The reivers scottish borders

Reivers definition of reivers by the free dictionary. From its mysterious hillforts, to its ruined abbeys to the picturesque stately homes and designed landscapes, the borders feels timeless. But in days gone by the borders was home to 2 of the biggest most important cities in. Their feud with the maxwells was the longest and bloodiest in border history. The borders has long been a place that connects the nation, and this unique position in time and place has created a place worth getting to know. January 6, 2018 march 25, 2020 adminaa 10 comments. Border reivers were raiders along the anglo scottish border from the late th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The remains of cramalt tower lie beneath the new megget reservoir which now occupies most of the megget valley in selkirkshire. Edinburgh became edinburgh gunners but would revert back to edinburgh rugby in 2006 when taken into private ownership and. Many of these family were themselves reivers and almost all of them suffered through reiving. Their ranks consisted of both scottish and english families, and they raided the entire border country without regard to their victims nationality. Can you trace your family history back to the scottish borders region with a family name of moffat, bell, graham, irvine or even bates, little, thomson, glendenning, carruthers, johnstone, jardine or latimer you may be descended from the families of the infamous border reivers these families, known for plundering livestock, racketeering, and kidnapping. Nevertheless, scott was a native of the borders, writing down histories which. Kinmont willie, most infamous of scottish border reivers was eventually captured by the english following a day of truce at the dayholme of kershope.

Invading armies caused terror, destruction and death and the ongoing conflict forged men who were expert raiders and cattle thieves, owing loyalty to. The records of the scottish parliament to 1707 are a goldmine of information and a key source. However, as a keen historian of the scottish borders, it is likely that he would have known that the reivers lived in harsh, unforgiving conditions and were undoubtedly courageous, but. Scattered throughout the world are the descendants of the families who lived in the anglo scottish borders during the times of the border reivers. The kerrs were with the scotts the leading tribe of the scottish middle march and frequently were wardens of such. But many stayed on and made a life for themselves in the new middle shires. The day of truce, purportedly held at monthly intervals was a time when those border reivers who had transgressed the border law were brought to the very border line to answer for. Their heyday was perhaps in the last hundred years of their existence, during the time of the stewart kings in. Middle ages angloscottish border reivers weapons and warfare. Go reiving dumfries and galloway council thomas sorbie of london for obtaining excerpts from calendar of border papers the borderers pictured at buittle tower, dalbeattie 20th april 2003. Fjordhus reivers mixed u14 youth club fjordhus reivers has the largest u14 mixed youth hockey sections in the scottish borders.

A man investigates the littleknown history, mystery, scenery and supernatural,in the scottish borderlands. See also border reivers for the historical background border reivers, originally known as scottish borders rugby and also known as the borders were one of four professional rugby union teams in scotland, alongside edinburgh, caledonia reds and glasgow warriors. The reivers, graynes border clans or riding surnames as they were called, of which carruthers was one, were the product of the constant wars between england and scotland that would often reduce the border area to a wasteland. Welcome to the scottish borders and border reivers. At its eastern end, the romans and reivers route links directly with the cross borders drove road, buccleuch rides and hawick circular riding route. A man gets lost among the hills in the scottish borders after the first flurry of snow in 2016, with dramatic consequences.

A short history of the debatable lands and border reivers. Fjordhus reivers amateur hockey club scottish borders. Gc2f was created by moss trooper adopted by northumbria biker on 7282001. Despite the name we cover all of the scottish borders, not just roxburghshire. The border reivers lived on the angloscottish borders in the. Ive often seen it suggested that what with the wholesale hanging of reivers in the years following 1605 and the considerable exodus of reiver names to the ulster plantation after 1609, that areas like liddesdale. There, along the borders, you will find the cheviot hills and more than a few rivers with names such as. On 17 march 1596, a truceday was held in the borders, so that scots and english could meet to negotiate deals and treaties.

