62 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 14, 1898.

I.

A SURREY OF THE CATRAIL. By FRANCIS LYNN, F.S.A. SCOT.

s e purposCatrail—whait d Th wha s o madan wa , tewh 1 it e , it s i t To find an answer, I propose to examine the work itself, follow its track (fig. 1), note any connection it has with human dwellings, com- par t i wite h other e worksamth f eo s character d finan d, what light can thus be got. The line of earthwork known as the Catrail was formerly held to have its northern termination at Mossilee, but, through the investiga- tion of William Kemp, is now usually held as beginning at Torwood- lee Hill, some ij miles northwards from . It is found circling round more than two sides of a British fort there, which is also remarkabl s containina e e remainth g a t beyonf Bu o s . d this ther e remainar e lina f f Catraio eso l runnin e rivere banth th f kp o .g u e trace b a stee Thin o t dpca s wooded bank above Jeddart Haugh;1 e oppositth n o ed sid an f Galo e a Water, below Kew JBuckholm farm, there is also a double line of Catrail formation (fig. 2), which, coming from the river, runs upwards, crossing the eastern approach to Torwoodlee House, and also the road, and running up the bank of the smal e farm-house th e leas f th buro t o t n . Ther t i entere n lano s d unde rt bee cultivationno ns traceha d dnorthere an , furtherth t Bu n . terminatio e Catraith f no l canno fixede saib e b t o dt . In considering the curious way the Catrail circles round the fort hille onth , turning almost completel returo t f yi rounns a dow , dit e nth valley of the Gala, I came to surmise that there had been another line by the river-bank, and that that surrounding the fort was a sort of loop fro mmaia n line below. This surmise became something stronger when Captain Pringl f Torwoodleo e e dre y attentiowm e remain th o a t n f o s large fort close to the garden and on the river-bank, which was little, t allia f , inferio thao t r t hille onth .

1 Some years since ther hers verewa a y perfect remnant, whiche actioth f y no b , the river, had been slid downwards out of its original line, but three years ago this was carried away. A SURVEY OF THE CATKAIL. 63

I here remark that the approach of the Catrail from the south to e hille Ordnanc giveth s th u e ,for n n th o no t e t correctlmapsno s i , y marked t I shows leavina . t i e sforta zigzath g n .i g lined thean ,n passing dowe stri th e f eas no pf th e fielo neatth o e t sid dth f ro e plantation. In reality, the Catrail can yet be seen inside the e linth e plantationd takean e zigzanp Th to rais g.e a eth for t ma suspicion thae trac th ty whic b k h stones were removed froe formth t (and it is known that it formed a quarry for generations) was put down as the Catrail. No doubt there would be a connection with the fortt nothinbu , remainw gno indicato t s s positioeit r characterno n O . r sidf fa o e e e e fortnort th e th th moune Catrai f th ,n th ho o f o s di l the trench; but on the west, where the ridge connecting the site of the foro Crosslet t e Hil s crossedi l e sid th moune e n th ,nex o e forts di th t , s highei d an r tha o strengthent s usuala o s e positio, th n f thoso n e holding the fort on the side where it was naturally most assailable. Coming down towards Galashiels e e e traceCatraib th th , n o t dca l edge of the wood, but in. the field between this and the strip of wood below, where we have already remarked on its presence, I have not seen e muson an t e yhav th vestige t e Bu curve. d intothere line oth eTh . in this lower wood is much flattened, and has clearly been long sub- e jecteplougth o t dh befor e treeth e s were s quiti planted t i e t bu ; traceable downwards, till just after crossing the disused Edinburgh road, and nearing the approach to Torwoodlee House, it shows somewhat plainer. Then r somfo , e distance betwee e approacnth d han e publith c roa d Burn s onldi Re t neayi ,e traceableth re Be th d t A . Burn only a faint indication remains. The formation of the railway s completeha s obliteratiodit n here. About this point must have been the separation between the line we have traced from the upper fort d thaan t which must have gone e river-bankrounth n lineo e d Th , . after crossind BurnRe e , gth run s aslan e publit th tha f o ct road from Galashiels to , hut opposite the gate entering to the Birks mansion-house it again reappears between the road and the river-bank. Her wele t eusei b o ldt preserved t hasbu , , unfortunately, been founo dt be a convenient depot for rubbish, and so is now nearly obliterated. Just opposit e Blynleth e e quarry ther e appearancear e a branc f o s h £fi£!*:~?aa^' oiHeWORKs otc/umil *^- i/nc6rtcun. «»«""""*. (*»* / showinp Ma course Catraile . gth 1 th Fig f .e o . 5 6 A E CATKAILSURVETH F O Y .

having lefe maith e t ne th lin f th lineeo n o , whicn ru ho t point f i s a s old Peebles road. From this point, for some distance southwards, the line of Catrail lias been carried away by the action of the river, but opposite the gate to Blynlee Hous t i reappeare s strongly.1 Below this line f Catraith ,o e l has been for some distance removed by the railway cuttings, but it is known to have followed round the top of the river-bank, and is shown e Ordnancoth n e fielth ed n mapi betwee s a se e railwath th n d an y water, and running down to Kilknowe farm-steading. Where the stead- ing is, there has been a considerable fort or camp, of which remains are visible; and there are indications between the fort and the river, and in the line on which the Catrail runs in leaving Kilknowe, as its line is faintly marked inside the wood before it reaches the Windyknowe road, which raise a presumption that it was in immediate contact with the fortd passean , d s rounouteit n i dr ditch. This wile referreb l o t d later, when other instances have been found. All recent authorities agree that the present Windyknowe road has bee e Catrain th formee lin f th o e l n frodo m wher t i eemerge s froe mth small plantation behind Leebrae House whero t , e roaeth dr turnfo f of s the public water reservoir. Then leaving this latter road, it runs along a field fence towards Mossilee. But between Leebrae and Mossilee no e seeb o provt nw s presenceno it emar n e Ordnancca kTh . e Survey maps show the line as passing above Mossilee farm-house. This is now almost obliterated line s herth eha et dividebu , d linesinto tw os a , ther s i anothee r whic e loweth h f e gardero come th t sid f ou o nes enclosure, and runs along under the farm-house, where it is well marked till it crosses the burn. It is said that formerly a blind man could follow the Catrail from Mossile Kinko et t nowbu , , after crossing Mossilee ploughe e Burth n ni d land line th onls ,ei y noticeabl strengte coloucroe e th th th r po f y o erb h

