Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society LXVIII 1993 Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society FOUNDED 20th NOVEMBER, 1862 THIRD SERIES VOLUME LXVIII Editors: JAMES WILLIAMS, F.S.A.Scot., W. F. CORMACK, M.A., LL.B., F.S.A.Scot. ISSN 0141-1292 1993 DUMFRIES Published by the Council of the Society OFFICE-BEARERS 1992-93 and FELLOWS OF THE SOCIETY President Dr.J.B.Wilson Vice Presidents Mr W.Prentice, Mr K.Dobie, Mrs M.Williams, Miss M.Stewart Fellows of the Society Dr.J. Harper, M.B.E.; Mr D. Cunningham, M.A.; Maj. Gen. J. Scott-Elliot, C.B., C.B.E., J.P., D.S.C.; Mr J. Robertson, O.B.E., B.Sc., J.P., F.I.C.E.; Mr J. Banks, B.Sc.; Mr A.E. Truckell, M.B.E., M.A., F.M.A.; Mr A. Robertson, M.A.; Mr A. Anderson, B.Sc.; Mr D. Adamson, M.A.; Mr J. Chinnock; Mr J. Gair - as Past Presidents: Prof. Anne S. Robertson, D.Litt., F.R.S.E., F.M.A.; Prof. Eric Birley, M.B.E., F.B.A.; Mr W.F. Cormack, M.A., LL.B., W.S.; Mr J.G. Scott, F.M.A.; Mr J. Williams; and Mr L.J. Masters, M.A. - appointed under rule 10. Hon. Secretary Mrs J. Muir, North Wing, Carzield House, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries DG1 1SY. Tel. Dumfries (0387) 710216. Assisted by Miss M. Stewart as Minute Secretary. Hon. Membership Secretary Mrs M. Rochester, Hillcrest, Kirkton, Dumfries DG1 1SL. Tel. (0387) 710144 Hon. Treasurer Mr J. Neilson, 2 Park Street, Dumfries DG2 7PH. Tel. (0387) 255678 Hon. Librarian Mr R. Coleman, 4 Lovers Walk, Dumfries DG1 1LP. Tel. Dumfries (0387) 263164 Assisted by Mr J. Williams, 43 New Abbey Road, Dumfries DG2 7LZ Joint Hon. Editors Mr W.F. Cormack, 16 Dryfe Road, Lockerbie DG11 2AJ, and Mr J. Williams Ordinary Members Mr T. Laurie, Mr D. Ogilvie, Mr G. McKean, Mrs J. Brann, Mrs Crichton, Rev. W. Holland, Ms E.Kennedy, Mrs O. Stewart, Mrs R. Rochester, Dr A. Devereux, Mr F. Stewart, Mr P. Crichton and Mr M. McLure. CONTENTS The Rookeries of Dumfriesshire 1993 by Derek Skilling and R. T. Smith ............. 1 Neolithic Pit at Carzield, Kirkton, Dumfriesshire by D. Maynard.......................... 25 Burnt Mounds Around a Pipeline in Dumfries & Galloway by D. Maynard.......... 33 Excavation of a Farmstead Enclosure, Uppercleuch, Annandale by John Terry – with contributions by I. Banks, A. Clapham, D. Hale and R. Scaife .............. 53 Sundaywell Farm, Dunscore. Field Survey and an Excavation of Hitherto Unrecorded Sites 1988-91 by H. Gough-Cooper, Laura Gough-Cooper, and Chris Crowe ................................................................................................ 87 Torthorwald Castle by A.M.T. Maxwell-Irving....................................................... 97 Robert Maxwell of Caerlaverock and his Fashionable Windows by John Hunwicke ............................................................................................. 107 Life in Lochmaben 1612 - 1721 by John B. Wilson................................................ 123 Addenda Antiquaria Galloway in the 1100's by J.G. Scott ................................................................. 131 Reviews Notes on The Ruthwell Cross - ed. Brendan Cassidy (James Williams)............ 134 Mochrum, a Parish History 1794 - 1994 - ed. J. Hunter and another (A. E. Truckell) .............................................................................. 137 Proceedings ............................................................................................................. 138 EDITORIAL Contributions are invited on the Natural History, Geology, Antiquities and Archaeology, including Industrial Archaeology, of South West Scotland or the Solway Basin, and prefer- ence is always given to original work on local subjects. Intending contributors should, in the first instance, apply to the Editors for “Instructions to Contributors”, giving the nature and approximate size of their paper. Each contributor has seen a proof of his paper and neither the Editors nor the Society hold themselves responsible for the accuracy of scientific, his- torical or personal information in it. A list of Members, as at 1st May 1993, and of the current Rules, dated 8th October 1993, appeared in volume lxvii. The Honorary Secretary, Mrs J. Muir, North Wing, Carzield House, Kirkmahoe, Dum- fries DG1 1SY, Tel. 0387-710216, deals with all matters other than membership which are dealt with by the Hon. Membership Secretary, Mrs M. Rochester, Hillcrest, Kirkton, Dum- fries DG1 1SL, Tel. 0387-710144. Exchanges should be sent to the Hon. Assistant Librarian, Mr J. Williams, St Albans, 43 New Abbey Road, Dumfries DG2 7LZ. Enquiries regarding back numbers of Transactions - see rear cover - should be made to the Hon. Librarian, Mr R. Coleman, 4 Lover’s Walk, Dumfries DG1 1LP. As many of the back numbers are out of stock, members can greatly assist the finances of the Society by arranging for any volumes which are not required, whether of their own or those of deceased members, to be handed in. It follows that volumes marked as out of print may nevertheless be available