Windy Gyle, 'russell's Cairn'
Cairn (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Windy Gyle, 'russell's Cairn'
Classification Cairn (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 58986
Site Number NT81NE 19
NGR NT 85535 15232
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/58986
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Morebattle
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Roxburgh
- Former County Roxburghshire
NT81NE 19 85535 15232
(NT 85535 15232) Russell's Cairn (NR)
OS 6" map, (1962).
Russell's Cairn, on the summit of Windy Gyle (2034' OD) may well be of Bronze Age date; it is circular, 55' in diameter by 8' in height and is almost intact apart from a reduction and levelling of the top to form a base for a modern extension. It shows no sign of internal construction. (See RCAHMS 1956, fig.5). Its name comes from Lord Russell who met his death "at a day of truce held at Cocklaw" in 1585. It is doubtful if this was the scene of the murder and the attribution may be relatively recent.
RCAHMS 1956, visited 1938; R W Feachem 1963.
Russell's Cairn is as described.
Visited by OS (JLD) 29 June 1960.
No change.
Resurveyed at 1:10 000
Visited by OS (TRG) 9 August 1976.
Russell's Cairn crowns the summit of Windy Gyle. The cairn measures 17m in diameter and stands up to 3m in height. There are neither kerb stones, nor internal features visible. The cairn has been reduced in height and levelled off and an OS triangulation point erected on it.
Information from RJ Mercer (University of Edinburgh) 16 March 1986
RCAHMS MS 2598. No. 55c/648
Sbc Note
Visibility: This is an upstanding earthwork or monument.
Information from Scottish Borders Council