1 On the higher side of the work there are some fragments of trench, which are marke e Ordnancth n do ee remainmapth s a fort a sI f hav st o bee. no e n ablo et identif yfortsita e I rathef thith eo . s sa r think they were forme catch-watera s da , towards fillin e neighbourinpona gth t da g far Kilknowef mo , which existed before the formation of the railway. VOL. XXXII. E Section sheu>6 Branch to ite Blynlee Quarry Heap. Mound o.umyCut . Riverby

Neur BockKolm

°W

Catraie Th Fig . 2 l. near Torwoodlee. 7 6 A E SUEA'ECATRAILTH F O Y .

stubblee oth f . After crossing Stamris Bur s linn it s slightli e y marked grase inth s park wooe , th bu dn i t risin Paro gt k House Hill (now com- monly known as Watt's Hill) it is distinctly seen. I here ask attention . e plat oth sectionsd n an (fig ) 3 .o sho t , wcharacteristia c which obtains l alon al e Catrailgth . The old bridle-road from Yair comes down the angle between the valleys forme y Stannib d s e valleBur th d tha f an nyo t coming from Hollybush, and a glance at the sections will show that when the Catrail passes this point, the mound which was on the west shifts to the east, and continues so till Tweed is crossed, proving that the position of the mound, in relation to the trench, is governed by the natural fall of the ground. After leaving the wood, the Catrail mounts a little higher on the ridge, and then runs along towards the Rink. Here, where the highest part is reached, the Ordnance maps place a camp, which the Catrail seems to run right through. This camp cannot now be traced. mape th s se Catrail a uniqu s showth e lins f th wa e o wa n t .i ,t eo i f i t Bu I know of only one other case where a similar work runs through a camp.1 The Catrail here forms only a slight depression, but with care can be followed wootile th l reaches d i e wes e ridg th f th Holly o to n e t do - bush farm, where the work is very well preserved. The Ordnance maps Catraie th shof i s lw a descende d from this ridg n threei e lines t onlbu , y the centre one of the three can now be seen as a hollow, about 18 feet wide by 10 inches deep, which dies away before the middle of the field is reached. Probably the first two of the traces on the map are correctly given s undea , r Rink Fort ther e unmistakablar e o linetw ys of Catrail, and this is probably where the separation took place. In the vicinity of Eink Fort there are evidences that the dimensions of the Catrail were greater than we have yet found them. Most of it is under plough, however, and is rapidly disappearing. At one point the trench has been made a depot for land-gathered stones, and there the remains show a large hollow, with a mound on both sides. U thio pt s poin have w t e only foun mounda one n de lowero th , , side of the work; but we find now and onward that when a fort is being 1 In Cheviot Burn, head of Bowmont Water. SCALE, oj SECTIONS TheCATRAlL from MlKnowe to (o«*d av Hoioden pot-Burn foot Fig. S. A SURVEY OF THE CATRAIL. 69

passed, there is usually a smaller mound on the higher side also. This would provide the holders of the fort with a breastwork, which they could use in commanding the Catrail, and preventing its being- used against themselves direcA . t connection wit e greath h t for t Rina t k e tracedcannob w .no t Jeffreys planhi n ,i ,show e uppeth s r linf o e Catrail as turning upwards, and entering the gate of the fort. Prob- ably branca ther s ewa h thus connecting e tracedt i b canno t w bu ,.no t e linTh e itself certainl n forward s agaira i y d nan , well preserven i d the plantation behind the cottages at Kink. I saw its line clearly in the vegetation in August 1896. Between the great fort of Eink d Hollybusan h Loch thera smalle s i ee loweth r fortd r an lin,f o e Catrail already referre o without d t doub n alon ra e touter th g trench of this fort, and continued forward. The Ordnance Survey maps, and Jeffrey following them, take this line into the well-preserved part behind the cottages, but examination has satisfied me that it ran downwards into a line still strongly marked in the wood below Eink farm, and which has been overlooked by the Ordnance Survey. Some writers who have noticed this lower line have said that it seemed to ford the Tweed and run to Sunderland Hall, but it plainly follow e river-bane curvth th sf o e k upwards vers i d y an distinc, t just before it leaves the wood at its upper end. It then curves through the cultivated ground till it reaches the line of the branch which came under e higheth r fortd togethean , r they forrivee th d r Tweed just above eth small islan t Howdea d t Burn-foot nPo e fiel th d n beforI . fore th s ei d reached, the track of the lower line is very plainly seen in the vegeta- tion ; while that of the higher cannot be seen at all, indicating that it wae morth s e two d probablth use an ,f o d y continue untie us a ln di later periode higheTh . r lin f Catrailo e , after passing behin cote dth - tages at Eink, can still be traced where it crosses the modern road, both on the upper and lower sides. After crossin e Tweedth ge Catraie tracth th ,f o kl run n almosi s t a straigh angle tth lin ep u ebetwee e valleth n f Tweeo y d thaf dan o t Howde t BurnPo n . After crossin e roath g d from Yai o Selkirkt r , whic t doehi s nea lodge th r e gat Sunderlano et d bees Hallha n t i ,take n for some distance as the boundary between, the wood and the cultivated 70 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 14, 1898.

land, and is being rapidly filled up by being used as a depot for land- gathered stones. Just here, the site of a large fort is passed, now almost effaced. Befor e t moorlani entereth n o s t Yaia d r Cribse th , line runs throug hprojectina gwoode parth f o t. Her e holloth e d wan mound are fairly distinct, and I show a section (fig. 4) :—

. Befor4 . eKg enterinn go moo t Yaia r r Cribs.

