Report of the Meetings for 1895. 211 



having with them Mr Oraw, Foulden West Mains, who, along 

 with Dr Christison of the Scottish Society of Antiquaries, 

 had previously surveyed them, and was thus able to point 

 out their boundaries and extent, and explain their most 

 interesting features. The most easterly fort, near Warlaw- 

 bank, was not examined, as the party, on reaching the Dog 

 Bush Plantation, proceeded west. With the exception of 

 the important example at Prestoncleugh, however, the most 

 entire of the series, there was very little to be seen in 

 addition to the enclosing lines of defence, and these were 

 very similar in each case. 



A large square enclosure was observed near one of the 

 camps in the Dog Bush Plantation, but both Dr Hardy and 

 Mr Craw were of opinion that this was comparatively recent, 

 and of the nature of a fold for stock. A line of pits was 

 also observed on the top of the hill before reaching Preston- 

 cleugh, but no theory was propounded as to their object. 

 Tradition has it that the}- served as places of concealment 

 for a line of sentinels, who were believed to have watched 

 what was called the " Danes' Camps." After completing a 

 very careful examination of the westmost fort, at Preston- 

 cleugh, aud having been refreshed by a draught from one 

 of the best and coolest of springs — 



"A bonnie wee well on the breast o' the brae, 

 Where the hare steals to drink in the gloamin' sae gray, 

 Where the wild moorland birds dip their nebs and tak wing, 

 And the lark weets his whistle ere mounting to sing," — 



the company re-entered their carriages and drove on to 

 Preston. 



PRESTON AND ITS OLD CHURCH. 



Here the relic of a market cross was inspected, as also 

 the residence of the Chamberlains of the Earl of Angus, 

 one of whom was David Hume of Godscroft. This latter 

 is now occupied by the forester on the estate, Mr Marshall. 

 The heraldic bearings of the Douglas family are cawed on 

 skews of the east gable. In the garden a remnant of an 

 old building, with a carved stone bearing the date 1698 

 and the initials W. E. A., in a triangular form (evidently 

 William Earl Angus), was examined with great interest. 