from time to time. Payments of subscriptions should be made to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr John Neilson, 2 Park Street, Dumfries DG2 7PH, who will be pleased to arrange Bonds of Covenant, which can materially increase the income of the Society without, generally, any additional cost to the member. The attention of members and friends is drawn to the important Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax concessions which are conferred on individuals by the Finance Acts, inasmuch as bequests or transfers of shares or cash to the Society are exempt from these taxes. Limited grants may be available for excavations or other research. Applications should be made prior to 28th February in each year to the Hon. Secretary. Researchers are also reminded of the Mouswald Trust founded by our late President Dr R.C. Reid, which pro- vides grants for work on certain periods. Enquiries and applications for grants should be made to Primrose and Gordon, Solicitors, Irish Street, Dumfries. The Council is indebted to Scottish Natural Heritage for a grant towards the publication costs of Mr.Skilling’s and Mr.Smith’s ‘Rookeries of Dumfriesshire’, to Historic Scotland for grants towards Mr.Terry’s Uppercleuch report and the additional Burnt Mound Survey included in Dr.Maynard’s report on that subject and to the Irish Gas Board for grants cover- ing Dr.Maynard’s report on the neolithic finds at Carzield and the remainder of his report on the burnt mounds discovered during the laying of the gas pipeline. The illustration on the front cover is of the Wamphray “grave slab” from the article The Early Church in Dumfriesshire by W.G.Collingwood, in volume 12, Series III (1926) of these Transactions. 1 THE ROOKERIES OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 1993 INCLUDING COMPARISONS WITH THE SURVEYS OF 1908, 1921, 1963, 1973 AND 1975. by D Skilling and R T Smith Summary Since 1963 the number of Rook nests in Dumfriesshire has increased by 50%, to a total of 25,585 in 1993. This is a continuation of a trend recorded in 1973 and 1975. Previous surveys, in 1908, 1921 and 1963 had indicated a relatively stable population. Introduction The 1993 census of Rook Corvus frugilegus nests in Dumfriesshire is the most recent in a series which, beginning in 1908, span almost the entire 20th. century. The late Sir Hugh Gladstone, when preparing his Birds of Dumfriesshire circularised landowners and ornithologists among others, requesting information on their local rooker- ies. From that correspondence the first full list of Dumfriesshire rookeries was prepared. This laid a foundation which has been built-on through to the present. We have to be grate- ful for this far-sightedness which has resulted in what is possibly the most complete county record of rookeries in Britain. In 1921 Gladstone again circulated requests for a rookery census. The results were pub- lished in 1923, although on this occasion he experienced more difficulty in obtaining re- plies from some areas. It was not until 1963 that the next census was made. Unlike the earlier two surveys which were mainly correspondence-based, it was by now possible for more mobile field workers to travel throughout the county. The methods and guidelines which were established in 1963 have been employed in 1973 and 1993. In 1974 the County of Dumfries ceased to exist politically in a reorganisation of local government. However,since the objective of the censuses has been to monitor population, we have continued to follow the pre-1974 political boundaries. This includes Gladstone’s use of Dumfriesshire’s 43 parishes as the means of sub-division, thereby allowing direct comparisons to be made between all of the censuses, except 1975, which was not based on parish boundaries. Population Trends The 19081, 19212 and 19633 censuses indicated a relatively stable Rook population in Dumfriesshire. The number of nests being approximately in the range 15,700 - 17,000. (see Table I). The range may indeed have been even smaller; In 1921, the year in which the lowest number was recorded, Gladstone was unable to obtain returns from some areas. 1 Birds of Dumfriesshire, Hugh S.Gladstone, 1910, pp 124-146 2Notes on the Birds of Dumfriesshire, Hugh S.Gladstone, these Transactions IIIrd. Series, Vol.IX. pp 10-117. 3 The Rookeries of Dumfriesshire 1963, D.Skilling, R.T.Smith & J.G.Young, these Transaction IIIrd. Series, Vol.XLIII, pp 49-64. 2 THE ROOKERIES OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 1993 The first sign of a significant change in the population appeared in 19734 by which time nest numbers had increased by 22% compared with 1963. It should be noted however that there has always been concern that the results of the 1963 census may have been atypical, following as they did on one of the most severe winters of the century. The trend was confirmed during the 1975 National Survey of Rookeries5, by which time the number of nests in Dumfriesshire had increased by 28% compared with 1963.