A few yards after it leaves the wood and enters the moorland, both trench and mound disappear, and cannot be certainly seen until fully half way up the ridge connecting the Cribs with Peat Law, where it shows this sectio e traceb n n (figdca .upward d 5)an , s til t curvei l n o s

ridgn O Fig . e 5 .connectin g Cribs Hill with Peat Law. Pean FigO t. Law6 . .

to the Peat Law (fig. 6), along which it can be followed as far as the Red Score Nick, a bridle-road in the hollow between Peat Law and Three Brethren Cairn. Several of the tracks on the east of the Peat Law and in the sides of Sunderlandhope, shown on the Ordnance maps • f thao bridle-roade e t b ar type t o at s bu ,e Catrail t seem no so m t o d , and peat-tracks, made at a more recent date. The fragment of Catrail on the south face of Linglie Hill cannot be made out as part of any continuous line. It is cut in the rock, and so is very t runi wel d sl en preservedint e centre th morassoa on f t eo A ,. whic s formerlwa h a smaly l loch (the Deilie's Loch)othee d Th en r. dies out suddenly, and cannot be held to have been formed further. Probably it had a purely local purpose. On Peat Law there are evidences of another ancient track, which was used in the middle ages as a road. It runs straight southwards towards Lindean. Queen Mary is said to have gone this way on her journey to , and probably by this A SURVEY OF THE CATRAIL. 71

road also cam e followerth e Knigh th f o f sLiddesdaleo t , wite th h body of their slaughtered lord. d BetweeScor Ee e hea ee th f Philipbur Nicth no dd an k n thers ei e Catrailtraco th e n grounf eo Th .s peati d d coverean y d with rank e hea th f vegetationPhilipbur o dt a t Bu .n ther distince ear t remains for abou 0 yards 20 t tI crosse. s froe wesmth e burnt th sids f a ,o e d com e ha p thaburn-headu eth t i itf o t side d runt an ou ,s , where it again disappears.1 The ground along the back of Broomie Law to Williamhope Eig is marshy, and no certain trace of the Catrail is seen till descendinwe ear Pernianscoro gt e (fig , wher 7) s plainl.i t ei y marked.

Fig. 7. Descending from William- Pernianscoreo t hop g eRi . Also, after crossin e holloth g f Pernianscorewo s plainli t i , y seen ascending the other side, but grows fainter, and curves round between the top of Brown Eig and the South Grain, in the head of Williamhope Burn. It can be followed till almost opposite the line of Wallace Trench, where the ground grows very marshy and full of springs, which make considerable heap theiy sb r discharges. Her trace eth losts ki . My impression is that from this place forward the Catrail runs mostly in the line of the old Minchmoor road. I have not succeeded in find- ing any trace on the south slopes of Minchmoor, along which it has been stated to run; but, about 150 yards beyond the Cheesewell, on the north side, I found a trench and mound of decidedly Catrail type, turning as if to run along the northern slope of Minchmoor. But, after a little, it curved round, and ran back into the line of the drove-road descending to Traquair. On the under side of the drove-road over Minchmoor I als, o foun a lindf Catrailo e , abou 2 fee1 t t wide, curving down the side of the Middle Eig into the hollow of Flora Burn, which goes down into Tweed valley almost opposite Purves Hill, the undermost of the large cluster of forts in this section of . I am certain that another line besides that from Yair Cribs came up from Selkir1 k direction. Ther tracee ear s between Peatla Fowlshielsd wan , lower down. GUrussbef* - c*

A 1651

YARROW WATER HANNEL-

. UNEOF CflTRAIL*. SECTIONS

Fig. 8. Line of Gatrail, and sections— and Hannelhead. 3 7 A SURVE YE CATRAIL OTH F .

Having failed in connecting the line of Catrail we have been follow- ing with that whic e know h o exiswt t above Yarrow kirk e shalw , l now begin therea backwar d follon i an , t i w d direction e CatraiTh . l appear a hollo n i s w some distance behin d abov an de shepherd' th e s house of Whitefield. At first there are only fragments, the track havin y winteb gp u rbee t 'torrents cu no shorTw t. pieces showa section about 18 feet wide, with a strong mound on the lower side. Getting on to marshy ground the line is faint, but it again re- appear t well-formebu s w witlo a h d moun n eaco d h side, running straight upward t theI s (fig n. turn8) . s wit a sharh p curve rund an ,s northwards along the face of Snout Head : about 50 yards below this linee turth , n theri branca s ei h throw whict nou h runs plainly through the hollow between Snout Head and Peat Law, and downwards into Catslack Burn, and curving southward, crosses the ridge behind Catslack Know curioue th t ea s ravin t Holese Ca thend knowe an , th , s turninna g westward, is lost in the cultivated patches behind Yarrow Feus.1 Ke- turnin e maith e no facg t f th Snouo lin ef o e t Head—the Swine Hill writers—thd ol e Brath f eo e Catrail runs along very distinctl r twoyfo - third mile.a f so 2 It then runs down-hill, and after crossing a small syke, becomes lost in rank spongy bottom agais i land t I n e summi. e founth th n f o do t ridge westwards from Welshie Law d runan , s straight forward an d down toward Haunele sth , here formin a gconspicuou hille s th lin-n o e shora r side tFo e bottospac.th s n coursi me it s lin it s lostei t e bu , runs straigh e ridgth eo tt acrosoppositep u bur e d th s nan , whers i t i e again found behind the new shepherd's house, and runs along the ridge between Curley and Fingland Burns, and is traceable almost to its ter- mination at , though I have not succeeded in fixing the lin f desceneo t fro e ridgemth . Here, too e fai o fine w ,t connec l th d -

Feue 1 th Ther f s o alsHile p ear o l to nea indicatione th r a branc f so h runnin- gto wards Mount Beuger Burn-foot. This look t presensa t more lik ea bridle-roa d than alin n i Catrail es i wit t e brancbu hth , h Oatrail crossing between Snout Head dan Peat Law. If Annan Street referred to a road to Annan, this might be it. 2 About halfway alon uppee th g n therr o side s i ea smal l circl ruinsn ei , about 20 feet in diameter, which may have been a hut circle or guard tower. 4 7 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F O S , FEBRUAR , 1898Y14 .

