484 



Notes on Harden and the Harden Belles. By J. G. 

 Winning. Plate V. 



The house is finely situated on the brink of a deep glen on 

 Ike left bank of the Borthwick, very precipitous on both sides, 

 and well wooded. The glen closes abruptly, and from the 

 windows of the house only separated by the width of a narrow 

 terrace from the edge of the brink, " You look down into the 

 crows' nests on the summit of the old mouldering elms that have 

 their roots on the margin of the stream [Harden burn] far 

 below." 1 



The house was in existence in 1592, as authority was granted 

 by the Privy Council in that year for the destruction of the 

 places, houses, and fortalices of Harden and Dryhope, belonging 

 Walter Scott of Harden, for art and part in the raid of Falkland. 2 



It appears to have been rebuilt or repaired between 1 660 and 

 1 693, as the mantelpiece of one of the rooms has an Earl's coronet 

 with the letters W. E. T. wreathed together. This was Walter, 

 Earl of Tarras, born 23rd December 1644, who married the 

 eldest daughter of Francis, Earl of Buccleuch — and was created 

 Earl of Tarras for life in 1660. 



The ceilings of the drawing room and dining rooms are of fine 

 stucco work. 



The chief interest attached to Harden is gathered round 

 " Auld Wat of Harden " (who died in 1629), and his wife Mary 

 Scott, " The Flower of Yarrow." Wat is frequently referred to 

 in Border literature. 



The story of " Harden's Cow " 3 is well-known ; " and tradition 

 lias it that the glen at the house was the place where the 

 stolen cattle were kept, which served for the maintenance of his 

 retainers, until a dish containing only a clean pair of spurs, 

 warned them that a new supply was wanted." 4 



The Powder Flask shown on the engraving was found at 

 Harden. Following the outside curve it is a foot in length, 3 

 inches wide at the broadest end, and about 1^ inch thick. The 

 liroad end is surrounded by a narrow band of rough iron. The 

 sides of the horn are carefully embellished with geometrical 



1 Lockhart's Life of Scott, 1st edition, vol. i., p. 66. 



- Jeffrey's Roxburghshire, vol. IV., p. 304. 



3 Lockhart's Life of Scott, p. 67. 



1 Jeffrey's Roxburghshire, vol. iv., p. 305. 



