242 REPORTS OF MEETINGS FOR 1911 



truce between the two kingdoms, and there, also, the truce 

 of 1497 was signed.^ Probably its proximity to the Border, 

 rather than any special importance or dignity belonging to it, 

 accounts for its selection on both occasions. In early days the 

 village clustered round the ancient tower referred to by Scott as 

 having been razed by Surrey in 1497;^ and a portion of it, 

 named Nether Ay ton, stood on the side of the old post-road 

 immediately to the South of the Eye. No remains of either 

 are extant, the proprietor having induced the inhabitants to 

 exchange the sites of their dwellings for feus granted by him on 

 the new road, opened towards the close of the 18th century. In 

 virtue of his former possession, however, an old and obstinate 

 residenter claimed the right, to the day of his death, to water 

 his horse once a year at the old bridge within the 

 grounds. The old high road to Berwick, which forms part of 

 the carriage-drive of the present mansion-house, followed a 

 straight course over Ayton Hill and Lamberton Moor, and the 

 seventh milestone from the Border town may be seen in situ 

 within the policies. (Plate XI.) 



Crossing the Eye by the bridge which gives access to the 

 village, the members entered through the battlemented gate- 

 way the grounds of Ayton Castle, where they were received 

 by Mrs. Liddell Grainger, and spent a pleasant hour in visiting 

 the extensive gardens and glass-houses, all of which bore 

 evidence of the skill and diligence of the gardener. Among 

 objects of interest under glass were numerous 

 Ayton specimens of the Egg-plant (Solanum melongena), 



Castle a native of Northern Africa, whose egg-like 



Gardens. fruit hung in white clusters ; Monstera deliciosa, 



a water-loving exotic, bearing a cucumber-like, 

 edible fruit with pine-apple flavour ; Stephanotis Jlorihunda 

 and Hoya hella, displaying an exuberance of fragrant wax-like 

 flowers ; Crotons in exquisite variegation, and Carnations of 

 the most approved variety and colour. Though somewhat 

 hurriedly examined the houses did much credit to their overseer, 

 the pots and plants themselves being unblemished by the 

 presence of parasitic; growths and insect pests. An attractive 



2 Ber. Nat. Club, Vol. xiii., p. 94. 



^Marmion — Canto i., Stanza 18: and Author's note. 