tion wit e linth he coming alon e otheth g r sid f Minchmooro e - Ob . viously bote runninar h g toward e greath s t clustee f th forto r n i s valle f Tweedo y , between Peeble d Innerleithenan s . Keturnino t g Yarrow a brea, k occurs between wher e foun w e Catraith d l above Whitfield shepherd' se poin houseth d t wheran , e Yarro s wfordei t a d Free th e church. This pars beeha tn long under cultivations a d an ; here the track must have been close under the steep face of a hill, material sliding down would speedily cove botp u r h trenc d moundhan . smallee Th r branc tracee hw d circling round from Catslack Burn could meane b continuatioa t s a no t e linth e f no comin g from Quair Water. The peculiarity of the way it branches off shows that it has been meant cominn me frop y gu e Yarrob m th e fous r w direction d althougan ; o hn forts remain, ther signe considerabla ear f so e population having existed in that district in the prehistoric period. Many cairn-like tumuli have been removed, and cist burials have been frequently discovered. Prob- ably, therefore, this branch had only a local purpose and use.1 From Yarro e Catraiwth l mounte anglth p esu betwee e Yarroth n w vale and that of Ladhope, after this rising well up till the track from Sundhope to Singlee is crossed. It then turns along the ridge and curves round toward summie sth f Sundhopo t e Law t herI . e show sectiosa n rather belo e averagwth e width (see sections K- M—Nd Lan , fig. 8) . e lin s faini Th e t across some marshy ground t jusbu , t where th e highest ridge is crossed it runs through a natural hollow. When the ground begins to slope down towards Ettrick all trace is lost, and is so steee th tilfooe f pth lo tdescen s reachei t d neae sid f th Gilmansro e - cleuch Burn, about a mile above Inch. Here it is distinct for about a a thirmile f o d. Below Gilmanscleuch faro tracen I mcoul e .se d Probably the line crossed near where Deloraine Burn falls in. At least it is again found crossing a burn between Cope Law and Stanhope Law, and running upwards. Here it is joined by a branch line e Ordnancshowth n o n e mapsn smali s a ,l pieces under Stanhope Law. This branch can also be traced above Stanhope Foot

1 This site was formerly known as Annan Street, changed by some writers into Annan Treat. My impression is that the former name indicated a traditional feeling that here passe ancienn line a df th e o t street wore followingw th , no k e whicar e . hw 5 7 A E CATRAILSURVETH F O Y .

poina o t t wher t runei s aslant Ettrick Water, pointin e directioth n gi n of the valley behind Crosslee, through which access could be had to Yarrow, both above and below the Loch of St Mary's.1 This line under Stanhope Law (fig. 9) is very much smaller than the ordinary Catrail. Mounting upwards e Catraitracee b th , n dca l betweed an n Copw La e Stanhope Law, almost to the summit of the ridge between them. But between this ridg d thaan et behind Standknow eI coul t fin t tilldno di , creste th jus n , o tabou pace0 20 t s eastwards frosummie mth f Stando t - knowe, the Catrail is distinct for a short distance.2 Beyond this there is a district the surface of which has at some time been largely cut away

Fig. 9. Branch line under Stanhope Law.

for peats, and so no trace of Catrail remains. But when Holm Law is reached e Catraith , s agaii l n seen running plainly along, wit htrenca h from 12 to 14 feet wide. It is easily traced to where it crossed the burn from Clear-burn Loch, just below the roadman's house on the Hawic d Tushielaan k w roadd neae ancienan th ,r t sit f Buccleuco e h Mill. A short way beyond the burn the Catrail reappears, running up e summie Blackriggth th o t f o t . Her t i measuree e poinon 0 2 tt a s feet wide by 4 feet deep, and again 16 feet by 2 feet; some- times with a mound on one side, sometimes on both, and again without any mound at all. Crossing the Blackrigg, it runs forward, curving away slightly westwards into the marshy ground above Kingside Loch. There

1 A line of very ancient track comes from to Yarrow, by way of Dryhope Rig, and continues into Ettrick. This was the line of a very large droving traffi generationsr fo c partn i tracke t sth bu , , where preserved, show sCatraia l type. 2 The summit of Standknowe forms a fine platform, with a considerable ridge of upstanding rock, forming a natural shelter against the north. What were natural deficiencie thin si s rocky scree walr no l have been buil artificiallyp tu luxuriane Th . t greennes e platfore wholth th f o sd e man surrounding s indicat es bee thaha n t i t occupied by men at some time, probably as summer quarters. 6 7 PROCEEDING F THO S E SOCIETY, FEBRUAR , 1898Y14 .

t disappearsi t bee ye I hav nt d eablno an , fino e continuatiot e th d f no this line in the direction in which it has been running since it crossed the Ettrick. In the foot of Phenzhope-haugh Burn, or Lake, as it is called —a tributar f Kanklyo e Burn—ther vera s i ey remarkable British fort, and just above it there is part of a line of Catrail, traceable for about half a mile. At two points this measures 18 feet wide by 5 feet deep. Then, in the other direction, about half a mile eastward from Henwoodie, a distinct track of Catrail, about 12 feet wide, crosses from the Ale Water, and runs down to Hoscot Burn (fig. 10). On the further sid f Hoscoeo t Bur t ncannoi whole tracede b tth t e bu ,surfac e thers eha been carted off, as the shepherd informed me, to supply peats to and other towns. Probably this linbranches eha d off that from Ettrick, somewhere abou e summie Blackriggth tth f o t d e comeeasth an , ty b , en f Ringsiddo e otheeth Lochn r O sid. e this line probably connected with the fine remain appearing lower down Hoscot Burn, which is shown e Ordnanconth e niaps .e see b s havin Thia nn ca s g crosse bure dth n from the ridge we have referred to as being stripped for peats; and leaving the burn, it runs straight up the slope westwards.1 Here the trench and mound are partly cut in the rock, and are well pre- served. The trench measures about 12 feet wide by 3 feet deep. After running up the hill for some distance, it curves somewhat and runs down towards Girnwood passed an , s inte arabloth e ground there, where its track is lost, until it reappears at the south-east angle of the enclosed t fieldsbeforBu . e reaching tha te plainlpointse e yw , coming down toward s frou s m behind Hoscot Shie a linel , whic s thai h t spokef no by e olde' th most f r o writer e Catraildistinctls th i s tha a sf t I o t . y traceable from this point northwards to the ridge behind Hoscot Shiel, but there becomes obliterated sais i paso dt t I s . near Bellendeand an ,

