection could be found ; nor has the link with the Watsons of Overmains near Eccles been sought, although it appears to exist, this latter family having some of the same christian names, and a propensity for the legal profession at one time. References to Nethermains are to be found in the Parish Church records of Mordington where it is stated that the ‘Dominical lands of Chirnside became Nethermains’® later Whitehall. The present place of Nethermains used to be called ‘Dodha’. A table tombstone in Duns Old Churchyard gives 1 2B.N.C.Hist. Vol. 24, Pt. 4 and B.N.C. Typescript Notes. 3This is contradicted in later records, but as the statement is taken from a Sasine concerning Whitehall—it must for the present be taken as correct until the later records have been proved or disproved. HISTORICAL DIARY OF MR. JAMES WATSON 5223 details of the Watsons descended from Robert of Nethermains, 1705. I James Watson, feuar in Duns, b. March 26th; 1701, d. 17th Oct:, 1786. ene Ballantyne, his wife, b. 25th Aug., 1706, d. 11th Feb., ee 2 Adam Watson, Writer in Duns, b. zoth Aug., 1749, d. 17th an., 1803. Elizabeth Gray, his wife, b. zoth ——, 1748, d. 24th ——, 1802. 3. James Watson, Writer in Dunse, b. Nov. ist, 1781, d. 27th Dec., 1868. / Barbara Shaw, his wife, b. 23rd Feb., 1791, d. zoth Dec., 1848. James Watson, the feuar, was a land agent and factor for the estate of Dunglass. He drew a plan of the Commonty of Chirnside, dated 31st July, 1761, for Sir John Hall when the Titles of the various claimants were produced in Court.’ Al- though termed a ‘writer’ his name is not in his grandson’s list in the Diary. Adam Watson, son of the feuar, was a Writer in Duns and appears in the list of Notaries, etc., compiled by his son James, as a Notary Public from 1776-1803, but the first notice of him as a young man is on a letter addressed by John Home of Ninewells to ‘James Watson at Duns or to his son in his absence.” 1772. The son who was born to Adam Watson and his wife Elizabeth Gray was James, the author of the “Historical Diary’, and who gave evidence that a plan of Chirnside Commonty was one made by his grandfather in 1761, when it was produced in Court in 1805.” _ James Watson and his wife Barbara Shaw had five children ; from an upright stone in Duns Old Churchyard we read that Charles Watson, Writer in Duns, was b. 6th Dec., 1826, d. 12th June, 1892. Jean Houston, his first wife, b. 7th March, 1836, d. 21st April, 1875. Ralstina Jacque Kerr, his 2nd wife, b. 6th April; 1847, d. July, 1877. In the New ‘Churchyard an upright stone records the rest of the family of James and Barbara Watson. . Adam Watson, eldest son, b. 13th Sept., 1815, d. 2nd April, 1887. 12B.N.C.Hist. Vol. 24, Pt. 4. 224 HISTORICAL DIARY OF MR. JAMES WATSON Jean Watson, b. 24th June 1802, d. July 12th 1902, unmarried Margaret Watson, b. 20th April, 1822, d. 19th Jan., 1863, unmarried. May Barbara Watson, b. 6th April, 1824, d. 11th Jan., 1907, widow of Joseph Allan late of Bowshiel, and Charles Watson, d. 12th June, 1892 (duplication). James Watson, d. roth March, 1895. (son of Charles and Jean). Nothing more has been found about Adam the eldest son of James, but Charles seems to have been interested in his father’s collection of Local records as he showed some of them to the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club shortly before he died, and also had some printed in the Club’s Proceedings. He was President of the Club in 1880. A Writer in Duns and a Notary Public, Charles was elected as Clerk to the Justices of Peace in 1854, but quickly resigned because of Tory opposition.! He helped Col. Lawrence Archer to some extent with his book on the “‘Edgars of Wedderlie, etc.”* and was known to have been “a good botanist and amateur florist.” He was twice married, after his death in 1892 all his effects were sold by Dowell’s in Edinburgh, including his father’s collection of documents and charters “‘upon the instructions of his son in South Africa.”4 This was the first time that the collection came under the auctioneet’s hammer. Barbara Watson is the last remaining child of James about whom there is something to say. She married Joseph Allan, sometime farmer of Bowshiel, but lived as a widow at the ‘Clouds’ in Duns. She had some correspondence concerning the Duns charter with Mr. Charles Romanes, after her nephew’s death. Apparently the charter was missing and she could not find it, although it turned up later. Since she mentions another Ms. of her father’s her letter to Mr. Romanes is given here. “Clouds, 12th Oct., 1895.” “Dear Mr. Romanes, I have looked through some of my father’s books and can only see one in manuscript. It is a record of Duns Linen 1Watson’s Historical Diary. 2Letters. Old B’shire Docs. Folios X & XI. Lawrence Archer. 3B.N.C.Hist. Vol. X. 4Letters. James Hardy to J. Crawford Hodgson. HISTORICAL DIARY OF MR. JAMES WATSON 225 ' factory, but I do not know if it would be of any use now. There ate one or two old parchments with seals attached which may _ be charters but I cannot read them. I know the list was returned from Dowell’s and I fear it has been destroyed for James had many letters and papers burned, and for some time before his death was quite unable to write or take an interest in anything. I shall send the book I mention if you think it will be of any use. If at any time you are in Duns you might call and take a look at what books are left and if any would suit you, you will be welcome to them. I shall look over them again and let you- know if I find any other. Yours sincerely, M. B. Allan.” To Chas. Romanes, Esq. Mrs. Allan’s reference to ‘James’ in the letter can only be to her nephew who died in 1895, a few years after his father, Charles, but whether he is the same man referred to by Dr. Hardy in his letter to Mr. Hodgson, as the ‘son in South Africa’ it is now not possible to ascertain. It is also regrettable that the Ms. about the Linen factory in Duns does not now appear to exist. So little is known about this industry in Berwickshire, which was not inconsiderable during the 18th century. So important was the manufacture in Scotland-at that time that it was subsidised by the Government until it became a paying concern. Mrs. Allan died in 1907, and with her passed the halcyon days of the family of Watson in Duns, although of their collaterals there may still be much to discover. PEDIGREE OF THE FAMILY OF “ WATSON IN CHIRNSIDE AND DUNS’ = Earliest mention of Watsons in Berwickshire so far found is :— Robert Watson in Chirnside, 1542. : _ William Watson in Chirnside, d. by 1592. | ‘James - " William John App. Cordiner, 1592 : in Nethermains, 1627 fined in 1610 aa d. by 1672. — Robert, 1683 Mert’ burg’s of Edinburgh : 1 [ 2 a 2 | | | eat 1672-5 Anna, 1672-5 ; Robert mies Claimed their portion out of Chirnside. in- 1705 at Hae eu b. 1683 James — Jane Ballantyne b. 1701 d. 1786 b. 1706 d. 1795 Feuar mie —— Eliz. Gray b. 1749 d. 1803 b. 1748 d. 1802 Writer ————__——-—— ie James —— Barbara Shaw b. 1781 d. 1868 b. 1791 d. 1848 Writer, Diarist | : 2 5 ee 3 & 4 | aria | 7 ‘Aden Charles —— Jean Houston (I) Barbara May — Joseph Allan Jean b. 1815 d. 1887 b. 1826 d. 1892 b. 1836 d. 1875 b. 1824 d. 1907 farmer in Bowshiel Margaret Ralstina Jacque Kerr b. 1847 d. 1877 James b. 1868 d. 1895 EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF DR. JAMES HARDY WITH MRS. JANE BARWELL-CARTER Letters written in 1874 and 1875. One of the main topics of discussion in these letters was the joint project of publishing Selections from the Correspondence of Dr. George Johnston. The book appeared in 1892 and its pre- paration involved Dr. Hardy in much editorial work. Its main value is to draw aside a curtain as it were and reveal the inner warmth of spirit in Dr. Johnston’s personality while the foot- notes prepared by Dr. Hardy afford concise biographical sketches of the men and women to whom Dr. Johnston wrote. Dr. Hardy’s letters do the same for himself and also indicate what a great amount of work he did in arranging the Club’s excursions and editing the Club’s ‘“‘Proceedings”’. Letter 21. Oldcambus, Oct. 20, 1874. Dear Mrs. Carter, _I got home last week from my rather long pilgrimage in Cheviot-land, and have. been very busy ever since. I could not get through all my writing, so I brought the remainder with me. They are the law papers of the Ford title case, and have much curious information. It was ruin or loss to many connected with it... . Owing to the time occupied in copying these documents, I got very little out to enjoy the autumnal views among the hills, or from them. Two little pictures I have brought away in memory, one of Cheviot under gloom, and the other of the mists dispersing and dispersed, which are framed and hung up, cut out from amidst far stretching wastes, and laid up in a choice chamber of memory. The time of full autumnal colouring had not come; but many pretty tree shapes came out, as the load of foliage diminished. 227 228 EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF JAMES HARDY I was a few hours, unexpectedly, in Berwick, but I did not call, thinking you might be engaged. Am Ito come next week - I believe I can find leisure for a few days, but only a very short time, as there requires more care at home, now that there is feeding stock on the ground. You can mention any day next week, or the next again. I am writing just before post-time, having I find read too long before beginning. With kind regards, Believe me, Dear Mrs. Carter, Yours very truly, James Hardy. Letter 22. Oldcambus by Cockburnspath, Nov. 7, 1874. Dear Mrs. Carter, I reached home safe and sound, but not till very late in the evening, The ‘“‘bus” should have been round at half past twelve as I said; when I got up my train was gone, and the one that started then does not stop at Co-path. As the day was very bright—and afforded the view of distances that had been wanting during my visit, I took the advantage of having a walk along the Foulden road, and enjoyed it very much. The view of the hills and district is most extensive, beginning with Holy Island and Bamburgh, two dark and solemn monuments of antiquity, advancing to Kyloe Crags and Black Heddon, which present their ends to us, then we leap a great gulf to Ras-castle, and Hepburn, and Bewick, projecting like capes into the sea. A rising platform comes between them and the Cheviots, between which and the Cheviots we can trace a gap, by the depression of Milfield plain, the edges being indicated by irregular notches like a crack. Over this a blue hill appeared—supposed to be Tritlington mount. Humbleton takes up the Cheviot range, and it continues by Hounam Law all across Roxburgh to the Eildons. The Liddesdale hills are distant in their remoteness, by their deep blue. As I went further on the Merse appeared with its multiform division, and rich garniture of trees, dressed in autumn colouring. It was a rich confusion, for I did not know the landmarks, except the hill line behind Dunse. I got along to within front of Lamberton House. It looks well EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF 229 JAMES HARDY amidst its fine setting of trees, but is a commonplace house of walls and windows, of an age gone by. I gota sight of Foulden woods, and then returned, getting good views of Berwick and the coast line. ... I found the application to lecture at Berwick waiting me. It came from Capt. Milne Home. I replied in the negative. I have since heard from his father. I shouldn’t wonder but that I may accompany him, in some geological surveys of Milfield plain, which he proposes to make... . I have not been much out. The woods are rapidly losing their fine tints, and there are distinct pictures at evening of trees set off against a pale ‘daffodil’ sky. I look back with much pleasure on the visit to Norham, which was only deficient in being far too short to see all that could be seen outside, or what was fully as interesting, what Miss Dickinson had to show us of her workmanship. I may have time to make a leisurely survey of the place on some other occasion. You have shown me how easily it may be accom- plished. Tillmouth should be the next stage, for I have now seen a little of Coldstream. I do not see places that I visit, unless in the mood to take a mental picture of them, tinged with a poetical flush over all, like the radiance of the setting sun. With kind regards, Believe me, Dear Mrs. Carter, Yours most truly, James Hardy. Letter 23. Oldcambus, Nov. 23, 1874. Dear Mrs. Carter, As I have just received your letter, I will give you just a line in reply. The news in your last are very sad.... Since I began to write the obituary notice, I have been led to think how many lives are only hanging by threads. I have just corrected a proof of a little memorial of Archibald Jerdon for the ‘Border Almanac” published by Rutherford, Kelso. Had I been nearer you, I would perhaps have known more about his private life. On Saturday I came upon a number of his letters, chiefly on Natural History topics, but they offer nothing special. He was 