Anglo-Scottish border

“Border country” redirects here. For the novel, seeBorder Country (novel).

The Anglo-Scottish border (or English-Scottish

Map of the modern border: Scotland is to the north and west andEngland is to the south and east

A sign marking the border on the East Coast Main Line railway

border, known locally as simply The Border) is the of-ficial border and mark of entry between Scotland andEngland. It runs for 96 miles (154 km) between MarshallMeadows Bay on the east coast and the Solway Firth inthe west. It is Scotland’s only land border. England sharesa longer border with Wales.Although it had long been the de facto border, it waslegally established in 1237, by the Treaty of York be-

A boundary wall marking the border on the A1

A fence marking the border

tween England and Scotland,[1] with the exception ofthe Debatable Lands, north of Carlisle, and a small areaaround Berwick, which was taken by England in 1482.It is thus one of the oldest extant borders in the world,although Berwick was not initially fully annexed by Eng-land. (It was not included in Northumberland for parlia-mentary purposes until 1885.)

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2 1 HISTORY

History of the border

For centuries until the Union of the Crowns the region oneither side of the boundary was a lawless territory suffer-ing from the repeated raids in each direction of the BorderReivers.Following the Treaty of Union 1707 which united Scot-land and England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain,the Border continues to form the boundary of two distinctlegal jurisdictions as the treaty between the two countriesguaranteed the continued separation of English law andScots law.[2]

The age of legal capacity under Scots law is 16, while itwas previously 18 under English law. The border set-tlements of Gretna Green, Coldstream and Lambertonwere convenient for elopers from England who wanted tomarry under Scottish laws, and marry without publicity.The marine boundary was adjusted by the Scottish Adja-cent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 so that the boundarywithin the territorial waters (up to the 12-mile (19 km)limit) is 0.09 km north of the boundary for oil installa-tions established by the Civil Jurisdiction (Offshore Ac-tivities) Order 1987.[3]

The border is marked by signposts welcoming travellersboth into Scotland and into England.

1 History

See also: Scottish Marches, Border Reivers andDebatable Lands

The border country, historically known as the ScottishMarches is the area either side of the Anglo-Scottishborder including parts of the modern council areasof Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders,and parts of the English counties of Cumbria, CountyDurham and Northumberland. It is a hilly area, with theScottish Southern Uplands to the north, and the CheviotHills forming the border between the two countries tothe south. From the Norman conquest of England untilthe reign of James VI of Scotland, who in the course ofhis reign became James I of England while retaining themore northerly realm, border clashes were common andthe monarchs of both countries relied on Scottish Earlsof March and LordWarden of the Marches to defend andcontrol the frontier region.

1.1 Clans

A 16th century Act of the Scottish Parliament talks aboutthe chiefs of the border clans and a late 17th century state-ment by the Lord Advocate also uses both terms inter-changeably. Although Lowland aristocrats may have in-creasingly liked to refer to themselves as “families”, theidea that the term “clan” should be used of Highland fam-ilies alone is a 19th-century convention.[4]

Historic Border clans include the following: Armstrong,Beattie, Bannatyne, Bell, Briar, Douglas, Elliot, Graham,Hedley of Redesdale, Henderson, Home or Hume, Irvine,Jardine, Johnstone, Kerr, Little, Moffat, Nesbitt, Ogilvy,Porteous, Scott, Tweedie.

1.2 Scottish Marches

Main article: Scottish Marches

During late medieval and early modern eras—from thelate 13th century, with the creation by Edward I of Eng-land of the first Lord Warden of the Marches to the early17th century and the creation of the Middle Shires, pro-mulgated after the personal union of England and Scot-land under James VI of Scotland (James I of England)—the area around the border was known as the ScottishMarches.For centuries the Marches on either side of the bound-ary was an area of mixed allegiances, where families orclans switched which country or side they supported assuited their family interests at that time, and lawlessnessabounded. Before the personal union of the two king-doms under James, the border clans would switch alle-giance between the Scottish and English crowns depend-ing on what was most favourable for the members of theclan. For a time a powerful local clan dominated a re-gion on the border between England and Scotland. It wasknown as the Debatable Lands and neither monarch’s writ

3

was heeded.