1 There is another line lower down, almost parallel to that described in the text, which runs straight down to Hoscot Burn at a place where the banks are rocky and precipitous. This Professor Veitch uses as proof that the Catrail was not a road (page 197, vol. 1., History Poetryd an Scot. Borders, editio f opinioo nm a 1893) nI t bu ; that this line crosse turniny d b burn e th f go , andownwardd dbe mountine th n si g opposite th e bank lowe t unusuano r s downi croso t lt I s i s. t burni ; thiy n si swa sometimes done when therappareno n s ei t necessity s thera , heres ei . Fig. 10. Line of Catrail, and sections—A.le Water to Slatehill Moss. 8 7 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , FEBRUAR , 189814 Y .

passes over the ridge from a little below Eedford Green, where it crosses the Hawick Eoad, and can be distinctly seen. Most authorities say that it comes there from the head of Deloraine Burn by Thorniecleuch. I looked carefully over that district madd an , e inquir e shepherdth t ya , whbeed oha n fourtee n nevegroundd e yearth ha t n r o ssee bu , n anything I satisfielik . eit d myself tha e kne h tgenerae wth l charactee th f o r work I was inquiring about, as he told me at once of the line along the e Holth foomf o tLaw , which f courseo d seen, I ha hav .I , e also examined the district between Hindhope in Ettrick and Eedford Green, thinkin connectioe gth n migh lowee b t r down t hav t see,bu eno n tracea . The starting-point or connection of this line is, therefore, another point yet unsolved. Eeturnin e pointh o t g wher e Catraith e l reappea e southth n o -r east of the Girnwood enclosures, it here runs along plainly at its best. t wheBu ne mansion-housclosth o t e f Hoseoto e e wateth , r collecting trence th formes n i ha h d quit e Catraia eravineth d lan , itself cannot be further traced tile Borthwicth l s crossedi k , wher a shore t distance upwards,'on Broadlee Burn t reappearsi , righte th d , cominn an , o t ou g curves roun south-wese dth fine t th side f foreo t there. Her t measureei s abou fee0 3 t t widdeep3 y eb . e boundary-walth t A l close abov e fore Catraith eth t t onca l e dis- appears, and across the meadow-land, a distance of about half a mile, it is lost, till it reappears faintly just befor e oppositth e e fenc reacheds i e . But outsid t onca e s thai e t weli t l marked, runnincrossind an e o t ggth burn. From this crossing the track is distinct and well preserved, being partly through rock : at first it has the mound on the right, but afterwards, when the slope of the surface changes, it is on the left. It is well preserved almost to the summit of the ridge between Borth- wick and .Teviot, where for a short space it is very faint. But after reaching the descent to Teviot, and approaching Slatehill Moss, the work is very strong, measuring about 30 ft. wide by 4 and 5 ft. deep. a trenc Hers i t hi e only d withouan , a mount eithen o d r side. Else- where we have noted the absence of a mound for short spaces, but here it is wanting all down the slope till the moss is reached. What has become materiath f e .track—hero eth lf o take t ou ne very largI e? 9 7 A E SUKVECATEAILTH F YO . y concludthinma e w ke thae materialth t carries wa d forwar foro dt m line th e acros mose th s s below. I have not been able to identify the line of Catrail across Slatehill Moss, nor anywhere in the sides of the burn below; indeed, Old North-Houses is passed before we are again certain of its presence. I think, however, that everything has not been done here, and hope to have better succes n somo s e future day t afteBu . r North-Houses i s passe e Catraith d s agaii l n plain d agaian , n t onllinethere no y on ,s ei but several. The line usually described runs right up the ascent from the meadow-land. This track is well marked, and runs up and over the ridge till it is cut by the modern road to Priest-haugh. Beyond that road it disappears, but just before this road is reached a smaller trench and mound are thrown out, almost at right angles, and running along Doecleuch Hill abou quartea t f a o rmile . Ther t suddenlei y stopsd an , does not appear to have extended further. Jeffrey shows this line in I cannos plant hi bu , t ancienthino e s linf th Catrait o ei ks a t t i l branche . Wherof t ou t I snoticei doee , so s d tha s mounit t raises di d across the trench of the main line. Probably it is only a makeshift, forme somr dfo e purpose afte e oldeth r r linbeed eha n disused. Then, ther s runnini e g aslan e hilth tl another lin f trenco e d an h mound, which the shepherds say is an old peat-road. It may have been used for this purpose, but is obviously very ancient, from the way whicn i t i hweatherd disappear an e summit e ridgeth th ou s n f i so .t And ther e severaar e l camps ove n thii r s direction. Ther s stili e l another line traceable from the meadow behind North-Houses, which rises along the west side of Doecleuch Hill, and passes through the hollo o Allawt n Water, winding dow d crossinan n e e wateth th g t a r large fort on the Priest-haugh side. Just above wher t i ecrosse e moderth s n road this lin f Catraieo s i l strongly marked d thi s probablan i ,s e spoth y t Gordon refer whero t s e t i crosses under Skelfhill. Allan Wate s crossei r d just beside th e large fort. Unfortunately, the river has here broken into the fort, and carried awa ys enclosures it par f e Catraio tth t s seei bu l ;o past n s along outside the outer wall, and runs forward through a meadow which has been long under cultivation. But its line can still be seen E CATRAITH L »> SIMILAR WORKS BETWEEN OLD NORTH-HOUSE 1h KING'S RIG

Fig. 11. PLAN S^6ECTIOIV LINF EO CATRAIL . KINGS-RIO TO ROBERTS-LINN SECTION N LINO S CATRAII F EO - V" SIMILAR WORKS • BETWEEN OLD NORTH-HOUSE V KING'S-RIC- Fig. 12

