LORD GLEN CONNER OF

M

THE GLEN.

UCH gratification was felt all over the Borderland when it became known that Sir Edward Tennant, Bart. of the Glen, was to be elevated to the peerage, and now he has adopted the above title which suggests a happy linking of Ayrshire and the Borderland. The Glen was known by that name as early as the thirteenth century, and probably at a much earlier date, while the lovely spot has been embalmed in song for centuries to come in Willie Laidlaw's exquisite song "Lucy's Flittin'."

In the Border Magazine" for September, 1906, our readers will find a sketch of Lord Glenconner with portraits of his Lordship and Lady Glenconner, and it only remains for us to supplement what we then wrote by expressing the hope that they will be long spared to adorn the high rank to which they have been calied.

Still further to interest our readers in the family history of Lord Glenconner we quote here an interesting article by H.A.K., which appeared in the "Glasgow Herald":

Students of Burns will note with interest that Sir Edward Tennant, the brother-in-law of the Prime Minister, who was recently raised to the peerage, has decided to take the title of Lord Glenconner. Two miles to the south-west of the village of Ochiltree, near the edge of the deep glen of the Burnock Water, stands the steading of Glenconner, till recently farmed by members of the Tennant family. John Tennant, farmer, in Glenconner, was the friend of William Burness, and without doubt the oldest friend of Robert Burns, his name being recorded in the session register of the parish of Ayr and Alloway as a witness to the poet's baptism. It was by the recommendation of Glenconner's younger brother, David Tennant, the master of the English School at Ayr, that Murdoch was asked to begin the little school at Alloway, where Burns received his early education. His son, John Tennant, shared with the poet-they being Murdoch's favourite pupils the privilege of alternately living with their teacher and even of sharing his bed. It was a son-in-law of auld Glenconner, George Reid of Barquharie, who lent Burns the pony on which he rode to Edinburgh when he first set out to try his fortune in the capital.

The esteem in which Burns held the head of this worthy family is shown by his sending from Edinburgh on December 20, 1786, three weeks after his arrival, "a paltry present from Robert Burns the Scottish Bard to his own friend and his Father's friend John Tennant in Glenconner." This old Ayrshire farmer must have been a man after the stamp of the elder Burns, and in view of the new Glenconner's appointment as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland the nature of this paltry present is not without interest. It was a book bearing upon

those theological discussions to which William Burns and the poet both contributed-" Letters concerning the Religion essential to Man: as it is Distinct from what is merely an Accession to it. In two Parts. Translated from the French. Glasgow Printed for Robert Urie. 1761." When on February 25, 1788, Burns set out to inspect the farms in Dumfriesshire which Miller of Dalswinton had to offer him he was accompanied by Glenconner, in whose judgment as a practical farmer he trusted much. On March 2 he wrote to Clarinda : -"A worthy, intelligent farmer, my father's friend and my own, has been with me on the spot : he thinks the bargain practicable.' Thus was the tenancy of Ellisland agreed upon. It was indirectly to this Tennant, too, that Burns perhaps owed the quaint idea of having the de'il preside over the orgies in haunted Alloway. Glenconner's Highland bullock had wandered into the parish kirk, and becoming entangled in the seats was unable to extricate itself. Bellowing with fear and rage, it frightened an old woman who was passing, and she, getting a glimpse of its great branching horns, fled precipitately and caused a panic in the village by her statement that "the de'il was in the kirk."

Small as the farm of Glenconner was, it was sufficient to support a large family, no fewer than ten members of which are mentioned in the rhyming letter "To James Tennant." With all these Tennants, the descendants and collaterals of the worthy witness at the christening, Burns to the end maintained close friendship. It is not given to every peer to have his pedigree established as well as his respectability vouched for by a national poet. Thus fellow-sinner James Tennant for long was the miller of Ochiltree; William Tennant, my auld school-fellow, preacher Willie," entered the Church, became chaplain to the forces in India. and published two works concerning the British Government of that dependency; David Tennant, 'manly tar, my mason-Billie,' went to sea and commanded a privateer against the French with so much distinction as to be offered a knighthood; John Tennant, Auchenbay," was shipbuilder and distiller before turning farmer, became a noted agriculturist, and finally purchased an estate for himself. My auld acquaintance Nancy," "Cousin Kate,' and Sister Janet," the women of the household, all married well. Robert Tennant, Singing Sannock," entered the bleach trade.

John Tennant of Auchenbay while he was a distiller sent Burns a cask of whisky which " would bear five waters strong or six ordinary toddy." The poet wrote thanking him for the present on December 22, 1788.

