Black Rig

NT31SW 4 3474 1492 to 3420 1375.

(NT 3474 1492 to NT 3420 1375) Earthwork (NR)

OS 6" map (1964)

Linear Earthwork, Black Rig: The N end of this work rests on the left bank of the Back Burn where the parish boundary fence comes down to it from Goose Knowes; from there it pursues a somewhat sinuous course SW and then S along the flank of Black Rig, as if demarcating or skirting the moss at the head of the Back Burn, then rises to and crosses the ridge of ground N of Kingside Loch, and fades out about 150 yds SE of the westernmost of three minor summits. Its terminal points are 3/4 mile apart, but the work is longer by reason of its curving course. Its N portion consists of a ditch and bank, much wasted and over- grown but measuring some 12 ft in breadth overall; S of the moss, where it runs across the contours, a bank alone is present, the materials having apparently been scraped up from either side. Between curves the alignment is fairly even, not showing minor irregularities. It is no doubt an old land boundary.

RCAHMS 1957, visited 1948

The remains of this earthwork are generally as described by the RCAHMS. The work is best preserved for a distance of 70.0 m on the left bank of the Back Burn where it exists as a bank some 0.4 m high with a ditch about 1.0 m deep on its N side.

Surveyed at 1:10560.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 10 July 1962

In 1480, the ranger of Yarrow got 2000 'vangorum et tribulorum' i.e. spades and forks. These may have been used for making ditches and banks to form the bounds of the stedes in Ettrick Forest, bounds which still seem to be shown on the OS maps. That they were used for planting is doubtful.

M L Anderson 1967

The southernmost section of this earthwork is now afforested and destroyed. Elsewhere no change.

Visited by RCAHMS (SH) April 1985.

Scheduled as 'Black Rig, linear earthwork N of Kingside Loch... the remains of a linear earthwork, a bank and a ditch.'

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 19 December 2002.