1.3 Middle Shires

King James VI & I decreed that the Borders should berenamed 'the Middle Shires’. In 1605 he established asingle commission of ten drawn equally from Scotlandand England to bring law and order to the region. Reiverscould no longer escape justice by crossing from Englandto Scotland or vice versa.[5] The rough-and-ready BorderLaws were abolished and the folk of the middle shiresfound they had to obey the law of the land like all othersubjects.In 1603 the King placed George Home, 1st Earl of Dun-bar in charge of pacification of the borders. Courts wereset up in the towns of theMiddle Shires and known reiverswere arrested. The more troublesome and lower classeswere executed without trial; known as "Jeddart justice"(after the town of Jedburgh in Roxburghshire). Masshanging soon became a common occurrence.In 1607 James felt he could boast that “theMiddle Shires”had “become the navel or umbilic of both kingdoms,planted and peopled with civility and riches”. After tenyears King James had succeeded; the Middle Shires hadbeen brought under central law and order.By the early 1620s the Borders were so peaceful that theCrown was able to scale down its operations.Nevertheless, the Joint Commission continued its work,and as late as 25 September 1641 under King CharlesII a local laird, Sir Richard Graham, was petitioning theParliament of Scotland “for regulating the disorders in theborders”.[6]

2 References in popular culture

Sections of Hadrian’s Wall near Greenhead and along the route,reconstructed in Victorian times. Other large sections have beendismantled over the years to use the stones for various nearbyconstruction projects.

Hadrian’s Wall, for centuries the boundary betweenBritannia (roughly modern England and Wales with theexception of the parts of England north of the wall)and Caledonia (modern Scotland) is often used as apopular reference to the border, especially in humorouscontexts.[lower-alpha 1] However Britannia occasionally ex-tended as far north as the Antonine Wall and Hadrian’sWall lies to the south of the modern border, entirely inEngland, and has never formed the actual border betweenEngland and Scotland.It has been proposed that a new sculpture, to be calledthe Star of Caledonia, be sited near Gretna to mark theEnglish-Scottish Border.[7]

3 List of places on the border, orstrongly associated with it

3.1 On the border

• Solway Firth

• Union Bridge (Tweed)

• Pennine Way

• Scots’ Dike

3.2 England

“Welcome to England & Cumbria”

3.2.1 Cumbria

Main article: Cumbria

• Arthuret

• Blackpool Gate

• Carlisle

4 3 LIST OF PLACES ON THE BORDER, OR STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH IT

“Welcome to Northumberland”