230 EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF JAMES HARDY never sentimental. He is constantly urging me-to come and see him ; and I am such a backward visitor, that I believe I only visited him four times, altogether ; the last time only to call ; and yet he was full of kindness and welcome, and we were most friendly. . I have finished Mr. Stephens, the agricultural writer’s memoir —he was elected and proposed at Grant’s House, at perhaps the last meeting your father attended. I accompanied your father and Mr. Home, us three, while the rest went to Pease Bridge, and your father said he would never carry the vasculum again. ... ‘I have found your father’s letters. They are not in a separate packet but in an immense budget of some of the longest letters that perhaps ever were written, from one of my college friends. Sometime I will copy them for you. They are not likely to be of consequence, only supplying dates and links. . . It is rather colder this morning with the frost. I was along our coast. We have great gatherings of wild ducks opposite us during the day, which resort to the inland ponds at night. There are three or four herons also, and upwards of 20 cormor- ants. “Today we have 8 St. Cuthbert’s Ducks, very merry fellows, sporting and-plunging in all directions. The Field- fare is here also, and no lack of birds of smaller kinds. No gun ever disturbs their quietude. Great flocks of wood pigeons have arrived last week from the north ; and the wild geese began to cross over on Saturday. We are maki ing some preparations for the advent of winter. Believe me, Dear Mrs. Carter, Yours faithfully, James Hardy. Letter 24. - - Oldcambus, Dec. 1, 1874. Dear Mrs. Carter, I thank you very much for sending me a reading of the letters of these two interesting veterans in science, and also your father’s letters. I see you are going to be too late in setting about collecting, as most of your father’s contemporaries. are preparing “‘to go home’. But you may be more fortunate in other quarters. Had you not better try Miss Alder? I think EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF 231 JAMES HARDY Summerhill Terrace used to be her address of old. ‘There was-a Mr. Blacklock, Mr. Alder’s Bepnews who had a kind of oversight of his frail mele and aunt. .... Both my brother and sister have Heed unwell, and I have not seen them for some days past, and so have not got the paper yet. It has been so ae it is. ‘not safe to face’ the anetOs pictie inclemency. . - lam going out to make a tour, and see what damage the burns ave done ‘recently. Meantime, ; Believe me, Dear Mrs. Carter, Yours very truly, James Hardy. Note.—Joshua Alder (1792-1867) was a founder member of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle upon Tyne. A student of the Mollusca, he corres- ponded with Dr. Johnston. An obituary notice was written by Dr. Dennis Embleton in the Transactions of the aforementioned society. Letter 25. Oldcambus, Jan. 1, 1875. Dear Mrs. Carter, : “I have been late in writing you this time, being occupied copying the old Register of Hutton parish, which I may have mentioned. I could make nothing of it, till I got it deciphered plain, as it was so dim and mouldering, and I completed it yesterday forenoon. There are not many portions of it available for Club services. I had always thought that-when Charles II was restored, the episcopalian church service was introduced into the country parishes, instead of that they continued presbyterian in practice, and were governed by sessions, presbyteries, and synods, only the General Assembly as the head-court being disallowed, the bishops acting as the court of appeal. This is the case in Hutton parish so far as this book goes, 1649-1677. ... I am glad you have succeeded in getting so many letters, especially Mr. Alder’s. I have read Mr. Hepburn’s list. There are many of them not worth applying to. Mr. Peach lives at 4, Haddington Place, Edinburgh. The Macgillivrays may have 232 EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF JAMES HARDY some letters. I don’t think your father corresponded much if at all, with Dr. Fleming. When I visited you last, I mentioned that your “Church Historians” were not complete. There are some to be had just now at 2/- per vol. at A. J. Bowden’s, 19, Lamb’s Conduit Street, Holborn, London, W.C.... I see in another list a copy of the Flora of Berwick on Tweed, priced at 3/6. I wish I could find out when in Berwick the office of the Ocean carriage company . . . for small London parcels. Parcels are made up into one, and then distributed. There is an office in most of the large towns. Parcels come for the Club by Railway often which are scarcely worth the carriage, and if one could get into communication with this office that would be obviated, besides getting a book reasonable. We have a severe storm, and today it is drifting and very cold. Fortunately my fat sheep were all disposed of during the week, so that my care is lessened. The snow lies far out on the beach. Many poor birds have perished. It is pitiable to see them. A poor lark followed the workers a whole afternoon. They had straw on their legs, when picking up turnips, and the lark approached them, and found a few “‘out-pickles” left on the straw. When they stood still it came and perched on their shoes and allowed them to handle it and stroke it. It would not take crumbs when offered. A robin slipped into my room when the door was open, and a second looked in at the window and knocked at the pane. I released the prisoner and both took flight. The wind is rising, and it is a fierce drift, but itis clear. I will finish this and have a look out. Wishing you many returns of the season. Believe me, Dear Mrs. Carter, faithfully yours, James Hardy. THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. DURHAM—SEPTEMBER, 1970 The Meeting of The British Association for the Advancement of Science met for the first time this year at Durham. The ancient and beautiful cathedral and castle, set on a hill, right in the centre of the city, dominating the surrounding country, truly made a marvellous setting for this world-famed Confer- ence—enhanced by the fact that each evening the scene was flood-lit. The inauguration ceremony, usually held in a large hall, was this year in the city’s magnificent cathedral, no doubt chosen for its capacity to house members of the Association numbering up to some 3,000. As usual the proceedings commenced by the impressive sight of the eminent professors of the world filing