66 Report of Meetings for 1885. By Jas. Hardy. 



resulted from the waste of Old Bed- Sandstone rocks that once 

 existed somewhere in the vicinity. The gravel in some of the 

 others is very much rolled and rounded into bullet-shapes as if 

 it had been subjected for long periods to the triturating action 

 of sea- waves or currents. The contents are principally of grey- 

 wacke, the staple rock of the Lammermoors, mixed with 

 porphyry, vein-quartz, red and white sandstones. The larger 

 blocks are of greywacke. The contents are much more rounded 

 than similar water worn stones in the Boulder clay of the 

 adjacent moors, although at intervals the polished gravel of the 

 Kaim type is scattered over them. The late Mr William Steven- 

 son has discussed the subject of the formation of the Bedshiel 

 Kaims in its relation to the general geological features of the 

 district, in the Club's "Proceedings," vol. v., 124-128; 107-8; 

 and there are two interesting letters on them in the Kelso 

 Chronicle for September and October, 1841. 



Cattleshiels was the first moorland farm passed. It represents 

 a very early shieling of the possessor of the lands of Leitholm 

 (formerly written Letham), and bears the name in a corrupted 

 form of one of its early proprietors, Ketel, who settled in Scot- 

 land under the Earls of Dunbar,and held of them as the superiors. 

 Several of the De Lethams are signitaries of the Charters of 

 Coldstream Priory, and amongst the earliest Ketel de Letham 

 occurs. Edward de Letham was one of the Scotch hostages when 

 it was agreed that the town and castle of Berwick should be sur- 

 rendered to Edward III., July 21, 1333. He entered the service 

 of the English king, and his Scotch possessions were forfeited. 

 Edward conferred on him a number of Tweed fisheries, and the 

 guardianship of young De Manners (ancestor of the Duke of 

 Rutland), heir of Etal. Letham Hill still carries his name. He 

 died 41 Edward III. (1366-7) holding as a subject of Edward, 

 "Letham manor, Ketilshele hamlet, etc." (Inq. p. M. ii., p. 87). 

 He appears to have had a son of the same name. (See Jerning- 

 ham's Siege of Berwick, p. xii.) 



The family lands in Scotland were subsequently transferred to 

 some more faithful adherent to its king of the name. In the 

 reign of Robert III., John Letham obtained the lands of Letham 

 by the "forfaultrie of Patrick Earl of March." (Pobertson's 

 Index, p. 149). On the 10th April, 1617, David Home of Wed- 

 derburn was served heir to Sir Greorge Home of Wedderburn, in 

 the lands of " Ketlesheill and Dron scheall," which adjoins. In 