• County of Cumberland

• Hethersgill

• Kershopefoot

• Longtown

• Skitby

• Stapleton

3.2.2 Northumberland

Main article: Northumberland

• Alnwick and Alnwick Castle

• Ancroft

• Bamburgh and Bamburgh Castle

• Barmoor Castle

• Barrow Burn

• Beadnell

• Belford

• Berwick-upon-Tweed, and the former borough

• Bowsden

• Branxton

• Byrness

• Carham

• Catcleugh Reservoir

• Chatton

• Chillingham Castle

• Cornhill-on-Tweed

• Crookham

• Doddington

• Duddo and Duddo Tower

• Etal and Etal Castle

• Fowberry Tower

• Goswick

• Greystead

• Haggerston and Haggerston Castle

• Horncliffe

• Howtel

• Islandshire

• Kielder, Kielder Forest and Kielder Water

• Kilham

• Kirknewton

• Lilburn and Lilburn Tower

• Lindisfarne and Lindisfarne Castle

• Lowick

• Middleton

• Milfield

• Mindrum

• Morpeth

• Norham and Norham Castle

• North Sunderland

• Otterburn

• Redesdale & River Rede

• Scremerston

• Spittal

• Twizell Castle

• Wark on Tweed

• Wooler

• Yeavering

3.3 Scotland 5

A sign marking entry to Scotland on the A7, on the border ofGalloway

The bridge over the Tweed at Coldstream

3.3 Scotland

3.3.1 Dumfries and Galloway

Main article: Dumfries and Galloway

• Auchenrivock Tower

• Canonbie

• Gilnockie Tower

• Gretna

• Gretna Green

• Langholm

• Rowanburn

3.3.2 Borders

Main article: Scottish Borders

• Allanton

• Ayton

• Birgham

• Cessford Castle

• Chirnside

• Coldstream

• Dinlabyre

• Duns

• Eccles

• Eden Water

• Edgerston

• Ednam

• Edrington

• Edrom

• Ettrick

• Eyemouth

• Fogo

• Foulden

• Galashiels

• Hermitage and Hermitage Castle

• Hilly Linn

• Hilton

• Hume Castle

• Hutton

• Jedburgh

• Kelso

• Kirk Yetholm & Town Yetholm

• Ladykirk

• Lamberton

• Leitholm

• Liddesdale

• Mordington

• Morebattle

• Mowhaugh

• Newcastleton

• Oxnam

• Paxton

6 7 NOTES

• Roxburgh and Roxburgh Castle

• Saughtree

• Southdean

• Swinton

• Timpanheck

• Whitsome

3.4 Rivers

• River Esk

• River Rede

• River Sark

• River Tweed

• Whiteadder Water

• Liddel Water

3.5 Mountains

• The Cheviot

• Carter Bar & Carter Fell

• Windy Gyle

4 Controversial territories

Although the border has been amongst the most stable inhistory, it has not been without its controversies, notablythe debatable lands and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Berwickonly became properly annexed to Northumberland in the19th century, and Berwickshire is in Scotland, while thetown is in England (though both the town and lands up tothe Firth of Forth belonged to the Kingdom of Northum-bria in the Early Middle Ages).[8] Wendy Wood movedthe border signs to the middle of the River Tweed as aprotest.[9]

The debatable lands, on the other hand, were long a hide-away for criminals.

5 Migration

Cumbria and Northumberland have amongst the largestScottish-born communities in the world outside Scotland.16,628 Scottish born people were residing in Cumbriain 2001 (3.41% of the region’s population) and 11,435Scottish born people were residing in Northumberland(3.72% of the county’s population); the average percent-age of Scottish born people in England is 1.62%.[10]

6 See also• Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border

• Anglo

• Cheviot Hills

• Southern Uplands

• Border Reivers

• Border ballad

• Border pipes

• ITV Border

• Border Collie

• Border Terrier

• Both sides the Tweed

• Scottish Marches

• Scotch Corner

• Debatable Lands

• Wales-England border

• Welsh Marches

7 Notes[1] Three examples of a humorous reference to Hadrian’s

Wall:

• “and there are plans for an electrified fence alongHadrian’sWall to prevent emigration from the rumprepublic” (Sandbrook 2012 quoting Robert Moss inThe Collapse of Democracy (1975));

• “a situation that the (notional) electrification ofHadrian’s Wall is unlikely to change” (Ijeh 2014);

• A cartoon: “Hadrian’s Wall Extension Plan” show-ing an extension of Hadrian’sWall around the coast-line of England and Wales (Hughes 2014).

[1] “Scotland Conquered, 1174-1296”. The NationalArchives. Retrieved 19 May 2012.

[2] Collier, J.G. (2001). Conflict of Laws (PDF). Cambridge:Cambridge University Press. p. 6. ISBN 0-521-78260-0. For the purposes of the English conflict of laws, ev-ery country in the world which is not part of England andWales is a foreign country and its foreign laws. This meansthat not only totally foreign independent countries such asFrance or Russia... are foreign countries but also BritishColonies such as the Falkland Islands. Moreover, theother parts of the United Kingdom—Scotland and North-ern Ireland—are foreign countries for present purposes, asare the other British Islands, the Isle of Man, Jersey andGuernsey.

7

[3] Scottish Parliament Official Report 26 April 2000. Re-trieved 19 May 2012.

[4] Agnew, Crispin (13 August 2001). “Clans, Families andSepts”. Electric Scotland. Retrieved 19 May 2012.

[5] Act anent fugitive persones of the borders to the in coun-trey (1609): Forsamekle as the kingis majestie is resolvedto purge the mydele schyres of this isle, heirtofoir callit thebordouris of Scotland and England, of that barbarous cru-eltie, wickednes and incivilitie whilk be inveterat customealmaist wes become naturall to mony of the inhabitantisthairof... (Translated: Forasmuch as the king’s majesty isresolved to purge the middle shires of this isle, heretoforecalled the borders of Scotland and England, of that bar-barous cruelty, wickedness and incivility which by invet-erate custom almost was become natural to many of theinhabitants thereof...)