to their alloted seats ; followed by the dignitaries of the University and the City Council. His Worship the Mayor thereafter welcomed the British Association to Durham City and invited, Lord Todd of Trumpington to deliver his Presidential Address entitled—‘‘A Time to think.” The impact of science on society has been discussed frequently at great length by many people in recent years. One speaker will talk scientific man-power, another about science in develop- ing countries, and how scientific advice should be made to Government. Advancing technology has brought with it great material benefits which have been widely spread throughout the entire population so that the general standard of living has everywhere been raised and leisure increased. This has expressed itself in many ways, and not least in the demand for universal education which would give all children an equal opportunity to develop their talents to the full. 2 234 THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, DURHAM, 1970 The President continued—there are two major difficulties in our way; one is the failure to recognise that natural science is just as much a branch of culture as literature, music and the arts—it is not just a subject for the specialist only. Lord Todd summed up his long, able and interesting address by saying the making of correct choices, not.only in international affairs, does depend:on the existence of an informed public opinion, but The British Association for the Advancement of Science have their important parts to play. The President coniinued—that since our young people of today are the adults of tomorrow, we ought to be giving serious thought to the pattern of the Association and its other activities. Some changes have been made in recent years, but I doubt if they have gone far enough, said Lord Todd. Organizations like individuals tend to resist change, or at least that it should be gradual—The President said “‘that is the rub’—technological advances are rapid and if society is to survive it must so adapt itself that its members can not only live with change but derive the maximum benefit from it. Truly time is running short for all of us—‘“‘This is a time to think”’. This year, as always, there were a great many interesting lectures and films; one hesitated which of these would prove the most instructive. Sir Stephen Watson, C.B.E., Emeritus Professor de Agti- culture, University of Edinburgh, gave a lecture on “Nitrogen in Agriculture” —problems, and the effect on the environment. One of the remarks he made, was that nitrogen—there can be little doubt—is perhaps the most important factor in ee the world. I attended many lectures in the archaeological section, they were all intensely interesting, particularly so as the region covered was in many cases, ground in near proximity to ground covered by our own Naturalists Society founded the same month’ and year as the British Association—both one hundred and forty years old. The excursions I attended, included a visit to Tynemouth Priory and Castle. The Priory was established in the seventh century by King Edwin. King Malcolm of Scotland, atter he had been killed in battle near Alnwick, was buried in the Priory, THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR*THE ADVANCEMENT 235 OF SCIENCE, DURHAM, 1970 but his body was afterwards removed to Dunfermline, we were told by the lady who so ably conducted us. The Castle served as a coastal defence base for Tynemouth during ‘the 2nd vic War. We also paid a most interesting visit to Ripon Cathedral: The Bishop of Ripon received us and told us many interesting details and-showed us a copy of the Lindisfarne Gospels. The first church on the site, where this most beautiful building now stands, was dedicated to St. Peter 678 A.D. King James rst, 1603-1625, refounded the Ripon Chapter and restored some. of the endowments. We noticed a small statue of King James high up on a pillar on the central tower. The finest and most famous choir stalls in England are in this ancient and beautiful cathedral. The early English west window is the work. of Archbishop Walter de Grey 1215-1256 we were told—he- built the famous five sisters window in the north transept of Monk Minster. A visit to St. Mary’s Church in Chester-le-Street was fall os historical interest. In the crypt under the Lambton pew, is buried Lord John George Lambton, first Earl of Durham and Govenor General of Canada. He was also the Red Boy in Lawrence’s famous picture. Space forbids me to mention all the interesting incidents and historical items in all the beautiful and ancient buildings visited. A week was all too short to get around everything. I did get to the top of Durham Castle: There as the day was clear and visibility perfect lay a wonderful view of Scotland in the far distance. In the Castle we were shown portions of St. Cuthbert’s coffin in which he was buried 698 A.D. The Castle is now used as Durham’s University. At the archaeological dinner held in a nearby university hall, we listened to the North- umbrian pipes—they were very sweet sounding and in amazing contrast to our Scottish bagpipes only suitable for the hills and glens of our Scottish scenery. Another day was spent visiting Washington New Town. The Council mean to build dwellings for the population growth in South Tyne and North-East Durham, also to provide industrial sites. They mean to raise the quality of the region’s environment generally. The sites cover some 5,300 acres, part of which is in the rural district of Chester-le-Street and Houghton-le-Spring. 