REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1902 243 



of 8t Andrew, built in 1171, dedicated to its patron saint 

 in 1195, ruined in the course of the 17th century. 



Leaving the outskirts of Peebles, we drive westward upon 

 a fairly level road with a steep incline on our left hand, 

 till a view is disclosed which for a brief moment carries the 

 thoughts to other lands. Have we come upon a scene in 

 Ehineland or the Tyrol, or something pictured in Anne of 

 Geierstein, a grim grey fortress standing on a cliff above a 

 winding river ? There is but little in common between 

 mediaeval Germany and Tweedside, except perhaps here. We 

 are faced by Neidpath Castle, standing proudly where the 

 crescent curve of the water runs between steep wooded banks, 

 a square mass looking upstream and downstream, and domin- 

 ating the opposite wood-clad bluff, through which the modern 

 railway has been forced to tunnel. [A good view of this 

 scene is given in one of our earlier volumes, 1886, p. 362.] 

 Some large and fine old yew trees are seen upon the hither 

 bank as we draw nearer. 



The approach to the castle is now a grassy path, but was 

 formerly a fine avenue of trees, which opened upon the 

 public road at the point where Jedderfield road branches 

 off, and this spot still goes by the name of the " White 

 Yett" among the fathers of the burgh. Jedderfield road 

 in those days was the main road, ascending the face of the 

 hill and descending again two miles further on. The present 

 direct road past the castle was constructed about 1697. The 

 ancient garden of the castle lies to the north, above the road, 

 and the once beautiful terraces slope toward the south. The 

 destruction of the fine old trees in 1795 by the then Duke 

 of Queensberry is deplored by Wordsworth in a well-known 

 sonnet. Above the gate of the castle formerly existed a 

 window of out-look, at which the dying maid of Neidpath 

 vainly watched for her lover's recognition, as touchingly 

 related in verse by Scott, and also by Campbell. The ancient 

 doorway and turnpike are on the south side, and are part 

 of the ancient peel now in ruins. About 1410 the newer 

 addition was built on the east side, converting the gaunt 

 tall tower into a mansion. About 1660 the new entrance 

 on the east side was formed, and also a handsome staircase 

 excavated out of 11 feet of wall. An iron ring still remains 



