Report of Meetings for 1881. By Jas. Hardy. 473 



these in like manner I shall here subjoin for the benefit of future 

 inquirers. 



" The first is situated on the grounds of Birdhopecraig, but the best way of 

 reaching it is to drive from Horsley or elsewhere, to a place called Bellshield 

 Burnfoot, and then walk up the hill by way of Bellshield Farm House from 

 which the remains are distant about two miles, close to the south west comer 

 of a plantation, shewn on the Ordnance one inch Map by something like an 

 octagonal figure. On MacLauchlin's Survey of the Watling Street the place 

 is marked ' Remains.' 



The barrow is placed on ground shelving a little to the southward, the 

 length being about 112 yards, with a width of 12, and a height of from 2 to 3 

 yards, the shape having originally been pretty regular. The top is now 

 somewhat uneven, probably from attempts made to reach the interments, which 

 however seem to have been ineffectual. It was noticed that a few stones had 

 recently been disturbed, and on questioning an old shepherd whether he had 

 ever known of a fox being dug out there, he attributed the turning over of 

 the stones to parties in search of rabbits. 



On the north side the mound is partially covered with an accumulation of 

 earth and a coating of grass but less so on the south face, which difference may 

 be attributed to the rays of the sun, and the more precipitous edge caused by 

 the declining ground, rather than to any difference of age in the two portions 

 of the structure. Perhaps the stones are larger and more angular than usual, 

 and if so they must be of a harder nature, which has prevented them assuming 

 the rounded and weatherworn shape and appearance so common in such cases. 

 The regular appearance of the barrow forbids the presumption that it origin - 

 ally consisted of a succession of circular cairns placed side by side, another 

 having been added as a fresh interment became necessary, a supposition which 

 might not be extravagant in relation to the other barrow hereinafter noticed. 

 There are no cists exposed to view, neither is there much appearance of any 

 of the stones having been taken away to build the wall of the adjacent planta- 

 tion. 



The other barrow is on the lands of Cottenshope Burnfoot on the eastern 

 side of the burn of the same name and south of Gunscleugh, not far from a 

 sheep fold which is marked on the Ordnance Map, No. XLI. The way to 

 get to this is to leave the Redewater turnpike at a point opposite to the 

 plantation above Burnfoot, following a track till two small rivulets are passed. 

 If I recollect aright, the barrow is situated near to the inner sheep fold, 

 south of Gunscleugh, but am not quite sure of this, as there is another fold 

 further to the north east. 



This barrow is 50 yards long, and 25 feet wide, not so regular in its shape 

 as the Birdhopecraig one. Part of it has been removed to build the neigh- 

 bouring fold, and a cist 4 feet long and two wide remains to view. Both 

 barrows are on the lands of the Earl of Redesdale." 



A little incident occurred while viewing the tombs which was 

 rather alarming, a viper having unroUed itself from about the 

 base of one of the tombs, it was held for a time, but was per- 

 mitted to escape. Yipers also occur on the Otterburn Hills ; and 