236 THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, DURHAM, 1970 The landscape is most attractive looking south towards the valley of the River Wear. The houses being built are the last word in all modern conveniences, satisfying the expected requirements of a higher standard of living which will be enjoyed in the years to come. Quite near to all this modernity stands Washington Old Hall—the residence of the Washington family before they removed to Sedgrave Manor. Washington Old Hail was the home of George Washington’s direct ancestors for five generations. It is now a museum. On Sunday the usual Official Service was held in Durham’s ancient Cathedral—the preacher being The Lord Bishop of Durham, the Right Rev. Ian Ramsay, D.D. The Vice-Chancellor and representatives of the University led the procession, then came the Lord Mayor and Corporation followed by the President of the British Association and his party. An unforgettable sight enhanced by the surroundings of Durham’s venerable historic and beautiful cathedral. Margaret Hewit McWhir. NATURAL HISTORY OBSERVATIONS DURING 1970 Notes compiled by A. G. LONG and D. G. LONG. LIVERWORTS. Numbered as in Census Catalogue (4th edition) 35/1 37/1 54/2 57/3 57/5 63 /7 70/5 73 [3 73/4 75/1 Leiocolea turbinata. Cove, coast above harbour, VC. 81. NT 784717, April 11. Tritomaria quinquedentata. Cove, rocky bank S-E. of harbour, VC. 81, NT 787716, April 11. Mylia anomala. Penmanshiel Moss, VC. 81, NT 826683, June 17. Lophocolea heterophylla. Pease Dean below bridge. VC. 81, NT 793703, April 11. Lophocolea fragrans. Pease Dean below bridge, April 11. Cephalozia media. Penmanshiel Moss, VC. 81, NT 826683, June 17. Scapania curta. Cove, rocky bank S-E. of harbour, VC. 81, N® 787716, April 11. Shiel Burn, VC. 81, NT 585604, June 15. Porella platyphylla. Pease Dean below bridge, VC. 81, NT 793703. April 11. Ale Water below Linthill, VC. 81, NT 922627, June 14. Porella cordaeana. Pease Dean below bridge, VC 81, NT 793703, April 11. Lejeunea cavifolia. Pease Dean below bridge and Ale Water below Linthill as above. MOSSES. Numbered as in Census Catalogue (31d edition). 5/9 8/1 12/7 Polytrichum aurantiacum. Newton Don, VC. 81, NT 7097375, May 26. Fissidens viridulus. Pease Dean below bridge, VC. 81, NT 793703, April 11. Near Holystone on wooded bank, VC. 67, NT 949024, March 21. Ditrichum flexicaule. Cove, rocky bank S-E. of harbour, VC. 81, NT 787716, April 11. 237 238 NATURAL HISTORY OBSERVATIONS DURING 1970 22/4 22/8 22 |- 29/11 Bel ee 34/5 35/1 37/2 40/1 40/4 41/2 44/9 44/16 46/1 49 |6 51/4 55/24 65 /2 Jina 2 Dicranella varia. Cove, coast above harbour, VC. 81, NT 784717, April 11. Dicranella cerviculata. Penmanshiel Moss, VC. 81, NT 826683, June 17. Dicranella staphylina (not in Check List). Roadside at Pease Bay, VC. 81, NT 793706, April 11. A new VC. | record. ‘The discovery of this species (new to Europe) was published by H. L. K. Whitehouse in 1969 (Trans. Br. bryol. Soc. 5, 757-765). Dicranum majus. Newton Don, on bank near Stichill Linn, VC. 81, NT 706375, July 11. Campylopus introfléscus. Near Holystone on peaty ground, VC. 67, NT 955025, March 21. Penmanshiel Moss, VC. 81, NT 826683, June 17. Encalypta streptocarpa. Newton Don, NGS 81, NT 797375, May 26. Tortula ruralis. Cove, tocky Banke S-E.. of harbour, VC. 81, NT 787716, April ie Desmatodon convolutus. Cove, as for last species. Pottia lanceolata. Cove, as above. ' Pottia intermedia. Cove, coast above harbour, Ws Bit, NT 784717, April 11. Phascum cuspidatum. Grass field near Pease Dean, BY C.(81. NT 793763, pti 11. Barbula spadicea. Neat Holystone on wooded bank, VC. 67. NT 949024, March 21. Barbula tophacea. Cove, coast above harbour, VC. 81, NT 784717, April 11. Gyroweisia tenuis. Near Holystone on calcareous bank, VC. 67. NT 955025, March 21. Cove, coast above harbour, VC. 81. NT 784717, April 11. Tortella flavovirens. Cove, on coast above harbour, MCF Sr Trichostomum crispulum. Cove, rocky bank S-E. of hatbour, VC. 81,.N1T 787716, Apel 1r.. Grimmia trichophylla. Ale water below Linthill, VC. 81. NT 922627, June 14. Tetraploden mnioides. Shiel Burn, VC. 81, NT 585604. June 15. Orthodontium lineare. Burn S. of Holystone Grange, VC. 67, NT 965000, March 21. 77/29 79/6 97/1 101 /1 109 /4 110/1 11/1 121/1 122 /3 NATURAL HISTORY OBSERVATIONS DURING 1970 239 Bryum rubens. Roadside near Pease Bay, VC. 81, NT 793706, April 11. Mnium stellare. Pease Dean below bridge, VC. 81, NT 793703, April 11. Zygodon viridissimus vat. stirtonii. Ale Water below Linthill, VC. 81, NT 922627, June 14. Climacium dendroides. Newton Don, VC. 81, NT _ 797375, July 11. Neckera complanata. As for last species. Omalia trichomanoides. Near Holystone, on wooded bank, VC..67. NT 949024, March 21. Pease Dean below bridge, VC. 81. NT 793703, April 11. Thamnium alopecurum. Newton Don, VC. 81. NT 707375, May 26. Hreterocladium heteropterum. Near Holystone Burn in upper part, VC. 67. NT 932013, March 21. Pease Dean below bridge, VC. 81, NT 793703, April 11. Anomodon viticulosus. Pease Dean below bridge, VC. 81. NT 793703, April 11. Ale Water below Linthill, _ VC. 81. NT 922627, June 14. 125 /2 126/2 129/4 131/8 133/1 134/3 141/1 141/10 142 /3 149/4 Cratoneuron commutatum vat. falcatum. Near Holystone on peaty ground, VC. 67. NT 955025, March a1. Campylium protensum. Upper part of. Holystone Burn, VC. 67. NT 932013, March. 21. Cove, rocky bank S-E. of harbour, VC. 81, NT 787716, April 11. Amblystegium varium. Pease Dean below bridge, VC. 81. NT 793703,:-April 11. Drepanocladus uncinatus. Cove, on rocky bank S-E. of harbour, VC. 81. NT 787716, April 11. Penmanshiel Moss, VC. 81, NT 826683, June 17. -Scorpidium scorpioides. Upper part of Holystone Burn, VC. 67, NT 932013, March 21. Acrocladium cordifolium. Penmanshiel Moss, VC. 81. NT 826683, June 17. Eurhynchium striatum. Newton Don, VC. 81. NT 707375, May 26. — | Eurhynchium murale. Pease Dean below bridge, VC. 81. NT 793703, April 11. ; Rhynchostegiella teesdalei. As for last species. Plagiothecium denticulatum. As for last species. 149/10 Plagiothecium succulentum. As for last species. 240 NATURAL HISTORY OBSERVATIONS DURING 1970 157/1 Hyocomium flagellare. Upper part of Holystone Burn, VC. 67, NT 932013, March, 21. VASCULAR PLANTS numbered as in Dandy’s List (1958). 50/3 Lhalictrum minus. WLesser Meadow Rue. At two places on rocky scaurs by the Ale Water below Linthill. VC. 81, NT 96, June 14. 7o/2 Sinapis alba. White Mustard. In an arable field between Mount Pleasant and Swinton Mill, VC. 81, NT 805470, Sept. 5. 211/1 Rubus chamaemorus. Cloudberry. At four places in _ upper Dye valley, VC. 81. (i) right bank of Shiel Burn near top NT 579610; (ii) near fence on Fallagoridge Head NT 571609 ; (iii) near foot of West Rotten Cleugh on S. bank NT 566601 ; (iv) opposite the Shiel on W. side of Dye NT 587589; male flowers seen but females fruiting, June 15. 254/6 Epilobium adenocaulon. American Willow-herb. At Edrom House in 1969, VC. 81, NT 826559 and at Silverwells in 1970, VC. 81, NT 880664 (Mrs. E. K. Swinton). 254/13 Epilobium nerterioides. New Zealand Willow-herb. By Whitadder near Baramill Plantation, VC. 81, NT 775572; by Tweed below Norham Castle, VC. 68, ‘NT 907477, Oct. 10. 358/1 Vaccinium vitis-idaea. Cowberry. Upper part of Shiel Burn on right bank VC. 81, NT 579610, June 15. 