Jed Forest By Walter Laidlaw. 393 



he mentions the following anecdote of two coaches passing through Wark 

 for the south, with their attendants, that were stopped by the water at 

 Dedda, just before one comes at Cornhill. Enquiry was made, is there no 

 place to shelter us this night ? A person answered " there is a farm 

 house, which ye have already passed, where yon will be agreeably 

 entertained." The coaches were ordered back to Mr Gregson's thatched 

 house at Wark, where the carriages stopped, and Lord Morton, Dr Douglass 

 of Cavers, together with three ladies, were introduced into a neat parlour, 

 where tea and coffee were immediately brought in to their no small 

 satisfaction. Some time after, supper was upon the table, both neat and 

 elegant, had choice of wines and other liquors to cheer them during the 

 evening, till they all retired to their respective beds for further 

 refreshment, and when they all met in the morning at breakfast, they 

 expressed their grateful feelings foi- such good and kind entertainment, 

 with astonishment, and told Mr Gregson that they could not have been 

 better lodged or entertained in any place whatever. 



Lord Morton, afterwards, for such agreeable entertainment, made a 

 present of some valuable table linen to Mrs Gregson. 



Jed Forest. By Walter Laidlaw, Jedburgh. 



Jed Forest being often mentioned in ancient Scottish History, 

 and as the members were to drive up to-day, I thought it would 

 be of interest to give to the meeting the measurement of a few 

 of the largest trees. These are to be found on the Fernieherst 

 estate, the property of the Marquis of Lothian, and in the 

 vicinity of Fernieherst Castle, the ancient seat of his ancestors. 



The trees of greatest interest are the "Capon Tree" and 

 "King of the Wood," remains of the primeval forest. The 

 " Capon Tree " stands on a beautiful hough close by the river 

 Jed, little more than a mile from Jedburgh. It measures 26 

 feet 6 inches in girth above the roots. It is divided into three 

 limbs, the girth of which is 16 feet 7 inches, 11 feet 3 inches, 

 and 10 feet 9 inches. It was much destroyed by a heavy 

 snowstorm on the 8th of December 1882. The highest branches 

 being then broken. I did not take its height. Although 

 some of the side branches were also broken, it still covers an 

 area of between 80 and 90 feet. 



At the top of a ravine, a little to the east of the " Capon 

 Tree," stands the "King of the Wood," towering to the height 

 of 78 feet. It is 16 feet 6 inches in girth, it is 11 feet 3 inches 

 30 feet from the ground. 



