90 Transactions. 



a day on this distinctly interesting spot. It occurred to me that 

 it might be a matter of some interest if I should communicate" .to 

 this Society a few notes regarding this site, which, possibly, if 

 not too distant from your sphere of action, you may yet some day 

 visit in your summer excursions. Dawston Rigg is a low rounded 

 hill, situated at the very head of Liddesdale, or rather in the 

 water-shed that divides the source of the Liddle from that of the 

 North Tyne. It is overlooked by the great mass of Peel Fell, 

 the uttermost hump of the Cheviot range, and itself overlooks 

 the depression through which the railway passes from Deadwater 

 to Saughtrees. The highroad that crosses from Liddesdale into 

 the valleys of the Rule, the Jed, and the Teviot passes the base 

 of the hill on the north ; and, as I have said, the railway skirts 

 it on the other or southern side. It is a wild pastoral district, 

 but very pleasant on a summer day, such as that on which I 

 visited the spot. As a locality, related to the early topography 

 of this island, it obviously possesses interest, from the fact that 

 here the Catrail or Pict's Work, which crosses the Scottish Low- 

 lands, originating about the base of the Pentland Hills, and 

 following the great water-shed between west and east, to all 

 appearance tei'minates. It can be very distinctly traced as far 

 as this spot, and can visibly be seen dipping towards the Cauldron 

 Burn, which runs along the eastern base of Dawston Rigg, as if 

 it were making towards Peel Fell. But it can be traced no 

 further. Now, just over this ravine of the Cauldron Burn, on a 

 rising ground known as Wheel Fell, the well-known Roman road, 

 the Maiden Way, coming over the head of the North Tyne valley, 

 crosses the hill barrier. From its local name of the Wheel Causeway 

 the hill gets its name of Wheel Fell, and on its summit are still 

 visible some slight ruins of a small ecclesiastical structure, known 

 as Wheel Chapel, which was originally dependent on Jedburgh 

 Abbey. These are not the only mediaeval remains, for a stone 

 cross, which, in a dilapidated condition, once stood on Dawston 

 Rigg, has recently been removed, and, I believe, is in the Hawick 

 Antiquarian Museum. When we I'emember that these Roman 

 roads were in early times the only safely traversible roads in the 

 country, we are not surprised to find these traces of ecclesiastical 

 buildings and erections along their course And it is certain 

 that this has always been regarded as an interesting locality, 

 the halo of tradition surrounding it, mainly, no doubt, in conse- 

 quence of its connection with events recorded by Bede. The 