It is from Auld Glenconner's fourth son, "Wabster Charlie," that the new peer traces his descent. Charles Tennant was considerably younger than Burns, and was sent to Kilbarchan to learn weaving. But the poet heard that he was "getting on fairly." Afterwards, like Singing Sannock," he became a bleacher, and, proceeding to Glasgow, he founded the chemical works of St Rollox, the subsequent history of which is well known to all Glaswegians. This gradation from farming to weaving, thence to bleaching, and finally to the manufacture of bleaching materials themselves, is illustrative of the specialising tendency of the age in which Charles Tennant lived. Burns was almost following in the same path. From the growing of flax he changed to the dressing of it, but there the resemblance ends.

NEIDPATH CASTLE.

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BY REV. JOHN DICKSON.

PART I.

HE origin of the name Neidpath is doubtful. Probably it may have been derived from the Celtic "nyddu" signifying a "twist" or bend." This is likely, as the Castle stands on a high projecting rock overhanging a sudden bend of the Tweed, which has here more the aspect of a deep pool than a flowing stream. The etymology that connects the name with "neat cattle," from the Danish “nöd (o pronounced u), is untenable. An ordinary cattle path is not sufficient to account for a special proper name.

Neidpath Castle is an old baronial fortalice in the shire of Peebles. It occupies a site on the left of the Glasgow road, about a mile west of the county town. As seen, along with its more immediate environments, from the bridge which spans the Tweed at Peebles, it forms a very conspicuous figure in the landscape. Indeed, the whole surroundings are grandly unique, presenting, as they do, one of the most picturesque natural views in Scotland. Though destitute of rugged grandeur, nothing can be more imposing. Here the spectator's eye follows westward the course of the silver Tweed " until it becomes lost in a sea of living foliage, from which rises the grim old edifice of Neidpath that has dominated the adjacent scenes for centuries, and whose "scowl recalls the days of foray and of feud." Looked at from its battlements, the nearer environments have all the appearance of a vast romantic amphitheatre. To the north-west the vision is conveyed along a beautiful pass. Eastward, the eye commands the opening vale of the Tweed with the bridge and town of Peebles in the distance. Dr Pennicuick, in his graphic description of Tweeddale, has aptly immortalised this enchanting panorama of nature.

'The noble Nidpath, Peebles overlooks,

With its fair bridge and Tweed's meandering brooks.

Upon a rock it proud and stately stands,
And to the fields around gives forth commands."

The rock upon which the Castle is built stands at the lower end of a wide semicircular bend of the Tweed. The left bank of the river, upon which the fortalice is situated, rises abruptly. It is both steep and high. The right bank is a small flat plateau which,

at some yards back from the edge of the stream, is bounded by a bold and beautiful headland.

Neidpath is, in reality, a double Castle. was built in two different eras, the one very much anterior to the other. The older section -on the east side of the larger buildingwas a meagre Border Keep. Probably it owed its origin to one Sir Simon Fraser, a man of great influence and power in Scotland during the reign of Alexander II. (1214-1249). It consisted of a succession of vaulted storeys, the one rising above the other, which were connected by a somewhat contracted newel stair in the thickness of the wall. The only claim it had to be regarded as a place of strength was its position. This earlier portion of the edifice is now all but non est. It is almost gone. Wind and weather have, in

recent years, made sad havoc of it. It is, today, only a series of vaulted roofs precariously held together, a rueful apology" of its former self.

The Neidpath Castle, which attracts in these days so many tourists, is the imposing structure incorporated with the old and ruinous Border Peel above referred to. It is more distinguished for strength than architectural beauty. Plain and bald, it is wholly destitute of the latter; but its romantic situation makes up for the want of it. The founder of the newer Neidpath was Sir William Hay, of Yester, who was created a baron in the earlier part of the fifteenth century, probably towards the close of the reign of Robert III. (13901406); or, in the beginning of that of the "Poet King," James I. (1406-1437). This gives us a clue to the date of its foundation and its age. Accordingly, it may have. dominated the Tweed for over five hundred years. Sir William was Sheriff of Peeblesshire. He married Johanna, elder daughter of Hugh de Gifford, with whom he got the manor of Yester. As a consequence of his marriage he added the armorial bearings of the House of Gifford to his own.

One of the outstanding features of the Castle of Neidpath is the enormous thickness of its walls. They measure fully eleven feet. Light was admitted by means of small shots or portholes. Some writers are of the opinion that Sir William Hay committed a grave military blunder in allowing the original Castle to remain when he built the newer and stronger addition. Its walls were not half the latitude of those of the larger structure. Having been permitted to stand, the fortalice could not be deemed impregnable, more

especially after the introduction of artillery as an auxiliary in warfare.

