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Twinlaw, Twinlaw Cairns
Burial Cairn (Prehistoric)
Site Name Twinlaw, Twinlaw Cairns
Classification Burial Cairn (Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 57449
Site Number NT65SW 4
NGR NT 62435 54796
NGR Description Centre
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/57449
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Westruther
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Berwickshire
- Former County Berwickshire
NT65SW 4 62403 54778
(A: NT 62403 54778; B: NT 62459 54809) Twinlaw Cairns (NR)
OS 6"map, (1957).
These are two round cairns of rough whinstones; 'A' is about 60ft in diameter while 'B' is some 70ft in diameter. Both are 5ft to 6ft high. Both have been excavated and reconstructed and each is surmounted by a modern conical beacon. It is stated (G S Thomson 1872; J Walker 1868) that each contained a cist, but an eye-witness, Mr J Edington, who assisted at the excavations, stated that the only relics found were "some rusty button-like metal objects" found beneath the stones of cairn 'B'. Lady John Scott however, who conducted the excavations, records that she "opened the Twinlaw Cairns and found a cist (which had been ransacked before) in each" (J H Craw 1923).
RCAHMS 1915; HBNC 1947; New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845.
After having been badly damaged during the war years by the military, these cairns have been rebuilt and are in good condition.
OS Revisor (WJS) 12 August 1952.
Cairn 'A' is 20m in diameter and 1.5m high; 'B' is 24m in diameter and 1.5m high.
Visited by OS (JD) 5 May 1955.
The cairns are as described. They both have narrow passage stairs built into them for access to the conical beacons which are 3.0m high, 3.5m diameter pillars of drystone construction.
Surveyed at 1/10,000.
Visited by OS (MJF) 1 May 1979.
Two reconstructed cairns, as described.
RCAHMS 1980, visited 1979.
Damaged by Polish troops during the Second World War.
Information from RCAHMS (LMF) 15 April 1996.
Field Visit (6 October 1908)
290. ‘Twinlaw Cairns’.
Standing on the crest of the hill to which they give a name, at an elevation of some 1466 feet, these two cairns are conspicuous objects in the landscape. They are circular in outline, formed of rough whinstones, with a height of from 5 to 6 feet. at the centre, and surmounted each by a conical beacon of modern construction. They are about 54 paces apart. The west cairn has a diameter of some 60 feet, and that to the east a diameter of about 70 feet. Both have been excavated and reconstructed. It has been stated that a stone cist was found in each; also, elsewhere, that each contained a stone coffin. But an eye-witness* who assisted at the excavation conducted by Lady John Scott of Spottiswoode, declares that neither cists nor coffins were discovered, the only relics being some rusty button-like metal objects found beneath the stones in the east cairn.
See Ber. Nat. Club, 1863-68, p. 116; ibid., 1869-72, p. 117; ibid.,1901-2, p. 114.
RCAHMS 1915, visited 6th October 1908.
OS Map: Ber., xiv. NE.
*Mr J. Edington, land steward, Spottiswoode
Note (16 January 2020)
The location, classification and period of this site have been reviewed.
Sbc Note
Visibility: This is an upstanding earthwork or monument.
Information from Scottish Borders Council
