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Bunkle Edge Forts. By Francis Lynn, F.S.A. Scot., 

 Galashiels. 



[With Plans and Figure of Stone Implement.] 



Bunkle Edge, with its line of ancient Forts, Camps, and 

 Entrenchments, is well deserving of attention. No one can 

 visit it without desiring to know more of the men who here 

 laboured and planned, and to trace out the why, and the 

 wherefore, of the extensive works here left by those who 

 so long preceded us in the world's life. The Berwickshire 

 Club does a good work in arranging for such a day's outing 

 as that of 5th June 1895; when, starting from Eeston, they 

 drove to Bunkle, and after visiting the remains of the 

 Castle, and inspecting the Kirk, the members mounted up 

 by way of Crossgate Hall to the top of the Eidge or Edge. 

 In the time at disposal, it was not possible to do more than 

 glance at the numerous remains spread out along the ridge ; 

 but enough was seen, I trust, to create a thirst to see more. 



la describing these Forts, etc., for the sake of reference, 

 I begin at Preston-cleuch Camp, where the Club left off. 

 This is the course followed by Dr Christison, in his able 

 paper " On the Forts in Selkirkshire and Berwickshire," 

 given in the Proceedings of the Antiquarian Society for 

 1894-95. 



First premising that Bunkle Edge is a long ridge, with 

 a steep sloping face towards the south-west, running almost 

 in a straight line north-east, for about three miles, from 

 Preston-cleuch Fort to that at. Wardlaw,* at the extremity 

 of the ridge. Along the hollow, on its southern side, the 

 ground was, until very recently, an almost impassable marsh ; 

 the dangerous Billy Mire, running parallel to the ridge for 

 its whole length, rendering approach from the south very 

 difficult. The high position of the Edge also gave its 

 inhabitants the advantage of a commanding view of the 

 country as far as the hills to the south of the Tweed. The 

 arrangement of the works seems to indicate that the enemy 

 to be guarded against was expected from the south or east. 



* Wardlaw of the Ordnance Survey, but locally named " Warlie 

 Bank,"— J.H. 



