Report of Meetings for 1886. By J. Hardy. 387 



subterraneous passage once communicated between the two for- 

 tresses. It was an appanage of the Scotts of Buccleuch, and 

 formerly the residence of Sir Walter Scott, who was slain by the 

 Kers in Edinburgh in one of the blood-feuds between the two 

 families ; his tombstone with an inscription in raised letters, 

 narrating the circumstances, is now in the Hawick Museum. Mr 

 Wilson (Memories of Hawick, p. 143, note) refers to two wonder- 

 working witches, Tranty-foot and Speed-o'-foot, as being the 

 fabulous occupants at Goldielands Peel. We pass Branxholme 

 park, originally said to have been a park attached to Branx- 

 holme, and used for equestrian exercise, now a separate residence. 

 Fenwick, on the south bank of the Teviot, has an inscribed 

 stone above the doorway, bearing E. S. M. E. 1687, and a shield 

 with three balls on it. There is a camp (the White Camp), on 

 Whitchesters hill opposite Branxholme. By the woodside as 

 we approached Branxholme, Common Marjoram was frequent ; 

 Vicia sylvatica also mantles the banks near Branxholme. 



The Club had been hospitably invited to breakfast at Branx- 

 holme, by Capt. W. Eliott Lockhart, Chamberlain to His Grace 

 the Duke of Buccleuch, and a considerable party both of ladies 

 and gentlemen, including among the latter, Sir Walter Elliot of 

 Wolfelee, his son Major Elliot, recently from India, Mr Tancred 

 of Weens, etc., were present to welcome the visitors. Mr 

 Lockhart read a paper descriptive of Branxholme, and recapit- 

 ulatory of its history as a seat of the family of Buccleuch during 

 the Border wars, which precludes the necessity for any further 

 notice here of this world-famed stronghold. The paper will 

 appear in the Club's Proceedings. Mr Lockhart shewed the 

 company round the exterior, and afterwards conducted such as 

 chose along the lengthened passages to the low-roofed chambers 

 and arched cellars, of the lower flat of the ancient mansion, as well 

 as through the gardens andshrubberies out-of-doors. Branxholme 

 is situated on a slight elevation, and is well sheltered with trees. 

 It was formerly a fortified castle of quadrangular shape, planned, 

 although the plan was perhaps never fully executed, with 

 towers at each corner, one of which known as "N-esbie" still 

 remains ; the foundation of another which guarded the approach 

 and was called " Tenty Fit," can be seen. The house has the 

 peculiarity of being set askew on the foundation platform, and 

 the wall of the remaining tower is not square on. Mr Lockhart 

 will describe the coats of arms and inscriptions on the front. 