The building, considered in its entirety, consists of a huge single keep the newer portion-with a small wing-the older portionat one side. The wing, as already remarked, is now in a very dilapidated condition. The structure is after the angular plan; and the Keep is of great strength. Its walls are of graywacke stones, held together by a cement almost as hard as themselves. The angles are both acute and oblique. That became a

which was reached by a fine semicircular flight of steps, led into this apartment. Beginning at the level of the wooden floor he excavated, in the thickness of the wall, a handsome turnpike staircase, which furnished a better and easier access to the upper flats than that afforded by the newel steps already existing.

Other improvements embraced the formation of a spacious courtyard on the level of the new entrance doorway; the construction of some finely terraced gardens, long the admiration of Peeblesshire; and the erection of stables and other offices, a few remains of which are still visible. A very ornate gateway, 11 feet 6 inches in height, and situate at the north-west corner of the courtyard gave access to the Castle. The stables and outer buildings occupied a position to the north and east of the courtyard. On the keystone of the arched portal of the courtyard may still be seen the crest of the Lords Yester and the Earls of Tweeddale. It consists of a deer's head over a coronet; and, depending on the drop beneath, is a bunch of strawberries, symbolic of the name of Fraser. The noble House of Tweeddale still wears the cinque-foil of the Frasers, the original owners of Neidpath, in their coat-armorial.

It would appear that the principal portion of the keep of Neidpath Castle was divided, in its height, by two arched compartments. Each of these were subsequently subdivided by wooden floors which added considerably to the domestic accommodation of the dwelling. Probably another vault may have originally supported the roof which was afterwards heightened to its present apex form. This too, doubtless, increased the bedroom accommodation. The parapet overlooking the courtyard is open. It may have been so designed partly for defence, and partly to serve the purpose of a pleasant balcony or gallery.

The Grand Hall was situate immediately over the first vault. It was a spacious apartment, measuring 40 feet in length by 21 feet in breadth, and amply lit by three large windows. A commodious fireplace occupied a position in its west wall. The partitions shown on the floor of the basement storey and also in the Grand Hall were probably no part of the original plan. Notwithstanding, the abnormal thickness of the walls of Neidpath Castle there are few mural chambers in the building. The staircases-broad and newel alike are all in the thickness of the walls. An entresol room adjoins the upper vault. It is also vaulted. The following sonnet, by

"Delta," on Neidpath Castle is worthy of quotation.

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Stern rugged pile! thy scowl recalls the days
Of foray and of feud, when, long ago,

Homes were thought worthy of reproach or praise
Only as yielding safeguards from the foe :
Over thy gateways the armorial arms
Proclaim of doughty Douglases, who held
Thy towers against the foe, and thence repelled
Oft, after efforts vain, invasion's harms.
Eve dimmed the hills, as, by the Tweed below;
We sat where once thy blossomy orchards smiled
And yet where many an apple-tree grows wild,
Listening the blackbird, and the river's flow;
While high between us and the sunset glow,
Thy giant walls seemed picturesquely piled."

Such, in description, is the stately pile of Neidpath Castle, great even in its ruins, that has dominated the valley of the Tweed for over eight centuries, and made famous its entire neighbourhood. It is the chief "lion " of Peeblesshire, and, if tradition is to be credited, was formerly a great summer resort of the Stuart Kings. Neidpath was visited by James VI. in 1587, the year of the Tragedy of Fotheringhay." In all probability Queen Mary herself passed a night in the Castle. (See "Peebles during the Reign of Queen Mary," p. 51).

In the terraced gardens connected with Neidpath Castle stood an interesting old sundial of the Lectern-shaped" style. cording to Messrs MacGibbon and Ross it had all the permanent characteristics of that type of dial; "but the book-part, instead of being square, as in the normal conditions, is oblong, while the sloping cylinder is closed about half way down, and on the flat surface thus made there is a hollow cup. Its other features are normal." In 1795, when the fourth Duke of Queensberry, well-known under the sobriquet of "Old Q.", began the work of desolation at Neidpath, this interesting sundial came into the possession of his gardener.

Neidpath Castle has been unique in its proprietary. Its It has had many masters. first owners were the Frasers, ancestors of the famous House of Lovat. They were not, originally, of Gaelic origin, but their name yields to few, in Scotland, for antiquity. The period of their first connection with this country is shrouded in mystery, but their chronicles go as far back as A.D. 790. They claim to be descended from Pierre Frasier, Seigneur de Froile, who, during the reign of Charlemagne, came to Scotland to form a league with King Achaius-an eminent patron of letters-whose advice and co-operation the great Emperor deemed would be invaluable

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