ROBERTON, a parish, partly in the county of Selkirk,
but chiefly in the district of Hawick, county of
Roxburgh, 3 miles (W.) from Hawick; containing 757
inhabitants, of whom about 100 are in the village of
Deanburnhaugb. This parish is distinguished by no
events of historical importance. It was, however, the
chief residence of the Scotts of Harden, who at one time
bore the title of Earls of Tarras; and during the border
warfare it was signalized by many predatory exploits of
Walter of Harden, a well-known and formidable border
chieftain, of whose castle there are still some interesting
remains. It is said that, on his return from an expedition
into the neighbouring districts, he brought home
an infant who was fostered by the lady of Harden; and
that the child afterwards became eminent as a bard, and
was the author of the most admired and popular of the
border songs. The parish is about thirteen miles in
length and nearly five miles in breadth, and comprises
30,550 acres, of which about 2000 are arable, 550 woodland
and plantations, and the remainder rough pasture
and waste. Its surface is broken by hills of bold elevation,
of which the most lofty are those of Craickmoor,
the Culm or Coom, and the Criblaw of Craick, the last
of conical form; but none of them exceed the height of
1300 feet above the level of the sea. A range of hills
intersects the parish from north to south; and two
chains of less elevation branch olf from it in an eastern
direction, including between them the vale of Borthwick,
watered by the river of that name. The lower
lands are beautifully diversified with lakes, of which
Alemoor, a fine sheet of water of circular form, is the
source of the river Ale. Hellmoor lake, of less depth,
but of much greater extent, is partly in the parish; and
to the west is Moodlaw lake, equally divided among the
parishes of Roberton, Eskdalemuir, and Ettrick, and in
the centre of which the respective counties of Roxburgh,
Dumfries, and Selkirk unite. The river of Borthwick
has its source in the hills to the west, and, after a rapid
course eastward for nearly thirteen miles, flows into the
Teviot about two miles west of Hawick. Most of the
lakes abound with perch, pike, and eels; and in those
in which there are no pike, trout of excellent quality are
found in great plenty.
The soil is of good quality in the vale of Borthwick:
upon the acclivities, which in some places are rather
precipitous, it is thinner, and gravelly; and towards the
summits of the hills, which are generally flat, it is wet
and boggy. The agriculture is improved; the five-shift
course has been generally adopted. The prevailing
kinds of wood are larch, spruce, and Scotch fir; but
there is also a considerable quantity of oak, ash, elm,
beech, and plane, and the number of these trees is progressively
increasing. Vast numbers of sheep are bred,
principally Cheviots crossed with the Leicestershire,
which are found profitable for the butcher, and in the
weight and quality of the fleece: there are also a few of
the black-faced kind. The total number of sheep fed is
little less than 20,000. The common breed of cattle is
the short-horned -, and within the last few years, a number
of Highland Kyloes, bought at the Falkirk fairs,
have been pastured in common with the sheep during
the winter. In general the farm-buildings are good,
and some of the farm-houses are spacious and handsome;
the fences in the lower lands are hedges, and in
the higher grounds stone walls; both kept in good order.
Lime and bone-dust have been introduced with much
benefit to the lands; and among other improvements
are the sheep-drains, which have also been productive of
great advantage. The substratum of the parish is
mostly greywacke rock. Ironstone is found in some
parts; and beneath the mosses, which are extensive, shellmarl
and peat are found in abundance: decayed trees are
often discovered embedded in the moss, and also the horns
of deer and other animals. The chief fuel is peat; and
coal is also obtained, at a moderate price, and in sufficient
quantity. About one-half of the lands are the
property of the Duke of Buccleuch, and the remainder
divided among several proprietors: the annual value of
real property in the parish is £6395. Chisholme, Borthwickbrae,
Hoscoat, and Borthwickshiels are handsome
modern residences embellished with plantations. Harden,
the property of Hugh Scott, Esq., a venerable mansion,
is now a farmhouse; it has been allowed to fall
very much into decay, and presents a gloomy picture of
the rude magnificence of former days. There are some
vestiges of its ancient fortifications. Part of the ceiling
of the old hall is still embellished with stucco; and the
mantel-piece in one of the rooms is decorated with an
earl's coronet and the cipher " W. E. T.", that is, Walter,
Earl of Tarras. In front of the house is a deep glen,
into which were driven the cattle that were carried ofif
by the chieftains during the wars of the border.
This place seems to have been erected into a parish
about the year 16.50, and consists of parts of the former
parishes of Hawick, Selkirk, Wilton, and Hassendean.
It is in the presbytery of Selkirk, synod of Merse and
Teviotdale, and in the patronage of the Crown: the minister's
stipend is £'205. 11. 9-, vvith a manse, and a
glebe valued at £1S per annum. The glebe-lands are
intersected by the boundary line between Roxburgh and
Selkirk, and the minister has a vote for each of those
counties. Roberton church, from an inscription bearing
date 1659, appears to have been erected when the parish
was constituted; it is in good repair, and adapted to a
congregation of 250 persons. The parochial school, for
which a handsome schoolroom, and a residence for the
master, have been built by the heritors, affords an excellent
education to a considerable number of scholars;
the master has a salary of £34. 4.4., with £24 fees, and a
garden. Remains of ancient camps are to be seen in
various parts of the parish, some of which are square,
and others of elliptical form. Of these the largest and
most complete is on the farm of Broadlee, in the west
of the parish; another is on that of Highchesters, in a
most commanding situation; there are also two on the
farm of Todshawhill, and one called Camp Castle on the
lands of Borthwickshiels. In one a ball weighing a
pound and a half was found; and in another, some daggers
in a very decayed condition. The remains of an
old chapel may still be seen on the farm of Chapelhill,
where a curate from Hassendean used to officiate; and
also at Borthwickbrao, the cemetery of which is still the
chief burying-placc of the parish.