REPORTS OF MEETINGS FOR 1909 51 



The route selected was by the St. Boswells road which 

 branches at the South end of Kelso bridge, and follows the 

 right bank of the Tweed, skirting the grounds of Spi'ingwood 

 Park, and crossing the Teviot a little way above its junction 

 with that river. On the crest of a grass-grown mound 

 overlooking the road could be traced the demolished walls of 

 Roxburgh Castle, for long a Border bulwark and residence 

 of kings, but now distinguished by little more than a deep 

 moat encircling its base, the source whence it was filled being 

 still a matter of conjecture. Of the ancient burgh town there 

 are no remains, the modern village being situated three miles 

 up the river. Passing Trows farm, which derives its name 

 from a series of narrow channels worn in the rock which at 

 this point forms the bed of the Tweed, members obtained the 

 first glimpse of Penielheugh, crowned with its monumental 

 tower, commemorative of the victories of Wellington, which 

 built at first in solid fashion proved unenduring, and was re- 

 erected on a tubular principle. Some distance Westwards they 



reached Ringley Hall where they alighted, and 

 Ringley entering the wood on the right examined the 



Hall. half-circle enclosure which is believed to have 



originated the local place-name. At this point 

 Mr Henry Rutherfurd read a descriptive paper, dealing with 

 the natural and historical aspects of the neighbourhood, the 

 main points of which were as follows : — The portion of 

 the estate of Rutherford which they had reached was alleged 

 to have been an ancient British fort. It had been visited 

 previously by the Club,* but it was thought well, that, after 

 viewing the fine stretch of Tweed from the adjacent field, the 

 party should take a glance at this old mote ; and concerning 

 it one word only need be said. It was known at the present 

 day as Ringley Hall, due very probably, but not certainly? 

 to the concentric rings or ramparts (intentionally incomplete on 

 contact with the sharp declivity to the Tweed) by which it 

 was distinguished. The name, Ringley Hall, had been applied 

 at one time, and in the memory of persons living 50 years 

 ago, to some land on the other side of the public road, the only 



* Ber. Nat. Club, Vol. xvii., Part i., p. 51. 



