On Bonchester, Rule Water. By Walter Deans. 99 



brink with a variegated woodland. The rural quiet is unbroken 

 by the rush and shriek of the locomotive. Still undisturbed, the 

 howlet continues its solemn screeching in the silence of the mid- 

 summer even; and at early dawn, the amorous cushat "makes 

 mu^ic that sweetens the calm." 



BRAIDHAUGH. 



Though the name implies a situation in a haugh, yet this old 

 steading in the vicinity of a haugh of 9 acres, was located on an 

 elevated plat on the west shank of Bonchester hill. Braidhaugh 

 was within the parish of Abbotrule, on the right bank of the 

 Rule, and the site can still be distinguished on the left side of 

 the public road, where a gate opens into what is still called the 

 Braidhaugh park. Another old place, Thornton or Thornitoun, 

 stood a little below, at the head of the bank. The name is still 

 preserved by a deep pool in the Eule, which appears to have 

 been nearly opposite to the old dwelling. Braidhaugh seems to 

 have been a small farm on the north end of Mackside or Maxside 

 Common, marching with Bonchester. It is mentioned four 

 hundred years ago, and was tenanted by members of a family of 

 the name of Dalgleish ; who appear to have been as active as the 

 Turnbulls in the freebooting line. 



In 1510, Thomas Dalgleish in Braidhaugh produced a remission 

 at the Justice Ayre, " for airt and pairt of the resetting of Simon 

 Dalgleish and his accomplices for the theft of five horses from 

 David Hoppringle of Tinnis, price of one of them xi merkis. 

 Item, for the resetting of Walter Dalgleish, and his accomplices the 

 time of the theft of xvi oxen from the said David f urth of Bochlle 

 (Bowhill)." Judgment was given "if not finding suerty, he 

 should be hanged." At the same court, Thomas and William 

 Dalgleish in Braidhaugh, produced a remission for " airt and 

 pairt of the stouthreiff and hereshippes done upon the Laird of 

 Cruikstone and his tenants, and stoutreiff from them of horses, 

 cows, heiffers, and household guids to the value of xl merkis. 

 Item, for resetting of William Dalgleish in his thefts, and 

 specially of 80 sheep from Thomas Murray, and for bringing in 

 Black John Euthledge and his accomplices to the burning of 

 Branksome." 



The surname of Dalgleish, which is still in the district, has 

 been more honourably associated in recent times with John and 

 William Dalgleish, late merchants in London, who were born at 



