Leyburnsfoot
Bothy (20th Century) (1994), Shepherds Cottage (19th Century)
Site Name Leyburnsfoot
Classification Bothy (20th Century) (1994), Shepherds Cottage (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Will's Bothy; Fawhopeknowe
Canmore ID 371839
Site Number NY59NW 33
NGR NY 53642 97694
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/371839
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Castleton
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Roxburgh
- Former County Roxburghshire
Note (8 July 2022)
NY59NW 33 NY 53642 97693
This 19th century shepherd’s cottage, now a bothy, is situated in a clearing on the N bank of Roughley Burn just S of the course of a disused railway, and about 300m W of the former Riccarton Junction Station (NY59NW 17.01).
A roofed building, a garden enclosure to its NE, and a larger enclosure to its NW are depicted on the 1st edition of the 6-inch OS map. The contemporary OS Name Book described the place, then known as Fawhopeknowe, as ‘a dwelling house and garden occupied by Mr John Barton, shepherd for the district’ (Roxburghshire, Book No. 5, p.78). By 1896, when the OS 6-inch map was revised, the name Leyburnsfoot had been applied to the building and a roofed outhouse was depicted immediately to the NW (Roxburghshire, sheet xxxix.sw, 1899).The building was restored by the friends of fell runner and climber Will Ramsbotham, who died in June 1993 aged 26, and has subsequently been known as ‘Will’s Bothy’.
On the night of the 1881 census Leyburnsfoot was occupied by shepherd John Barton (64), his wife Agnes (64) and their three children, shepherd Thomas (24), Janet (16) and William (7).
Information from HES Archaeological Survey (D M Bratt) 8 July 2022
(Allan 2017, 262-3)
