146 Forts, Camps, etc. in Roxburghshire. By J. Geikie. 



the children, who used to run or slide down the outside of the 

 inner circumvallation to the bottom of the ditch, and then ascend 

 the opposite mound. It was levelled by her father, who ploughed 

 up the moor, and made it arable. It cost him no small labour, 

 and in the process many small manufactured stones, such as 

 whorls, &c. were obtained, and quantities of flints, many of 

 which old Andrew used for his old gun. The floor was hard as 

 if beaten down with clay, and on the west side was a large 

 earthen ridge as for an approach, extending more than 100 

 yards, and the top had a line of stunted rowan-trees, the only 

 trees about. For years afterwards pieces of flint were picked up 

 when singling turnips or during other agricultural work. None 

 are now forthcoming, although I told William Telf er, the present 

 tenant, some years ago to preserve any for me. His sister — my 

 informant — gave me a couple of spindle whorls, some years ago, 

 which I still have. I cannot help thinking that this must have 

 been a remarkable work. Faint traces of the circle are still dis- 

 cernible all round the Camp. 



" There was also another old site behind the gamekeeper's 

 house in the village of Chesters, traces of which, the gamekeeper 

 says, can still be seen. It goes by the name of the Kilhow. 

 About four years ago, an earthen ware urn was dug up in a field 

 behind the school-house, now in the farm of Mr Mein of the 

 Broom, which was unfortunately broken to bits by the labourer's 

 spade. I imagine Chesters to have been a place of note in early 

 times. 



" The remains at Bonchester Hill, two or three miles west of 

 the village of Chesters appear to be the site of an old Celtic town. 

 The two double ditches on the south side are still very perfect, 

 and there are still indications of the old entrance on the S.E. side 

 quite traceable. Three quarters of a mile south of Bonchester 

 Hill is a quadrilateral camp at the base of Wolfelee Hill, nearly 

 opposite my house, but a little farther south, three sides of 

 which are tolerably perfect, with a gateway or entrance on two 

 of the sides. This I take to be Eoman, and may have been 

 raised to act against the British town on the hill." 



The summary in the Statistical Account of the parish of Hob- 

 kirk completes, what can at present be said about this part of 

 our limits. " On Bonchester Hill, there are remains of a citadel, 

 with numerous encampments, both round and square ; and in 

 some places modern circumvallations may be observed inter- 



