144 Chapel oj St. Cuthhert's, Roxburghshire. 



cross was in keeping with the Romish customs of the present day 

 on parts of thH continent. The old house has been occupied as 

 a shepherd's cottage for the last 113 years, though for some 

 time back it has been tenanted by a roadman. It was rebuilt in 

 1826, and now, doubtless far from comfortable; it was occupied 

 in 1780 by a shepherd named John Rutherford, whose great- 

 grandson is Thomas Rutherford, blacksmith, Bonchester. Ou 

 the west of Chapel Cross is a hollow in which is a peat moss, 

 which formerly supplied the cottage with fuel, but we understand 

 is now disused. The pasture around Chapel Cross is remarkable 

 for being fresh and green early in the spring and through the 

 summer. The old road from Jedburgh to the Slitterick passed 

 the cottage to the south and over by the Peatlaw. Some years 

 ago Lady John Scott of Spottiswood made a pilgrimage to Chapel 

 Cross, and took a sketch and drawing of the cottage. It was 

 occupied by an old man and his wife of the name of Blake, who 

 remarked that her ladyship " was a gude crack." 



The main part of the district around St. Cuthbert's Chapel 

 bore the names of Rinj^woodefeld and Ringwood Haitt, and 

 these localities can be dated as far back as U53 in the days of 

 Malcolm Canmore. In 'Ringwoodefeld we recognise the South 

 and North Berryfells — the two farms on the banks of the 

 Slitterick. on the estate of Stobs ; and in Ringwood Haitt we 

 have still that name in a stretch of pastureland still called the 

 Haitts, on the farm of Earlside, on the estate of Cavers, and the 

 Haitts marches all along the north side of Ringwoodefeld or the 

 Berryfells. The term ring can at least be applied to the South 

 Berryfell. as a considerable portion of a ring or earthwork can 

 still be seen a short way on the right side of the road that leads 

 to Shankend Station, and near the march between the parishes of 

 Cavers and Hobkirk. This district became subsequently to be 

 called the parochial district of Great Cavers. It formerly included 

 in its boundaries the localities named Cauldcleugh, Stennishope, 

 Ringwoodefeld, Ringwoode Haitt^ Chapel Cross, Brough, Peu- 

 nangushope, Bowandhill, Stobit Cote, Grantee. Priesthaugh, 

 Westtour, and Nortliouse, the whole valuation of which amounted 

 to £52 6s 8d. Several of these are now in the parish and district 

 of Teviothead. In 1358 the district was in possession of William, 

 Earl of Douglas, who granted it to the Abbey of Melrose ; but after 

 the Reformation the lands came into the hands of the Crown, and in 

 1608 were again disposed by James VI. to the family of Douglas. 