Their heyday was in the last hundred years of their existence, during the time of the house of stuart in the kingdom of. The families of the border reivers in the years after the end of the reiving years in the early 17th century. The scottish borders today the people of the borders region today retain a strongwilled independence and distinctive character borne out of the determination to preserve their lands. Properties evacuated after fire breaks out in kelso. Middle ages angloscottish border reivers weapons and. See also border reivers for the historical background border reivers, originally known as scottish borders rugby and also known as the borders were one of four professional rugby union teams in scotland, alongside edinburgh, caledonia reds and glasgow warriors border reivers were active in the scottish interdistrict championship from 1996 to 1998 and in the. All brought to his attention by one passage in an ancient and obscure book. Synopsis this is a pageturning history, lucidly written, and it is enhanced by a selection of five famous border ballads. Farming became an impossible task, while cattle stealing became the more attractive option. Dec 01, 2003 however, as a keen historian of the scottish borders, it is likely that he would have known that the reivers lived in harsh, unforgiving conditions and were undoubtedly courageous, but also. There are 77 predominant family names who can claim to have been reivers. Taken altogether whether noble or common these families. Emergency services are at the scene of a fire at a car garage in kelso.

A man searches for three lost and forgotten reiver strongholds in the scottish borders. Scottish reivers were just as likely to raid other scots as to raid across the english border. The life of the border reiver was not necessarily ruled by his allegiance to the english or scottish crowns, but more likely by his allegiance to a family surname. Reivers synonyms, reivers pronunciation, reivers translation, english dictionary definition of reivers. Discover scottish borders with mark nicol discover. A walk in the cheviots, the tweed valley or high up in the lammermuirs brings you into direct contact with neolithic and bronze age burials. Scottish borders rugby was resurrected in 2002 and rebranded the borders, in time to join the second season of the celtic league. The romans and reivers route links directly with the annandale way at beattock and moffat, and coincides for a short way south and east of moffat with the southern upland way. These clans and families lived in the and anglo scottish borders during the times of the border reivers. On the scottish side was one william armstrong of kinmont or kinmont willie perhaps the most notorious of all the border reivers. Border reiver surnames of the angloscottish border.

Long after they were gone, the reivers were romanticized by writers such as sir walter scott minstrelsy of the scottish border, although he got things wrong. But in days gone by the borders was home to 2 of the biggest most important cities in scotland. Jun 14, 2007 scottish borders rugby was resurrected in 2002 and rebranded the borders, in time to join the second season of the celtic league. Border reivers from the th to the 17th centuries borderreivers. The reivers making of the borders alistair moffat youtube. Ever suspected that your ancestors were robbers who terrorized the border between england and scotland. The border reivers, or at least those on the north side of the border are sometimes considered to be just another group of otlying highland scottish clans and that those on the south side are simply clans who have spilled over into england. It is most fortunate that excavation work was undertaken on the site in 197779 and a detailed record of the tower made before it was lost beneath the waters. Thomas clappertons flodden memorial or fletcher memorial, selkirk flodden memorial or fletcher memorial by thomas clapperton, victoria hall, selkirk, selkirkshire, scottish borders the sculptor thomas clapperton 18791962 was born in galashiels, the son of a. Its a peaceful and beautiful region where grand buildings delicately compliment rolling green valleys. Scots and english would even join forces to raid on either side of the.

The 300year feud when the borders region was caught in the turmoil between england and scotland could have destroyed more than just the magnificent abbeys and. In the times of the border reivers it also contained some of the most predatory clans to be found throughout the border country. The border reivers lived on the angloscottish borders in. Border reivers animositybetweenbuccleuchandscropein april 1596 sir walter scott of branxholme and buccleuch rescued from carlisle castle kinmont willie armstrong. Border reivers were raiders along the angloscottish border from the late th century to the beginning of the 17th century.