VOL. XXXII. 82 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 14, 1898. shephere th coloue crope d th th f n an ;i o rd tole thatdm , when cutting the hay, they find a rig running all along the lower side of the dark line. This runs towards Peelbrae-foot. We are now where Gordon states that the Catrail passes hy the Dod s i verBurne oppositd th y an ,n visibleo e ebur th d sidan f n;o e froe recently-builth m t shepherd's house e trenc, th therd e an har e moun a ver f o yd considerable lin f Catrailo e , which, passin p Pyogu t Syke, runs straigh e entranc th e slop th o for a t f Penchrist n e o f o teo e e wayth n Pent ,i intersect O . s almos t a right t angles another line which comes over the ridge between Penchrise Pen and White Hill, and which, crossing Penchris ee Pike Burd th the an o ,t n bending, rises upwards in an easterly direction to the ridge between Pike Hill and Burnt Craigs, wher t dieei s out. About two-third e ascenth p u ts it sends out a branch, which runs southwards towards the summit of Pike or Carriage Hill, as Gordon names it. But neither of these lines described since passing Peelburn-foot is the one described by Gordon and others, which comes straight ovee Pikth r e below Peelbrae Hope, mooe anth d o rrunt theren so . From that point, most writers carry it over Whitehill Brae, the wor whicn ko s verhi y apparent from this spot below Peelbrae Hope, s anbeeha d a nsnar o investigatorst e , leading them awa n i thay t direction. dubiouFros firse wa m th I t s abou trence th t Whitehiln ho l Brae bein y continuoug an par f o t s lin afted e ;an r several visits, found the true line continuing across the moss from Peelbrae Hope to Barry Syke. It-is quite obliterate r abou r grow0 o dyardsfo 20 p t t u nbu , then reappears running into the side of Barry Syke, here showing as goo sectioda occurs na s anywher e wholth n eo line. (Sectio) F. , nE spoa crossin e Burd t a Th t Do s whicn i f g o e Ordnanchth e Surveyors have marke dline ford.sees ei Th e forddivido nt I th .t ea into otw ask attention to this as of interest, and giving a connecting link with other works in existence, to which reference will be made afterwards. On the side of Dod Burn, after crossing, the connection with the line we followed past the fort on the Allan is very faint, but is still trace- able as a rushy line. The trench and mound crossing Whitehill Brae, immediately behin e fin e dbroth e th forw n e hillo t oth f , cannot fairly 3 8 A E SURVECATRAILTH F YO .

be made out as being so long as it is shown on the Ordnance maps, but is only across the summit of the ridge. The two shallow trenches showing on the side towards the west have been formed by the water collecting in the trench above, and on the side towards Pyot Syke there is no trace whatever after the steep part of the descent is reached. It clearly opiniony m n i , , belong clasa f o worst o s f whico k h severa- ex l amples occur, drawn acros e ridgth s o commant e r preveno d t passage. There are similar works on Cocklaw and above Calroust Castles in Bowmount e Wallacth d an ,e Trenc n Brownrio h e sam th s alsi gf e o class. From Peelbrae Hope line f Catraith ,eo l mounts directle th p yu Pike Hill, showing her emouna botn do h sides e natura th o lons , s a g l e surfacth falf o le remains about equalt ovee summiBu th r. e th t trenc considerabls hi y smallermoune th d dan e , sidemostle Th on . n yo track is plain downwards, almost to the bottom of the slope, but in the meadow betwee Langsidhile d nth an l e Bur t i disappearsn . Aftee th r bur crosses ni e Catraidth l reappears widd strong a shoran ey d wa tan ,

forward is joined by a branch crossing the burn a little lower down, the connection of which on the other side cannot be certainly traced. 1 The Catrai runw sno l straight along unde e Papsth r , crossing several ridges, also crossing a line of work similar to itself, to which after-reference will be made. At the King's Eig it bends a little, and takes a more northerly direction, crossin e Nortth g h British Railwae yth lind an e burn beyond, and running straight for Robert's Linn, in what would be a straight line between tha e e tPapcentr th th ravin f sd o eHill an e , s heri t eI eas mosr follow o y t fo e moun e lowetth d th par s an n , dro ha t side stronger than is usual, but on the last ridge crossed we see an instance of the facility with which a hollow becomes filled up. Extra moisture has caused in places such a growth, that in place of a trench, ther a considerabl s ei e moun r rigo d t Robert'A . s Lin e Catraith n l does not run into the ravine, but has gone up the south bank. After

1 Ther indicatione ar e e Pik th f site eo n f dwellingo so s n smalo s l platforms. Amongst these ther indicatione ear lina Catraif f eso o l connected with that crossing between the Pike and Burnt Crags, which curves round to the side of the Pike next Langside Burn, and seems to turn downwards almost opposite the branch here referred to, but its track has become a watercourse, and so the Catrail characteristics are lost. 4 8 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , FEBBUAE , 1898Y14 .

the Jedburg d Liddesdalhan e roa s passeddi , howevere b o tracn n , ca e found. Extensive quarrying operations hav t somea e time been carried on just above t herehighea blea Bu d expose, .an kup r d regios i n crossed, where no trace of Catrail is to be seen. The next appearance I hav smalside a f th ee o seen li burs ni n abou a milt e above Cliffhope. It is but a slight terrace, but is on the right line. But close to Cliff- hope it again appears well formed, though of smaller size, winding down burn-side toth e (fig. 1 3), n interestinA g referenc o thit e s part above Cliffhope occura n i s charter f dato , e 1304 s theri t e I .e Foss th th referref o s ea o t d Gallowegians. From Cliffhope downwards, the line is lost. Probably it is obliterated by the line of cart-track down to Abbey. Here, where several heaps and cairns are passed, Gordon states that he saw the Catrais ordinarit f o l y width — 26 feet I hav t .see eno n this. Prob- ably it has -been obliterated since his day. I have the idea that