370/3 Lysimachia vulgaris. Yellow Loosestrife (fruiting). Tweed bank below Norham Castle, VC. 68, NT 907477, Oct. Io. 425/3 Mimulus moschatus. Musk. On shingle below Blanerne Bridge, VC. 81, NT 836564, July 18. ENTOMOLOGY. Trichiura crataegi. Pale Eggar. ‘Two larvae on heather by R. Dye below Shiel, VC. 81, NT 55, June 15. Aglais urticae. Small Tortoiseshell. Two clusters of larvae on Stinging Nettle by R. Dye, above Shiel, VC. 81, NT 56, June eS Vanessa cardui. Painted Lady. One on St. Abb’s Head, VC. 81, NT 96, June 14. THE TRICHOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE: A preliminary list of species of Caddis Flies found in the Watsonian Vice-county 81 By ALBERT G. LONG, Hancock Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne During the years 1952-1966 I collected caddis flies along with lepidoptera in Berwickshire chiefly by means of mercury vapour light traps operated at various places by a portable generator. A garden m.v. trap was also used for ten seasons at Gavinton near Duns. Some specimens were also taken by day by netting or when beating for larvae of lepidoptera. All my records refer to imagines as no attempt was made to rear specimens from larvae. This collecting of caddis flies was very much a side-line, subordinate to other pursuits so that this list is no more than a preliminary catalogue which may serve, it is hoped, as a foundation for further observations. The order and nomen- clature followed is that of A Check List of British Insects by Kloet and Hincks, Second Edition (Revised) 1964. After the records for each species a summary of the 10 km. Grid Squares is given though this is admittedly very incomplete. For assistance in identification of difficult species I have to thank Mr. E. C. Pelham-Clinton of the Royal Scottish Museum. FAMILY RHYACOPHILIDAE Rhyacophila dorsalis Curt. 1953 Langton Burn near Gavinton, three, Oct. 4; Langton Burn at Camp Moor, Oct. 11. 1963 Whitadder near Edrom, Sept. 12. 1967 ‘Tweed near Mertoun Bridge, Sept. 14. 1969 Killmade Burn, May 31; Earnscleugh Water below Edgarhope Wood, June 7; Blackadder in upper part of Greenlaw Dean, July 5 ; Pease Burn culvert under Ar, Aug. 2; Monynut below Bankend, Aug. 2; Whitadder near Edrom, Aug. 30. 241 242 THE TRICHOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE 1970 Upper Dye valley above Byrecleugh, June 15 ; Whitadder near Hutton, Oct. 24. Summary.—NT 53, 54, 56, 64, 66, 75, 76, 85, 95, May-October. Rhyacophila obliterata McLach. 1952 Langton Burn near Gavinton, October. 1953 Langton Burn near Gavinton, July 30 and in August, September, and October 4, 11 and 18. 1963 Gavinton, Aug. 21 and 23; Whitadder near Edrom, several Sept. 12. Summary.—NT 75, 85, July-October. FAMILY GLOSSOSOMATIDAE Glossosoma vernale (Pictet) or boltoni Curt. according to Kimmins (1966) and in Hickin Caddis Larvae p. 95. 1964 Gavinton, Aug. 24. 1969 Whitadder near Willie’s Hole below Allanton, April 26. Summary.—NT 75, 85, April and August. Agapetus delicatulus McLach. 1955 Langton, one, July 7. Summary.—NT 75, July. Agapetus fuscipes Curt. 1953. Old dam overflow near Buchan Macmaces (Duns Castle - policies), July 29. 1963 Gavinton, in m.v. trap, Aug. 5. Summary.—NT 75, July and August. FAMILY HYDROPTILIDAE Hydroptila mclachlani Kiap. (vectis Curt. according to Kimmins 1966). 1963 “ee neat Hutton, swarming on boulders in river, Aug. 2 Summary. NT 85, August. FAMILY PHILOPOTAMIDAE Philopotamus montanus (Don.) 1953. Lees Cleugh, July 31. 1954 Aller Burn, several, May 8. 1969 Killmade Burn, several, May 31; small burn in wood north of Edin’s Hall, ‘several, June 14. . Summary.—NT 66, 75, 76, May, June, July. THE TRICHOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE 243 Wormaldia occipitalis (Pict.).. 1953 Langton Burn at Camp Moor, four, Oct. 11: Summary.—NT 75, October. FAMILY POLYCENTROPIDAE Plectrocnemia conspersa (Cutt.). 1953 Langton, August. 1963 Hule Moss, several at small lake, Aug. _ Summary.—NT 74, 75, August. Polycentropus flavomaculatus (Pict.). 1953 Gavinton, June 25, July 12, Aug. 4. 1963 Gavinton, July 30 and Aug. 2 ; Hule Moss, five Aug. 15. 1964 Whitadder near Edrom, June 17. 1968 Tweed at Lennel Braes, July 13; Whitadder above Preston Bridge, July 13 ; Whitadder below Chirnside Bridge, Aug. 3 1969 Elba and bank of Whitadder north of Edin’s Hall, June 14 ; Blackadder in lower part of Greenlaw Dean, July 5 ; Monynut below Bankend, Aug. 2 ; Dowlaw Dean and pond, June 21. 1970 Ale Burn, June 14. Summary. _NT 74, 75, 76, 84, 85, 86, 96, June-August. FAMILY PSYCHOMYIDAE Tinodes waeneri (L). 1953 Spottiswoode Lake, Sept. 26; Catan Sais 3 and Aug. 8. 1955 Oxendean pond, June 4; Retreat near Abbey St. Bathans, July 31 ; Duns Castle lake, Aug. 22. 1968 ‘Tweed at Lennel, July 13. | 1969 Pease Burn culvert under At, several, Aug. 2; scaur on tight bank of Whitadder above Hutton Castle Mill, Sept. I. Summary.—NT 64, 75, 76, 84, 85, 86, 95, June-September. Psychomyia pusilla (F.). 1955 Langton Burn near Gavinton, July 7 Gordon Moss, July 21; Spottiswoode Lake, July 24. Summary-—NT 64, 755 July. 244 THE TRICHOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE FAMILY HYDROPSYCHIDAE Fydropsyche instabilis (Cutt.). 1953 Gavinton, July 12, Aug. 11. 1955 Gavinton, July 7, 21, 29 and Aug. 23. 1963 Gavinton, July 30, Aug. 1, 2, and 3. 1964 Gavinton, July 17. Summary.—NT 75, July and August. Hydropsyche pellucidula (Cutt.). 1955 Gordon Moss, one July 21. Summary.—NT 64, July. FAMILY ODONTOCERIDAE Odontocerum albicorne (Scop.). 1953 Langton, Aug. 12; Gavinton, at light, Aug. 6; Aller Burn, Aug. 1. 1954 Langton Burn, Aug. 8. 1955 Gavinton, July 29. 1957 Gavinton, Aug. 7. 1959 Langton Burn near Gavinton, Aug. 8; Langton Glen, August. 1964 Twin Law, July 23. 1969 Pease Burn culvert under A1, Aug. 2; Monynut below Bankend, Aug. 2. Summary.—NT 65, 75, 76, July and August. FAMILY LIMNEPHILIDAE Drusus annulatus Steph. 1953 Gavinton, July 31, seven in August, one in Sept. ; Lees Cleugh, Aug. 16. 1954 Lees Cleugh, Aug. 15. 1963 Gavinton, Aug. 20 and 24. Summary.—NT 75, July-September. Ecclisopteryx guttulata Pict. 1953 Langton Burn, six in May. 1964 Gavinton, three, June 5. Summary.—NT 75, May, June. Limnephilus auricula Curt. 1953 Lees Cleugh, one Aug. 16. 1961 Gavinton, one Sept. 15. Summary —NT 75, August, September. THE TRICHOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE 245 Limnephilus centralis Curt. 1953 Langton Burn, June 28, July 31. 1954 Langton Burn, one at sugar, Oct. ro. 1955 Kyles Hill, Aug. 12. 1964 Kyles Hill, four July 15 ; Hartside, July 13 ; Loch Wood near Flass, May 23 ; Gavinton, June 6. 1969 Wood north of Edin’s Hall, June 14. Summary.