^62 Mr. J. Tait on EartstoUn. 



men had its origin in those times, not very remote, when 

 out-field, unfenced land, was general in the country, and 

 their duties consisted chiefly in fixing damages for cattle 

 that strayed over the marches, though it is possible they were 

 instrumental in settling disputes on other matters also. 



In the village there is one manufactory for woollen cloths, 

 in which employment is given to a large proportion of the 

 inhabitants. The steam engine for driving the machinery is 

 nominally 65 horse power, which by pressure can be increased 

 to one half more, and the water is equal to 50 horse power 

 additional. There are 72 power looms, two hundred work- 

 people are employed, and about ^99,520 lbs. of wool are 

 annually consumed in the mills. Formerly the place was 

 celebrated for ginghams, and all over the country " Earlstoun 

 ginghams " have long been famous. Though manual work of 

 this kind has to a great extent been superseded, there is still 

 considerable traffic in ginghams, but the manufacture, instead 

 of being confined to Earlstoun, is carried on in other villages 

 where hand loom weavers are still found to exist. 



The situation of Earlstoun is particularly romantic. It 

 stands on the left bank of the Leader, two miles from its 

 junction with the Tweed, and while sheltered by its surround- 

 ing heights from the bitter north wind, it looks out through 

 a pleasant vista toward the south. The scenery is rich and 

 gorgeous, while the classic broom of the Cowdenknowes indi- 

 cates a soil of very unusual productive quality. A mile up 

 the Leader is Carolside, with a well-stocked deer park, the 

 only one except Ancrum in the eastern border counties of 

 Scotland. To the south is the Black Hill, which gives 

 a character to the whole district, and from which the place is 

 understood by some to have derived its name. 



The original name of Earlstoun was Ercheldoun, or Ercil- 

 doune, Avhich in Cambro-Brittanic means "The Prospect 

 Hill." It is a place of great antiquity, and seems to have 

 possessed some importance, having, at least occasionally, been 

 a loyal residence. The foundation charter of Melrose Abbey, 

 granted by King David I., and dated June 1136, is subscribed 

 at Ercheldun. A confirmatory charter, granted by Prince 

 Henry, son to David, in 1143, is likewise dated at Ercheldu. 

 The Lords of the Manor at that time were named Lindsay, a 

 family that belonged originally to Essex, but one of whom 

 attached himself to Earl David before he ascended the throne, 

 and accompanied him into Scotland. This family seems to 

 have had considerable power, having held lands in Clydes- 