Fig. 13. Descending behind Cliffhope. - Gordon is always a faithful observer. But on the other side of the Jedburgh road, and opposite the line of the glen descending from Cliffhope e Catraith , l reappears e ,ridg th climbin eo t betwee p u g n Dawston and Caderon Burns. Here, though narrow as at Cliffhope, it is distinct. On the rounded top of the ridge, the ground is marshy and the growth rank. Any trace of Catrail is therefore faint and uncertain, Caderoe tilth l n Bur s npassedi . e soutHereth e n hrailo ,th sid -f o e way, and close to the public road, . the line shows wide, but shallow ; but presently it bends, and recrossing the railway, runs towards "Wormerscleuch. . Where it crosses that cleuch a strong section is e opposit th yards w shownn fe O t ea onl. r sid bu ,e yCatraifo eth n ca l be seen rising on to the Wheelrig, ' and running as if to join a line of similar work which here comes down the rig, nearly parallel with the ancient road knowe Wheeth s na l Causeway. Most writers state that Catraie th l terminate Peen o s l Fell, which would tak t acrosei Peee sth l 5 8 A E CATKAILSURVETH F O Y .

Burn, higher up than Bagraw Ford, and I sought carefully the slope of Peel Fel than o l t side t coul e nothin bu ,s se lindit ef o go there d I . not'think that it went further than to join into the line of similar work coming down the Wheelrig, crossing Peel Burn at Bagraw Ford, and running throug e moorlanhth d towards Deadwater Heugh e naturath , l pass into the district south of the Cheviot range. I followed the line of wha Britisa I helievt e h o ht e trac r aboufo t t a- mile from Bagraw Ford loss , twa til amit i l d cultivated enclosures a wor s i k t I wit. a h mound on both sides here. Curiously, Gordon came to the same con- clusion as I did before having seen his work. He states : " Beyond this (Wormerscleuch) something like it appears visible, till it almost join a wals l formerl ye familth mad f y Northumberlano b ye a s a d boundary between Englan d .dan " Gordon here repeats what e commoth y e Blackda th n s o beliet wahi ' n s Dykesi a f , which, from e higheth e countrth par f f Durhamo o yt , comes right across North- umberland, passing the South Tyne at Bardon Mill and the Wall at Sewingshielso Deadwatert n o o s d s describea ,an , y M'Lachlab d n i n Professos surveyy b hi d s essayshi an , f r o a trencVeitc,e on hn hi with a mound on one side, and as we now find it here on the moor, a hollow about 18 feet wide, with a mound on each side about 2J or 3 feet highe havW .e some reaso o concludt n e a worth e s f i o thak t i t same general characte e Catraith s a r apparene l th itself d an ;t junction here make stronsa g cas reconsiderinr efo e theors formatioth git f o y n formerly held. e ridge th baco g o st k w unde no e Paps e th r W , wher eI note e dth crossing of a work of similar character to the Catrail. It has come by a zigzag line fro mlarga e for t Blakebillenda t t doeI t begi. sno n there. One line is seen to come across Slitrig Water, and at one of the gates of the fort passes into the outer trench, which it passes along for some distance, and then running out, is presently joined by another line, which having approache e forth dt froe loweth m r Slitrig valley, entere th s outer trencll, and, similarly to the other, came so far round, and then ran poine th f onjunctiono o tt . . Besides these, this camp send a smalles r line of work of the same type down to a small burn near. Apparently this wae sourcth s f theio e r water-supply e linTh e e .forme th y b d 86 PBOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBKUAEY 14, ]898.

junction of the two, passing the fort, runs as indicated on the map, and crossing the Catrai], runs straight up to and over the ridge between the Pap Lead san p Steel. It then descends towards Hermitage Waterd an , turning just before tha s reachedi t , crosses very plainle th e foo f yth o t Nine-stone-rig just behind Millburn-holm t I the. n runsd dowan o t n crosses the Liddle, and mounts up the ridge on the east side of that river, and passes immediately below the British fort on Caerby Hill, where it is very plainly marked (fig. 14). Further than this I have not

Fig. Lin14 . e passing for Caerbyn o t , Liddesdale. informes wa I t d bu b see a y, farme it n n Newcastletoi r n that, along with the late Mr Robert Michie, of Hawick, he once traced it all the way from Bewcastle. s impossiblei t I I ,think o coma just , o t e e conclusioth o t s a n purpose of the Catrail without considering works of a similar kind occurring in the same district. We saw the Catrail circling round the forts at Torwoodlee and the upper fort at Rink. I now draw your attention to a similar work circling round the fine series of forts at Chapel Hill (fig. 15), above the junction of the Bortlnvick

Fig. 15. At Chapel-Hill N.E. and N. of Fort.

and Teviot Waters d alsan o, point thaou t t ther e indicationar e s that this line continue e directio e th Catrai th n i df o ln itselfe W . saAv the Catrail running through the outer trench of a fort, as at the large fort on Allan Water, at Broadlee Fort, at the lower Rink Fort, and I believe, e Kilknow, th als t a o e e ForthavW e. already seen A SURVEY OF THE CATKAIL. 87

tracks of the Catrail type running into the outer trenches of the fort on Blakebillend t ther instancee Bu ear . e samth f eso thin othegn i r places. t BonchesteA r Hill lina , e similae Catraith o t r l runs throug outee hth r trence doublth f he o lowe eth forn ro t platform e sidth . en Thio s i s next to the large fort on the summit of the hill, and it can be traced passing down the hill on both sides. There is in Eskdule a continuous lin f trenceo h and mound locally knowe Deil'th s na s Jingle (fig. 16). It crosses the White Esk at the King's Pool, above the junction with the Black Esk. The work mounts up to and runs along the summit of the Bank-head, where, opposite Castle O'er, there is a large British fort of a circular form, with one very strong wall and ditch. The Deil's Jingle enters this ditch, and running round about one- third of the circuit, passes out, and continues northward mile after mile. n companI y wit r Bel f hM Castlo l e O'er ,a Fello f thiwo s SocietyI , followed the line as far north as Coplaw Gair. And since that, Mr

Fig. 16. Deil's Jingle on Shiel Hill

/0'6"

and Coplaw G;dr.

