peeblesshire-1967-vol-1/03_020

Transcription

SEVENTEENTH REPORT

monuments. Of exceptional interest are the many palisaded works and timber houses whose
presence in the hill pastures can still be detected by slight surface indications; while important
additions have been made to two types of monuments which are poorly represented in
Scotland, namely "Celtic" fields and pit alignments. Another discovery made in the course
of our survey is that of the Roman fort at Easter Happrew, and we have been able to under-
take some productive excavation both on that site and on the neighbouring Roman fort at
Lyne.
In the architectural field, the outstanding monuments are Neidpath Castle and Traquair
House, of which the former typifies the great baronial residence of the later Middle Ages
while the latter illustrates the domestic standards of the nobility during the 17th and 18th
centuries. A third major monument, Drochil Castle, is of particular interest on account of its
unique plan, but the structural condition of the building gives considerable cause for concern.
Tower-houses of the smaller Border lairds are particularly numerous in Peeblesshire and
the present study had brought to light several hitherto unrecognised examples of this class
of structure. A considerable number of country houses of the 18th and early 19th centuries
have likewise been recorded for the first time, the value of such records being increased in
some cases by the subsequent demolition of the building concerned. The ecclesiastical
architecture of the county is generally undistinguished, but interesting and comparatively
well-preserved parish churches of the medieval and post-Reformation periods occur at Stobo
and Lyne respectively.
7. We desire to acknowledge the welcome assistance given us, during the preparation of
the Inventory, by the owners and occupiers of ancient buildings and sites, and by parish
ministers, throughout the county. We owe particular thanks to Mrs. R. W. Feachem, F.S.A.
Scot., Mr. H. Fraser, N.D.A., Mr. J. H. Hendrie, M.I.Mech.E., F.S.A. Scot., and Mr. A.
Lorimer for help in the field survey; to the Animal Breeding Research Organisation of the
Agricultural Research Council for permission to excavate a number of monuments on its
land; to Sir Thomas Innes of Learney and Kinnairdy, K.C.V.O., LL.D., Lord Lyon King
of Arms, who kindly revised the heraldic matter in the Inventory; to the Geological Survey
of Great Britain, and particularly to Mr. R. J. A. Eckford, F.S.A. Scot., formerly one of its
officers, for advice on geological questions; to the Scottish Development Department, for
facilities for the study of air photographs; and to the staffs of the National Museum of
Antiquities of Scotland, the Archaeology Division of the Ordnance Survey, the Scottish
Record Office, the Scottish National Buildings Record, and the Ancient Monuments
Inspectorate of the Ministry of Public Building and Works for continual and valued co-
operation.
8. We wish to record that the following members of our Executive staff took part in the
preparation of the Inventory: Messrs. R. W. Feachem, M.A., M.Sc., F.S.A., G. D. Hay,
A.R.I.B.A., J. G. Dunbar, M.A., F.S.A., A. MacLaren, M.A., F.S.A., G. S. Maxwell,
M.A., G. B. Quick, A.I.I.P., A.R.P.S., I. G. Scott, D.A. (Edin.), D. Fleming and S. Scott;
and Misses A. E. H. Muir, F. J. Barnes and M. Isbister. The volumes have been edited by
the Secretary, assisted by Mr. J. G. Dunbar.
9. We congratulate Mr. R. W. Feachem on his appointment as Archaeology Officer to
the Ordnance Survey.

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