84 Field Meetings. 



or Burrens, a few miles distant, and also several fossils. Agricola 

 is the reputed founder of this Roman station, and the fossae, 

 aggeres, and prastorium of the camp on the neighbouring height 

 of Biirnswark, from which innumerable roads diverge in every 

 direction through the southern parts of the kingdom, were also 

 formed by this distinguished Roman general during his governor- 

 ship of Britain. Built into the wall to the west of the Castle is 

 what has apparently been the lintel of a door, and is inscribed 

 (as was the custom in early times) with the date, 1677, and a 

 pious quotation — 



16. GOD BE [m MR MC] HERE. 77. 



The letters within the brackets, Mr Barbour is of opinion, ai-e 

 probably the initials of the person residing within the house. 



The Tower of Trailtrow, or, as it is more commonly called, 

 Repentance Tower — a name which it owes obviously to the word 

 " Repentence," which is carved between the figures of a dove and 

 a serpent over the doorway — was next visited. It is situated on 

 an eminence close to and overlooking the Castle, but is in the 

 neighbouring parish of Cummertrees. Spottiswoode says " it was 

 anciently used as a beacon ; and the Border Laws direct a watch 

 to be maintained there, with a fire-pan and bell, to give the alarm 

 when the English crossed the river Annan." The traditionary 

 tale regarding its origin is that it was built from the stones of a 

 ruined chapel in the fifteenth century by the then Lord Herries 

 — "Herries o' the Thwaite" (a noted reiver) — as an outward token 

 of penitence and remorse. The Tower stands in the centre of a 

 small churchyard, now old and unused, in which are a number of 

 curious inscriptions. Near to the Tower is a large enclosed burial- 

 place belonging to the family of Mui-ray of Murraythwaite. A 

 Business Meeting was held here, after which Dr Gilchrist gave a 

 brief address on the geology of the district. Descending from 

 the hill, the pnrty were kindly entertained to a refreshing cup of 

 tea by Miss M. Carlyle Aitken, of The Hill, niece of Thomas 

 Carlyle. The tea was prepared and partaken of in the house of 

 Mrs Graham, Hoddom Mains, obligingly placed at the disposal of 

 tlie party. After a brief visit to Hoddam Castle gardens and a 

 little out-of-the-way burial-place in the centre of a field a short 

 distance from the Castle, the party resumed their seats in the 

 vehicles, and in a short time reached the churchyard of Eccle- 