Bels ascertaineha l s Harewood-heada s r coursit dfa s a e , whers i t i e within measurable distance of the work we style the Catrail. I trust yet to see an actual junction proved. On the Hill of Castle O'er there is quit enetwora f workk o gate e f similath o s -o t p ru line o typeo g Tw s . greae wayth f tso for tcrossin y thereb d e Eskan ,th g ,t thretwono ef ,i lines join inte Deil'th o s e otheJinglth n r o eside . This connection with Castle O'er, as well as the evident connection with the fort on Bank-head, sufficiently indicates who were the makers of the Deil's Jingle. I also point out the similarity in character between the Catrail and the large series of works behind Abbotsford, and between it and e Eildonsimportane th th d an , t line which Holydeay b , n Moor, passen o s intWatere oAl I kno . e Catrainothinf w th o e lin f th imo o e s l n g -i 88 PROCEEDINGS'1 OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 14, 1898.

portah this a t s latter. Ther alss ei o the' Deil's Dyk Gallowayn ei d an , Herfiot's Dyk' Berwickshiren ei n thaI .t county ther alse t eleasar oa t two Black Dykes, and other lines above Sp'ottiswoode and Westruther, and on Buncle Edge, to the latter of 'which the term Danish Gamps is applied. Besides all these, there are in the heads of Bbwmont and Kale miles of exactly similar works, circling round and sometimes

Fig. 17. Branch line, entering gate of fort at Harehope, near Akeld.

.entering forts. At Harehope .Fort, near Akeld (fig. 17), and! at Greave's Ash, in Breamish Water (fig. 18), fine examples are seen to

"Pig . Lin18 . e from main gate, Greave's Ash, foro t Linhopn do e Burn.

enter the main gate of the forts. At the fort on Lanton Hill, near Jedburgh, and at Langcroft and the Harefaulds, in Lauderdale, this also occurs. Unmistakably, in these instances they were used e surfac th s e roadwaysfro a l se al me e sectionW . s thae forth t m of the Catrail is a hollow with sides raised. Observation has shown that when entire, the bed of the hollow was flatter than it shows now on the surface. At two points, I satisfied myself that the trench d beeha n roughly paved with land-gathered boulders, restin n eaco g h other sideways I hav. e also com o concludt e e thae sideth t s were built lik a walle , wherever materia s availablewa l n ParO k. House Hill the foundations can still be seen of what has been a side wall. This occurs not on the side where the mound is, but on the other, wher e grouneth d t surfacintocu ,s i showine g thae sideth t s wer- up e leavo t righte bottos a eth o s , s mwida s possibles beea ee ha th n t I • . custom to speak of the Catrail as one line running from Torwoodlee to Peel Fell I thin. k investigation proves that this theor bees yha n reached A SURVEY OF THE CATEAIL. 89

by stringing together parts of several lines which ran between centres of population, or between populous districts and the summer grazings. It s obvioui s tha n severai t l districts ther e morar e e thae lined on nan , that varioun i thes n eru s directions e musW t. also conclude thae th t Catrail was formed and used by the men who built the forts and strong enclosures whic tere hw m ' ancien t British, shue p I thin ar u t d e kan w ' to conclude that they were lines of communication or roads—not purely military works made for warlike purposes, but the product of peaceful times, when intercourse was sought for rather than avoided. e opinioth s f M'Lachlano wa n t I mado e survewh , eth Hadrian'f yo s Wall, that the Black Dyke was an older formation than that Eoman workpresumptioe Th . strons ni g thae Blacth t kCatraie Dykth d lean were similar convinceworksm a I . d that they were connectede th f i , one was not a continuation of the other. On the line of Eoman road now generally know Watlins na g Street, abou e sout th a miltf o ho t e t Boswell'S s Green e Eomath , y cut a wa line ns samf tracth o e f eo k e Catrailth typ s a e . Also, wher e samth e e roa approachins di e th o gt station at Newstead, in crossing the Bogle Burn, it cuts against a mysterious line of double trench and mound, for which no reason coul e founddb , till observatio d comparisoan n n convince e tham dt i t wa solden para f o rt British road. There are similar double-trench arrangements found at various places wher e fordedb e o t burn ' .e Thesar s epointo Jede occuth tw -t n si a r burgh district.1 Onc t i occure lina n Bowmonn i eo s t Watere w d an , sa w e crossind Bur th thae CatraiDo t th na tf o g l opened o inttw o trenches. Also, in the beginning of this paper the same peculiarity was rioted in the remains near New Buckholm and at Mossielee. Why these double trenches were made I do not know, but their occurrence at the Bogle Burn and their line being cut by that of the Eoniau road givea presumptio s su n that these trenches wer existn i e - ence previous to the Eoman occupation.2 « 1 On Swinnie Moor and at Howden Burn, near Wildeatgate. 2 Sir believed that the line of ancient road between his own estat Kippielad ean Romans wwa , because Roman vessel d beeha sn foun itn i d ; t thabu t only proved tha iroae s u th texistenc dwa occupatione time th th f eo t ea . 90 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 14, 1898.

When first I began this investigation, I did it with an open mind. My greatest difficulty was in the trying to find the track as others had described it, and running on the exact line they indicated, I found worthaa t e i cannotb k o drawt e mad b t t ou ne speciall defencea s ya , fo t particulao facei rn n i s r direction e theor a war-fencTh f .y o e must therefor droppede b e I trus. t that r disappointingfindingno ou t e ar s , or thae Catrai th a to interestwor n e s f madi b lko o t e, becauss i t ei found to be exactly like many other works throughout the country. I trust lines for future investigation have been laid down, and that e resulth t wil e greateb l r e race preintereso e storth th wh f s- o yn i t ceded us, and who had clearly attained to civilisation of a kind, for the n uttea t maker a roano barbarian f s i do r whod an ;f the i , y havt eno left their history written in black letter, have left us a writing on the green hill-sides quit s plaina e e end, andth sures ,n a i , . For, after all, e writeth f earlo r y history turn t frequentlou s mistakene b o yt .