[6] Petition of Sir Richard Graham regarding the middleshires: I am desired by Sir Richard Graham to move yourmajesty and this house of parliament that some presentcourse may be taken for regulating the disorders that arenow in themiddle shires, this being the best timewhilst theEnglish commissioners are here that order may be givento the commissioners of both kingdoms to call the borderlandlords now in town to inform themselves what coursehas been formerly held for the suppressing of disorder andapprehending of felons and fugitives.

[7] “Star of Caledonia: Scotland-England landmark plan ap-proved”. BBC News. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 1October 2014.

[8] Kerr, Rachel (8 October 2004). “A tale of one town”.BBC News. Retrieved 13 April 2007.

[9] “Swapping sides: the English town that wants to be Scot-tish”. The Independent. 13 February 2008. Archivedfrom the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 31 December2009. It was Berwick which became the focal point for thedirect action of one of the first modern Scottish nation-alists, Wendy Wood in the 1950s. Controversially...shewas regularly arrested for moving the border signs overthe Tweed.

[10] “Neighbourhood Statistics Home Page”. Office for Na-tional Statistics. Retrieved 19 May 2012.

8 References

• Hughes, Alex (5 September 2014), Hadrian’s WallExtension Plan, alexhughescartoons.co.uk, retrievedDecember 2014

• Ijeh, Ike (27 August 2014), “What did Scotland dofor architecture?", Building Design online, retrievedDecember 2014

• Sandbrook, Dominic (2012), “Chapter 6: Could ithappen here?", Seasons in the Sun: The Battle forBritain, 1974-1979 (illustrated ed.), UK: Penguin,p. about 214, ISBN 9781846140327

9 Further reading• Aird, W.M. (1997) “Northern England or south-ern Scotland? The Anglo-Scottish border in theeleventh and twelfth centuries and the problem ofperspective” In: Appleby, J.C. and Dalton, P. (Eds)Government, religion and society in Northern Eng-land 1000-1700, Stroud : Sutton, ISBN 0-7509-1057-7, p. 27–39

10 External links• The Border Clans and their Emigration to Americaat Hodgson Clan

8 11 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

11 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

11.1 Text• Anglo-Scottish border Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Scottish_border?oldid=663454580 Contributors: Chrism, PBS,Dumbo1, Kingal86, Dave souza, Closeapple, Ukeu, Grutness, Guy Harris, Orudge, ProhibitOnions, Nightstallion, Tim!, Koavf, Vclaw,MacRusgail, Valentinian, Noclador, RussBot, Pigman, CambridgeBayWeather, Joshurtree, Barryob, Whamilton42, Red Jay, JLaTondre,Mais oui!, SmackBot, Slleong, Mauls, Breadandcheese, Greenshed, Ohconfucius, John, Regan123, Pondle, Hvn0413, AxG, Lenzar, Blue-Haired Lawyer, Ajscott, Simply south, Cydebot, Bellerophon5685, Rosser1954, Oxonhutch, Biruitorul, Kbthompson, Brendandh, MuttLunker, Sigurd Dragon Slayer, MetsBot, Spellmaster, Acalamari, Moglex~enwiki, IceDragon64, Hugo999, The Duke of Waltham, JeffG., WOSlinker, Asarlaí, Bleaney, Thunderwing, Triwbe, Mr Taz, Lightmouse, Jza84, Tegrenath, Sfan00 IMG, YESYESandmanygoals,Mild Bill Hiccup, Rockfang, Someguyudontknow, Howard Alexander, Fishiehelper2, Dn9ahx, Audaciter, Eastcote, Samsoot, Mhockey,Editor2020, DumZiBoT, Nigelrice, Traquir, Good Olfactory, Addbot, Dumbo12, Lightbot, Czar Brodie, Delta 51, Yobot, AnomieBOT,Endrick Shellycoat, BritishWatcher, Sabrebd, Rotideypoc41352, HRoestBot, Full-date unlinking bot, Cnwilliams, Dinamik-bot, Rjwilmsi-Bot, Ghhumes, Dewritech, XinaNicole, EgoWhite Tray, Orange Suede Sofa, ClueBot NG, Curb Chain, CSJJ104, Mrt3366, ChrisGualtieri,Claíomh Solais, Rtjohn84, Tammbeck, DivermanAU and Anonymous: 42

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