Report of Meetings fur 1887. By J. Hardy. 71 



think of attempting to ascend it now. Mr Tancred in writing of 

 it says : ''On the top you can distinctly trace the outlines of an 

 old encampment partly on my side, hut mostly on Abbotrule. 

 There is also a smaller encampment, lower down and more 

 sheltered, probably a winter residence of those who guarded the 

 hill." Mr Tancred's cottages were of recent erection and well 

 kept. The mansion house at Weens is old but stately, with a 

 line park studded with f ull-foliaged trees in front. Several of 

 the trees surrounding the policies are of considerable age, and of 

 great height and ample dimensions ; among these are some early 

 planted larches. Mr Tancred writes me : "I have measured the 

 size of a good big larch, planted about the year 1770, and by 

 your directions the measurements are at 1 foot from the ground, 

 11 ft. 10 ins. ; at 3 feet, 9 ft. 9 ins. ; and at 5 feet above the 

 ground, 9 ft. 2 ins. I have no means of measuring the height, 

 which I am sorry for, as the altitude of this tree is worthy of note. 

 I also send you the size of a very old cherry tree (Gean) taken 

 in the same way as the larch. These trees I have been told are 

 the oldest on the property : four feet from the ground or four and a 

 half, I believe, 8 ft. 1 .V in. ; another 7 ft. 7 ins., and there are several 

 more about the same size." I did not see the supposed piscina, 

 nor the garden. Mr Walter Deans, Hopekirk, who had gone to 

 the top of Bonchester Hill to act as guide, and fortunately found 

 shelter behind a wall, has since the meeting communicated much 

 information about the neighbourhood, from which I shall make 

 selections to form a paper. He has an intimate knowledge of 

 the country-side, its traditions and history. 



After leaving Weens, the drive was past Toun o' Eule, 

 Hallrule, Billerwell, and through Wells' policies to Bedrule. 

 Birch woods fringed the river banks, and occasionally ascended 

 info the pasture grounds above. The ruins of Fulton Tower were 

 seen in a lonely position on the far-side at some distance. The 

 measurements of it, as taken afterwards were in length 31 feet ; 

 in breadth, 27 feet ; height ! 6 feet ; thickness of the wall, 4 feet. 

 It is the only peel-tower left of a great number that once guarded 

 the vale of Eule — strongholds of the Clan Turnbull. The ground 

 beyond it appeai-ed to be waste and boggy, rising on the east to 

 Bedrule Hill, 708 feet, and still higher up to Black Law, 1100 

 feet. The drive led through partly cultivated, partly boggy 

 ground at the base of Euberslaw. I have seldom seen more of 

 Scabiosa succisa in bloom, than was here in the moist pastures. 



