54 THE COMMON BITTERN. 



torical bog, 1 which is said to have extended in ancient times 

 from the Eye in the neighbourhood of Ayton on the east, 

 to the Whitadder near Chirnside on the west, a distance of 

 about five miles. 



Along the northern boundary of the parish of Chirnside, 

 and dividing it from Coldingham, lies a narrow valley, which 

 widens towards the west, where it separates the former 

 parish from Buncle. The bottom of this valley, for nearly 

 its whole length of about four miles, is singularly flat, 

 being, for the most part, about 200 feet above the level of 

 the sea ; but there is a slight declivity towards the west 

 from a point about half a mile to the east of Cause way bank 

 Farm House, and a gentle slope to the east from the same 

 spot. The watershed which feeds the valley is very exten- 

 sive, comprising the lands of Blackburn, Causewaybank, and 

 Oldcastles on the south; Berrybank, Ferneycastle, Stone- 

 shiel, Auchencrow Mains, Billie Mains, Lintlaw, Slighouses, 

 Marygold, Mayfield, Warlawbank, Greenburn, Greenhead, 

 and Fairlaw on the north. These lands vary in altitude 

 from 300 feet the height of the Piper's-knowe 2 at Cause- 

 waybank to 800 feet near the source of the Fosterland 

 Burn, to the west of Warlawbank. Flowing into the 



1 Billie Mire was the meeting place of English and Scotch Commissioners with 

 regard to treaties between the two kingdoms on the 25th of August 1380 and 

 the 27th of January 1384. It was passable by horses only at two places over 

 causeways formed by plunging large stones into the bog. The course of one of 

 these causeways is indicated by a place on the southern side of the morass called 

 Causewaybank, and the remains of the other were still discernible in 1836, about 

 eighteen feet in width, and eight or ten in depth, on the line of road between 

 Chirnside and Auchencrow. On the expiration of a truce the causeways were 

 uniformly demolished as far as would obstruct the passage from the south side of 

 the Mire. Carr's History of Coldinglwtm Priory, pp. 31, 32. 



2 Dr. Henderson of Chirnside, writing in 1846, says, in his MS. Notes on Billie 

 Mire: "Upon its banks are several inconsiderable elevations, consisting chiefly of 

 sand and gravel. Among those on the south side, near the farm of Causewaybank, 

 the Pyper Knowe is the' most remarkable. A few years ago this knoll was com- 

 pletely covered with a luxuriant crop of broom, which might have vied in length 

 and beauty with that of the far-famed Cowden Knowes. This place was a favourite 

 resort of the fairies of old." 



