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Fernieherst Castle. 



By J. Lindsay Htlson, Kelso. 



The name of this castle has been variously rendered as 

 Ferniiiurst, Farnehirst, and Pharnehirst. It was the seat of 

 the Kerrs in Jed Forest, and as such was strongly fortified. 

 Its position is favourable for such safe-guarding, as it stands 

 at the top of a wooded bank, whose sides slope to the ri\-er 

 Jed. The locality has many i^atural advantages, which, 

 improved by the art f)f man, would render it proportionately 

 strong. 



The historian of Roxburghshire, Jefifrey, believes that there 

 is no part of the present building older than the end of the 

 sixteenth century, and that it occupies the site of a baronial 

 stronghold erected in IIIO by Thoinas Kerr. On the occasion 

 of its capture by Surrey it was described by him in a letter 

 to Heniy VITI. as " marvellous strong, within a grete woode " ; 

 and the King in his acknowledgment of the same complimented 

 him on his feat of " wyuning tlie castell of Ferneherst and 

 the wise and politique conducte accomplished at Gedwortli, 

 with the arracyng and destrucsion of the same." At the 

 siege of Fernieherst the opposing forces were led by Dacre, 

 and for him als(^ the King had a word of praise, Surrey being 

 desired to "give on our behalf our i-ight especiall thankes 

 to the Lord Dacre for his valiaunt faithful! diligent and 

 paynefull service aswel at Gedworth as at Ferneherst." 



In 1549, while occupied by the English, it was subjected 

 to a severe siege by a French force, assisted by the 

 iidiabitants of the district. The defenders evincing great skill 

 ably held their own, but superior forces compelled them to 

 surrender, the commandant capitulating to the French leader 

 on the condition that his life would be spared ; but as his 

 mode of living had been notorious he received short shrift 

 from some of the residents of the Forest, who, coming on the 

 scene, struck off his head with such force "that it leaped 

 four or flv'O yards from his body!" Staiuiiiig nc^ar the iiuiin 



