186 The Heads o^ bowmont water 



Above this ford there are also on both sides of the burn, 

 small forts, placed so as to command the crossing. 



The party now crossed Bowmont Water and by the road 

 reached Sourhope, from which some of them made the 

 ascent of the hill to the south, where are the remains of 

 a very fine fort, and some extensive enclosures attached to 

 it. Of this fort a measured Plan has also been prepared, and a 

 description will be found with that of the other forts. While in 

 this fort, those who had made the ascent, were rewarded by a 

 partial lifting of the misty covering, giving them a peep 

 of the huge mass of Cheviot, with its scarred front, descending 

 into the gloom of the Henhole, and of the tempest-worn 

 outline of the Windy Gyle, and Black Braes at the source 

 of the Bowmont. 



Return was now made to Sourhope, and presently seats 

 were resumed for Kelso. 



The time at the disposal of the members could not allow 

 of more than a glance at a few of the points of interest, 

 and the unfortunate atmospheric conditions limited them 

 still further. But the valley is so full of interesting memorials 

 of a former age, that a running survey should be of interest 

 to the Club. 



Dr Christison, in his " Early Fortifications of Scotland," 

 says: — "Our fifth example is however the most remarkable. 

 Buried in a most sequestered spot at the head streams of 

 Bowmont Water, among the Cheviot Hills, where at the 

 present day there are but two or three farm houses with 

 their hinds' cottages, in a purely pastoral stretch of country, 

 three and a half miles long, and nowhere much above one 

 in breadth, are no less than eighteen ancient enclosures, 

 fifteen of which it is difficult to distinguish from forts." Dr 

 Christison does not overstate the facts, the proofs of a large 

 population having occupied the district at the early period 

 we are in the custom of terming that of the Ancient Britons, 

 are here so numerous as to impress even a cursory observer. 



The Enclosures seem readily to divide into two classes : — 

 Forts or strongly defended works placed in commanding 

 positions, and Enclosures which have more the character of 

 homesteads or clusters of houses, and enclosures for cattle. 

 These homesteads are found sheltering on the slopes between 