—NT 45, 65, 75, 76, May-August and October. Limnephilus elegans Cutt. 1955 Gordon Moss, four June 24. Summary —_NT 64, June. Limnephilus flavicornis F. 1955 Oxendean pond, two June 4, six Oct. 7; Duns Castle lake, three Aug. 22. 1956 Hirsel Loch, three Sept. 7. 1963 Gavinton, one in m.v. trap, Sept. 19. Summary.—NT 75, 84, June, August, September and October. Limnephilus griseus L. 1954 Lees Cleugh, Aug. 15 ; Kyles Hill, Aug. 25. 1963 Hule Moss, three Aug. 18. Sammary.—NT 74, 75, August. Limnephilus incisus Curt. 1963 Hule Moss, two Aug. 15. Summary.—NT 74, August. Limnephilus lunatus Cutt. 1953 Gavinton, July 9; Camp Moor, Oct. 11; Hule Moss, Sept. 6; Gordon Moss, Aug. 6. 1954 Gordon Moss, Aug. 12 ; Gavinton, October. 1955 Oxendean pond, Oct. 7; Gavinton, July 31; Gordon Moss, Aug. 9; Kyles Hill, Aug. 13. 1956 Old Cambus Quarry, Sept. 1. 1963 Hule Moss, Aug. 15 and Sept. 21. 1970 Whitadder near W. Blanerne, Sept. 26. Summary.—NT 64, 74, 75, 85, 86, July-October. Limnephilus luridus Cutt. 1953 Hule Moss, Sept. 6. 1954 Gordon Moss, Aug. 12. 246 THE ‘FRICHOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE 1955 Gordon Moss, seven July 1. 1956 Hirsel Loch, Sept. aie 1963 Gavinton, Aug. 1 and 12. 1964 Gavinton, July 16; Hule Moss en “ie ‘Grid Law, Jl 17 and 20. 1965 ‘Twin Law, July 16. Summary.—NT 64, 65, 74, 75, 84, june: Sepictanen Limnephilus marmoratus Cutt. 1953 Hule Moss, Sept. 6. aye eur Ee 1955 Gavinton, July 21; Kyles. Hill, Aug. 13; Duns Castle Lake, Aug. 22; Hirsel Loch, six Sept. 7 aes ale 1957 Gavinton, June 24. 1963 Gavinton, Aug. 23. _ Summary.—NT 74,75, 84, June-September. Limnephilus nigriceps Zett. 1953 Hule Moss, eight Oct. 18, one . Nov. ae . Summary.—NT 74, October, November. Limnephilus rhombicus L. 1953 Longformacus, three Avg. 11. 1955 Gavinton, July 21 and 23 ; Gordon Moss, Tein 21; Duns Castle Lake, Aug. 22. 1957 Gavinton, June 24. Summary.—NT 64, 65, 75, June-August. Limnephilus sparsus Cutt. 1953 i Cleugh, Aug. 16 ; Langton, July 29 ; Gavinton, , Aug, 1954 Wess Cleugh, Aug. 15; Langton, Aug. 25. 1955 Oxendean Pond, June 4 ; Gordon Moss, June 4, Jay 2 20, and Aug. 9. 1956. Hirsel Loch, Sept. 7 1963 Gavinton, very sie. Aug. 1, 24, and Sept. 19 5 Hule Moss, Aug. 8 1964 Flass, June 6: Hule Moss, June 7; Twin Law, July 17 and 20... Saummary.—NT 64,-65, 74,75, 84, tune Sepia Limnephilus stigma Cutt. 1953 Gavinton, Aug. and Oct. 7. 1955 Gordon Moss, six June 24, July 21, and Aval 9. THE TRICHOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE 247 1956 Kyles Hill, Aug. 24. 1963 Hule Moss, Aug. 15. Summary.—NT 64, 74, 75, July, August, October Limnephilus vittatus F. 1953 Hule Moss, eight Sept. 6 ; Gavinton one 27. 1956 Old Cambus Quarry, six ‘Aug. 20; Mire Loch St. Abbs, Oct. 27. 1969 Dowlaw Pond, three June 21. Summary.—NT 74, 75, 86, 96, June, August-October. Grammotaulius atomarius F. 1953 Gavinton, June, August and September. 1955 Gordon Moss, Aug. 9. 1956 Old Cambus Quarry, Aug. 20; Hirsel Loch, Sept. Tee 1964 Gavinton, June 6. Summary. —_NT 64, 75, 84, 86, June, ‘pear September. © | Glyphotaelius pellucidus (Retz.). 1955 Gordon Moss, June 24,. July Ts Aug. 9; Duns Castle Lake, four Aug. aga 1964 Birgham House, one in m.v. trap, May 17,. Grace A Elliot. } Summary.—NT 64, 73, 75, May-August. Anabolia nervosa (Cutt.). 1952 Langton, October. 1953... Spottiswoode Lake, Sept. 26 ; Gavinton, Oct. Ag : Guava Moor, Oct. 11 ; Pouterlany near Duns, Oct. 7. 1963 Gavinton, Aug. 19. ras 1969 Killmade Burn, May 31. Summary.—NT 64, 66 75, May, August-October. Potamophylax stellatus (SES or psa (Curt.) nce to Kimmins. 1953 Gavinton, corer at light, oe 28, Aug. ‘Ay 55 oa ee 1957 Gavinton, July. 1963 Gavinton, Aug. 19 and 21. Summary.—NT 75, July, August. Halesus digitatus (Schrank). " 1953 Gavinton, August, Sept. 23, Oct. 4, 12, “20, Nov... 143 Spottiswoode Lake, Sept. 26. 1967 Redpath Moss, Sept. 14. Summary.—NT 53, ‘oi 75% Tasecneacaatnces 248 THE TRICHOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE Halesus radiatus (Cutt.). 1952 Gavinton, Oct. 18. 1953 Gavinton, Sept. 27, Oct. 7, 20. 1963 Cumledge Mill, Sept. 11. 1967 Tweed at Mertoun Bridge, Sept. 14. Summary.—NT 63, 75, September, October. Stenophylax lateralis (Stephens). 1964 Lees Cleugh, one May 28 (D. G. Long). Summary.—NT 75, May. Stenophylax permistus McLach. 1953 Gavinton, one September. Summary.—NT 75, September. Stenophylax sequax (McLach). 1953 Langton, July 31 ; Gavinton, six ae 8, 16, and Sept. 1954 Gordon Moss, Aug. 12. Summary.—NT 64, 75, July, August, Sooner Stenophylax vibex (Cutt.). 1955 Oxendean pond, two June 4. Summary.—NT 75, June. Chaetopteryx villosa (F.). 1953 Langton Burn near Gavinton, Oct. 17; Spottiswoode Lake, four Sept. 26. Summary.—NT 64, 75, September, October. FAMILY LEPTOCERIDAE Athripsodes albifrons (L.). 1955 Gavinton, five in m.v. trap, July 7. Summary.—NT 75, July. Athripsodes aterrimus (Steph.). 1955 Spottiswoode Lake, one July 24. Summary.—NT 64, July. Abthripsodes cinereus (Cutt.). 1955 Ayton, one June 18. Summary.—NT 96, June. THE TRICHOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE 249 Athripsodes dissimilis (Steph.). 1955 Gavinton, four at m.v. light, July 7. 1963 Gavinton, four at m.v. light, July 30 and Aug. 1. Summary.—NT 75, July, August. Athripsodes fuluus (Ramb.). 1955 Retreat near Abbey St. Bathans, one July 31. Summary.—NT 76, July. Mystacides azurea (L.). 1955 Duns Castle Lake, Aug. 22. 1967 Tweed at Mertoun Bridge, swarming in forenoon, Sept. 14. Summary.—NT 63, 75, August, September. Mystacides longicornis (L.). 1969 Mire Loch, St. Abb’s Head, July ro. Sammary.—NT 96, July. Oeccetis lacustris (Pict.). 1953 Gavinton, Aug. 8. Summary.—NT 75, August. Oeccetis ochracea (Curt.). 1953 Hule Moss, Sept. 6. 1963 Hule Moss, Aug. 14. Summary.—NT 74, August, September. FAMILY SERICOSTOMATIDAE Sericostoma personatum (Spence). 1953 Langton, July 29, 31, and Aug. 1. 1955 Gavinton, June 17. 1957 Whitadder near Preston, June 22. Summary.—NT 75, June-August. FAMILY GOERIDAE Silo pallipes (F.). 1953 Langton, March 24, June 28, July 31, Aug. 8. 1963 Gavinton, Aug. 1 and 2. Summary.—NT 75, March and June-August. 250 THE TRICHOPTERA OF BERWICKSHIRE REFERENCES Hickin, N. E., 1967, Caddis Larvae, London. Kimmins, D. E., 1966. A Revised Check-list of the British Trichoptera. Eni. Gaz. 17, 111-120. Kloet, G. S. and Hincks, W. D., 1964, A Check List of British Insects. Second Edition (Revised). Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects, Vol. XI, Part 1, R..E. S. London. BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ CLUB SEASON 1970. LIST OF NEW MEMBERS 1969-70 Appleyard, Miss E. A., M.A., J.p., Longknowe, Alnmouth Road, Alnwick. Brown, R. Lamont, 25 Ladywell Road, Tweedmouth. Buglass, Miss I., 8a Low Greens, Berwick-on-T weed. Connell, Mrs. A. R., 5 Murrayfield Avenue, Edinburgh 12. Carpenter, Mrs. A. L., Marlowe House, 56 High St., Bridge, Canterbury. | Dickinson, Mrs. A. M., 9 Cross View, Norham. Forster, Mrs. E. M., 13 Ravensdowne, Berwick-on-T weed. Gillon, Miss I. A., Abbey St. Bathans, Duns. Gilchrist, Mrs. J. T., 92 High Street, Coldstream. Gladstone, Mrs. A. J.; 1 Farne Road, Spittal. Harvey, Mrs. E., The Schoolhouse, Lauder. Hood, Mrs. S., Greenheugh Cove, Cockburnspath. Henderson-Campbell, Miss M., Netherbyres, Eyemouth. Johnson, Mrs. Ethel, 1 Roseville, Market Square, Coldstream. Lamb, R. H., Esq., Ramsheugh, Cockburnspath. Lang, Mrs. J. D., Newton, Jedburgh. Lusk, Rev. John C., The Manse, Foulden, Berwick-on-Tweed. McLean, Mrs. M., Oldhamstocks Main, Cockburnspath. Maxwell, Mrs. M. E., 12 Ivinson Road, Tweedmouth. Maxwell, Mr. Stuart, 23 Dick Place, Edinburgh EHg 2JU. Parry-Evans, Rev. C. J., Innisfree, Yetholm, Kelso. Parry-Evans, Mrs. C.'S., Innisfree, Yetholm, Kelso. Patterson, Mr. S., Overleet, Duns Road, Coldstream. Patterson, Mrs. E. F. Y., Overleet, Duns Road, Coldstream. Rea, Mrs. C., 7 Ladywell Road, Tweedmouth. Swallow, Mrs. M. K., 22 St. Aidans, Seahouses. Swinton, Lt.-Col. John, Kimmerghame, Duns. Skinner, Mr. B. C.,,10 Randolph Cliff, Edinburgh 3. Turner, Mr. T. H. D., Old Coastguard Station, Cockburnspath. Turner, Dr. R. W. D., 15 Russell Place, Edinburgh 5. Van Dyk, Dr. S. J. P., 139 Eglinton Hill, Shooters Hill, London SE18. Watson, Mr. I. L., The Anchorage, Cockburnspath. Wood, Mr. Robert, 4 Devon Terrace, Berwick-on-T weed. Wood, Mts. E., 4 Devon Terrace, Berwick-on-T weed. Wall, Mr. John S., Herringthorpe, 233 Main Street, Spittal. Wardale, Mr. Harry, Akeld, Wooler. Weatherhead, Mr. R., 3.sc., 1 Viewforth, Dunbar. Wood, Mr. Arthur, D.A., A.R.I.B.A., 206a St. Johns Terrace, Spittal. Wood, Mrs. J. E., 206a St. Johns Terrace, Spittal. 251 252 NEW MEMBERS 1970-71 Barker, Mrs. C., 19 Quay Walls, Berwick-on-T weed. Clark, Mrs. C., 5 Northumberland Avenue, Berwick-on-T weed. Davidson, Miss M., 8 St. Helens Terrace, Spittal. Day, Mr. H. B., 52 Mountbel Road, Stanmore, Middlesex. Dickinson, Mrs. C. T., 12 St. Helens Terrace, Spittal. Edgecombe, Mrs. B., Colville House, Ayton, Eyemouth. Furness, Mrs. M. G., Mill Farm, Eyemouth. Forman, Mrs. I., 49 Church Street, Berwick-on-T weed. Gray, Miss C. M., 11 Sea Bank, Alnmouth. Hamilton, Mrs. E. J., 9 Percy Terrace Berwick-on-T weed. Holmes, Mrs. E. M., Waterloo Hotel, Berwick-on-T weed. Hill, Mrs. E. T., Prior House Farm, Ord, Berwick-on-Tweed. Jerrard, Miss E., Plough Cottage, Oldhamstocks, Cockburnspath. King, Mr. G. H., 5 Longstone View, Berwick-on-Tweed. Kerr, Miss D., 6 Tintagel House, Love Lane, Berwick-on-T weed. Long, Mrs. G., 64 Cheviot View, Ponteland, Newcastle-on-Tyne. McLean, Mr. P. A., w.s., Windyrig, Cockburnspath. McLean, Mrs. W. M., M.B., C.L.B., Windyrig, Cockburnspath. Mackay, Rev. Hugh, M.a., F.s.A., The Manse, Duns. Millard, Mr. A. S. O., White Lodge, Castle Terrace, Berwick-on-Tweed. Millard, Mrs. E. E., White Lodge, Castle Terrace, Berwick-on-Tweed. Minchin, Mrs. M. I., Cruxfield Cottage, Duns. MacNaughton, Miss J., 72 Newfields, Berwick-on-Tweed. Mole, Mr. A. J., ‘‘Hillcrest”, Horncliffe, Berwick-on-Tweed. Mole, Mrs. M.., ‘‘Hillcrest”, Horncliffe, Berwick-on-Tweed. Nichol, Mrs. D. E. C., 191 Main Street, Spittal. Ross, Rev. H. S., St. Paul’s Manse, 176 Main Street, Spittal. Ross, Mrs. E. L., St. Paul’s Manse, 176 Main Street, Spittal. Renton, Mrs. A. W., Bell Tower House, Berwick-on-Tweed. Swan, Lt.-Col. W. B., Blackhouse, Reston. Shaw, Mrs. M., The Garden House, The Hirsel, Coldstream. Stark, Mr. John, 32 Castle Drive, Berwick-on-T weed. Stark, Mrs. A. S., 32 Castle Drive, Berwick-on-Tweed. Stuart, Lt.-Com., R. L., Mains House, Chirnside, Duns. Simerl, Mr. L. E., pH.D., Whitehall, Chirnside, Duns. Simerl, Mrs. M. R., Whitehall, Chirnside, Duns. Sparke, Miss Anne, Ford Castle, Berwick-on-T weed. Talbot, Mr. J. L., 18 Southfield Terrace, Walker, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Wilson, Miss J. H., 16 The Parade, Berwick-on-Tweed. Wilson, Mrs. D. E. M., Garth Cottage, The Green, Swinton, Duns. ol 6 $1 12 42 (font 9. 21 £1 II ZI 901 0 0 SH Oo. oooo t0wWw O oo ‘Jaquisideag puzz ‘yuRg Iv s0ULTVg HPsIID (Jornsvat], ‘UOF{) SIIOW “OC ‘KM “FIN (Ate107995 SUuTIpa) aUULy “D *{ “ANY (uoTEIDOss_ ysig 0} 29388979q) FUMIW “SII (Axe303996) IOTTTA AAW “A “FIN sasuadxg sjv1n{O A8opoarypIY YsHIIg "[D “doy 309 Ze AgojoseaTy ysnisg jo [Iouno7 "+ puryjoog [ery JO UOHPANeSsesg JO} S0ssy "+ uoTeIDOssy YsiIg apaeD PIA weYysurYyD SUOUGIAIS QUE yooq anbays pue sodsseyo yueg ; asnoy] projsioqqy pur ‘Aaqqy ssospayy “eTIS"D SOIMUyY “own 3 sowMjesr+) JaINsvaT], Portjos JOF uSYOT, Yoog : UOT}VAVIXI WILYSUIPIOZ yuourked yurUsA07 JO sp22qq uondrsosqng JO} sps¥d JO 9svjsOg Me "* predzaao0 ‘sqng jo punjoy sjuswie}vIg Jo survor}dnqg _Aerqry dTqNg UI syood FOF Jay + Ayrqery o1Tqng pue syooq Joy sduvINsUT sasuadxy Aapuns ae ©* — syOOq 9974} JO SuIpurg s[Ioueis puv so8visod ‘saot10u qnyD jo Sunulig (a3euITIsd [eUOTSTAOTg) 6961 ATOISTFT JO SunjuITg ‘ol61 AdaUOLIDIS PUD TULJUIAT AYN.LGNAdXA or gt Lg oi (CE oe ‘+ suondizasqng prediaaQ 0 oO gF x es ee "+ suojjeuod OL UE ee es ian ie JUBUIAO’) JO Sp20qq Satdpuns 6) Li ok OSI gz oe an =“ che SJeoITY ison act ae he rh sospeg jo [vs 0 0 92 Be 8 ny $90,J 0UvIIUG (oir aes A719 me Azerqry puv sorun( ‘jenuuy SUO1IGLAIS NG o. @-.1sy.. Ses 6961 ‘saquicidag puzz Ie sDUL[eg MporD WOON YWHANALdHS PU2? ONIGNH UVAA AHL WOd LNAWALV.LS TVIONVNIA S aed nsVaaL BALANCE SHEET LIABILITIES Carried from General Account ag = ane 2400 td Investment Account Balance at September, Sa) asim Gurney Interest added aa : a 1% @) ©) 59 15 Special Investment Dept. .. .. £204 10 0 Interest added = 3 cd £3) Gs 2% —_———__2217 Io Special Investment Dept. .. Pe OsmUorrt Interest added ae = a. 4 0 4 ee 67 19 £585 19 W. O. MORRIS, Hon. Treasurer. ASSET S Cash in Bank Royal Bank of Scotland Trustee Savings Bank (Special Investment Dept.) (Special Investment Dept.) Audited and found correct. P. G. GEGGIE, Hon. Auditor. 29th September, 1970. e240) 14) G6 See) Pape slo) Ae a G7ato £585 19 7 HISTORY BERWICKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ CLUB The Centenary Volume and Index, issued 1933, price 5(0)p. is invaluable as a guide to the contents of the History. Nel ere ee eee 4 1 or ok io 4 Raion “an 0 ey Mae aed