184 Report as to Stones at Eckford. By J. G. Winning. 



The total length from east to west was 7 feet 8 inches, and 

 from north to south 5 feet 3 inches. The stones numbered 1, 2, 

 3, were red sandstone flags about 2£ inches thick, their west 

 edges resting on one another. The boulders surrounding them 

 (chiefly whinstone) were similar in size to those before mentioned. 

 They did not rest on the flags, though fitting closely to their 

 edges ; and the flags were raised without removing these side 

 stones. These flags were broken, but the fractures showed that 

 the stones must have been entire when originally laid down. 



No. 1 measured entire about 2 feet 6 inches square ; No. 2 

 3 feet 3 inches by 3 feet 8 inches ; and No. 3 about one foot by 

 two. These stones, on being raised, were found to have been 

 tying flat on the shingle. There was no appearance of bones or 

 any other foreign substance. I searched carefully over the sur- 

 face of the shingle, and under stone No. 1 found a fragment 

 (about the size of a pea) of what seemed a piece of burned twig. 

 This I wrapped in paper, but it has crumbled into dust. After 

 all the stones were removed, the surface of the shingle was taken 

 out and riddled, but I could detect no substance foreign to the 

 soil. 



Under stone No. 2 a hole was dug to a depth of 3 feet 6 inches 

 from the surface, but it only disclosed the compact shingle. At 

 D another sandstone, about a foot and a half each way, was 

 found ; and underneath it another small fragment of burnt twig- 

 like substance. No further search was made, the stones were 

 left lying ; and I have asked Mr Cunningham not to remove 

 them in the meantime. 



The red sand-stone flags have doubtless been taken from the 

 sides or bed of the Teviot or Kale Water, where numbers of 

 such stones can easily be obtained. The side stones all appear 

 water-worn river stones. 



The field is locally called the Manse field or Manse Hill, and 

 sometimes the " Smiddy Field." The origin of its first name is 

 quite apparent, that of the second is accounted for by an Eckford 

 tradition that a smith's house and forge once stood on the lower 

 part of the field, which mysteriously disappeared one Sunday 

 during sermon-time, but why, or how, and at what supposed 

 period of time, my informants could give no enlightenment. 



Note. — The above Eeport was sent to Lad}' John Scott, of Spotfcis- 

 woode, for perusal. On returning it, Her Ladyship writes : " A great 

 rnanv years before T knew Kirkbank, they wanted to drain that wet hole,'' 



