Archaeology Notes

Event ID 700728

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/700728

NS43NW 22 4186 3635

Site of Bickering Bush (NAT)

OS 6" map (1938)

The Bickering Bush, a thorn tree, stood near the left bank of the Irvine Water, not far west of Maxholm farmhouse. It was removed within the last thirty years (J Paterson 1863). It marked the traditional site of an encounter between William Wallace and five English soldiers, whom he defeated.

NSA 1845 (J Porteous); Name Book 1856

(NS 4186 3635) Bickering Bush (NAT) (Siting symbol shown)

OS 6" map (1970)

The siting falls in a gently undulating field of rough pasture, which is poorly drained and shows little evidence of recent land usage. The nature of this legend may indicate a folk-lore memory of archaeological significance.

Visited by OS (JRL) 3 July 1982.