Windy Gyle

NT81NE 20 from 8506 1528 - 8509 1532 and 8498 15357- 84942 15277

(NT 8506 1528 - NT 8509 1532 and NT 8498 15357- NT 84942 15277) Earthwork (NR)

OS 6" map, (1962).

Two linear earthworks across the narrow neck joining Windy Rig and Windy Gyle. The first(A) lies 115 yds E of the point where two fences join at an acute angle. It is in poor preservation throughout and has been obliterated in places by the tracks of an old road which have broken through or overridden it. Near its N end it consists of a bank with a slight ditch on its E side; at its S end the ditch alone is visible, with some signs of a spoil-mound to the E of it. The total length of the work, over the gaps, is about 86 yds, of which 34 yds are below the lip of the N slope and 18 yds below that of the S slope.

The second earthwork,(B) 195 yds E of the first, has evidently crossed the neck from lip to lip, a distance of about 60 yds, but a gap of 18' wide has been broken through it by the road and its SW end has been carried away by a landslip.

RCAHMS 1956, visited 1945.

These linear earthworks, which run from NT 8506 1528 (B) to NT 8509 1532, and from NT 8494 1528 to NT 8499 1536, (A) are as described.

Visited by OS (JLD) 24 August 1960.

These linear earthworks remain as described by the previous authorities. Revised at 1:10 000.

Visited by OS (TRG) 9 August 1976.

A linear earthwork straddles the moderately steep ground forming the neck of ground between Windy Rig and Windy Gyle. A second earthwork crosses the ridge about 180m to the ESE (NT81NE 20). There are moderately steep to steep slopes to both the Gyle Burn on the N side of The Border and the Rowhope Burn on the English side. The earthwork, which could be traced for 83m, commences on the N side of the ridge above a steep slope. It comprises a bank spread from 4m to 6m in width and standing up to 0.4m in height. Traces of a ditch survive on the E side and, where best preserved, the ditch measures 2.2m in width and 0.3m in depth. After about 30m the earthwork is interrupted by the braided trackways of The Street (NT81NW 91) over a distance of about 25m. The earthwork resumes, just to the N of a fence and continues for a further 24m, terminating above a steep drop. There are faint traces of a ditch on the E side of the bank near the S end.

Information from RJ Mercer (University of Edinburgh) 16 March 1986

RCAHMS MS 2598. No. 51/637

A linear earthwork crosses the narrow neck of ground forming The Border ridge and the watershed between the Gyle and Rowhope burns and linking Windy Rig with Windy Gyle. It is situated towards the base of a moderate slope at the NW end of Windy Gyle with steep drops down to the burns on both sides of the ridge. A second, similar earthwork (NT81NE 20) lies about 180m to the W. Running from NE to SW, the earthwork can be traced for 57m. It comprises a bank, measuring about 2.5m in width and standing up to 0.5m in height, with a ditch, up to 2.5m in width and 0.3m in depth, on the E side. The Street (NT81NW 92) breaks through the earthwork about 6m to the N of the S terminal, but the break is only 5m across; much narrower than at the earthwork to the W (NT81NE 20).

Information from RJ Mercer (University of Edinburgh) 16 March 1986

RCAHMS MS 2598. No. 51/638