There, along the borders, you will find the cheviot hills and more than a few rivers with names such as nith, annan, esk, teviot, and tweed. Its a regular size geocache, with difficulty of 1, terrain of 3. Discover scottish borders with mark nicol discover scottish. Apr 06, 2016 today the scottish borders is largely rural with a few large towns. In search of the border reivers scottish borders tourist board. Cramalt tower, megget valley, selkirkshire, scottish borders. History of the scottish borders borders heritage festival. We offer a comprehensive coaching programme for this age group, run by janet jack and a talented team of young. The border reivers were a group of angloscottish families that conducted raids against towns, farms and even fortresses during some of the most turbulent years in british history. These clans and families lived in the and angloscottish borders during the times of the border reivers. Listed on the above site are the famous kinmont willie armstrong and seven of his sons, among a wealth of other scottish reivers living on maxwell land in places such as dumfries, annandale and wauchopdale in 1585.

Invading armies caused terror, destruction and death and the ongoing conflict forged men who were expert raiders and cattle thieves, owing loyalty to none but their own clan, their own surname. Their ranks consisted of both scottish and english people, and they raided the entire border country without regard to their victims nationality. A short history of the debatable lands and border re ivers. Many of these family were themselves reivers and almost all. Many from the scottish west march and middle march fled to the ulster plantation to escape justice. The scottish borders is exceptionally rich in cultural heritage. The borders stretch across scotland from the solway firth in the west to berwickupon tweed in the east. Armstrong was top of the english most wanted list for decades because of his relentless and devastating raids into english territory. One of the best reads of the year, without doubt hamish coghill, scottish life this is a history as exciting and dramatic as the border ballads themselves cumberland news a most compelling, thoughtprovoking and entertaining history the herald only one period in. The region between scotland and england, which includes the borders, dumfries and galloway on the scottish side, and cumbria and northumbria in england, were wartorn. Reiver families of liddesdale and canonbie in 1630. The scottish middle march contains one of the most beautiful valleys within the scottish borders. Fjordhus reivers is the largest hockey club in the scottish borders with over 500 members competing at all levels from national to local.

Today the scottish borders is largely rural with a few large towns. Think of the scottish borders and think of big spaces. The border reivers for 300 years the people of the angloscottish border region lived in a war zone. A history of the border reivers who held sway in the border country between england and scotland. Family history as opposed to history, to identify individuals, has to utilize more documentation on the subject manner then history alone. Once upon a time, the scottish borders were troubled by raids, castle sieges, and military battles. From the early fourteenth century to the end of the sixteenth, the angloscottish borderlands. I think an excellent insight into the borders just prior to the border wars ca. It has a range of teams to suit both men and ladies, boys and girls of all ages, abilities and ambitions. The border reivers, or at least those on the north side of the border are sometimes considered to be just another group of otlying highland scottish clans and that. It produced its share of outlaws and broken men, corrupt officials, greed, misery and. I think an excellent insight into the borders just prior to. The border reivers for 300 years the people of the anglo scottish border region lived in a war zone.

Bbc legacies myths and legends scotland borders the. The names of the border reivers live on through their descendants who now live worldwide following the pacification of the english scottish. A must for armstrongs, robsons, charltons, halls, elliots and turnbulls everywhere and for many others across the world who share a border reiver surname. See more ideas about hermitage castle, scotland castles and arm armor. Border clans included the armstrongs, johnstones, scotts, elliotts, fenwicks. History of border reivers around gretna green famous.

The following pages are designed to give a flavour of the scottish borders rich and varied history. The area is crisscrossed by a multitude of horse riding routes and fantastic longdistance routes. But now, theres not even a single checkpoint or guard. Articles and discussions focused on the border reivers of the english scottish borders. The history of the border reivers has many similarities to that of the american wild west. Border reivers we only purchase cars we would love to own. Border reiver surnames of the anglo scottish border. When one goes back thirty generations, that generational line mathematically has more than a billion autosomal dna ancestors, but only one female mtdna ancestor, and one male ydna ancestor, which all it takes to produce the next generation. Mar 19, 2014 can you trace your family history back to the scottish borders region with a family name of moffat, bell, graham, irvine or even bates, little, thomson, g gretna green blog gretna green and the border reivers. Scattered throughout the world are the descendants of the families who lived in the angloscottish borders during the times of the border reivers. Roxburgh reivers orienteering club was officially inaugurated in lanton hall in the late 1970s but had been in operation as a group of friends since october 1969.