Broomhill Black Dyke

NT64NE 6 6922 4797 to 6999 4669.

(NT 6922 4797 - NT 6999 4669) Black Dyke (NAT) (Course of)

OS 6" map, (1957).

(NT 6922 4797 - NT 6999 4669) Black Dikes (NR)

(NT 6935 4792 - NT 6946 4823)

OS 6" map, Berwickshire, 2nd ed., (1909).

On the S side of the Blackadder Water, exactly opposite Blackcastle Rings (NT64NE 5) is the beginning of an entrenchment which runs about half a mile along the bank, and then turns off south in the direction of Hume Castle.

That part of it which runs in a southerly direction is called the Black Dikes. A number of gold and silver coins of Edward III (1327-77) were found about two years ago (i.e. 1832) when removing the turf for a quarry in the line of this trench. (See NT64NE 10)

NSA 1845.

Broomhill Black Dyke: This dyke has, especially in its northern half, more the appearance of a road of not very early date; there are no signs of a mound, and its windings are those of a road rather than of a Black Dyke.

The manner in which it descends to the Blackadder is also suggestive of a road, and it is also significant that the NSA (supra) states that the name Black Dikes was only given to that portion in Blackdikes and Crawlee Strips.

J H Craw 1928.

The OS surveyor noted a length of ditch with banks on each side in the plantation N of Crawlee - NT 6998 4660 to 6995 4647; and the OS 1st ed 6" of 1862 shows 'supposed site of' to the course of 'Black Dyke' in a field between NT 6971 4685 and 6993 4647.

Visited by OS 12 January 1955

At NT 6895 4797: Hollow way up to 5m wide an 1.7m deep (RD 1970).

Possible course of the dyke. (Craw 1928)

NT 6910 4795 to NT 6902 4757: No sign of a mound. This stretch appears to be more like a cart track, being a slight hollow in the ground (JD 1955; RD 1970).

NT 6902 4757 to NT 6938 4714: There is no trace of the dyke (JD 1955; RD 1970).

NT 6945 4824 to NT 6930 4805: Not a dyke. Shows as a track (JD 1955).

NT 6930 4805 to 6936 4795: This is not a dyke. It is a track, possibly sheep, which descends from the top of a steep slope to the river (JD 1955).

Visited by OS (JD) 1955; (RD) August 1970

Information from OS.

J H Craw 1928

The course of the dyke depicted on the OS 6" 1909 follows, for a greater part of its length, the top edge of a very steep (almost vertical in places) valley slope. It then runs along the top of a gently sloping ridge until it reaches a crossing point of Blackadder Water. This route indicates that it is almost certainly not a dyke but it is probably a track as suggested by Craw. There are no surveyable remains of this linear on the ground.

Visited by OS(MJF) 26 June 1979.