Cliftoncote

NT82SW 26 8029 2330 to 8079 2331

(Centred NT 8070 2337) Cultivation Terraces (NR)

OS 6" map, (1962).

See also NT82SW 19.

There are cultivation terraces immediately W of Cliftoncote.

RCAHMS 1956, visited 1938.

At least twelve cultivation terraces may be seen. Four are fairly well preserved, having scarps about 1.0m high. The remainder have scarps generally 0.3 to 0.5m high. In most cases the working area has been filled by soil-slip; however, where evident, it is about 6.0m wide.

They are not outstanding examples.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 18 August 1960 and (RD) 14 June 1968.

No change to 1968 field report.

Visited by OS (TRG) 12 August 1976.

An extensive area of contour cultivation spreads over the sheltered, predominantly moderately steep SE-facing slope of Cushat End from the crest down to the track behind Cliftoncote Farm. The extent thus recorded is substantially greater than that described by the RCAHMS (1956) and depicted on the 1:10560 O.S. map (1962), which occupies only the easternmost angle. The cultivation survives over an area up to 420m from NE to SW by approximately 500m, although the extent was originally greater. Relatively small areas of rig have encroached on both the upper and lower limits whilst the ground on the N through to SE has been enclosed and improved. Only at the NE tip of Cushat End is there any indication of the altitude to which the contour cultivation extended and even here the easternmost of four small areas of rig adjoins the uppermost edge. To the N the upper limits of the cultivation are formed by the watershed between the Bowmont Water and the drainage system of its tributary burn, The Folly Hope. Equally extensive contour cultivation (NT82SW 27) continues down this reverse slope. To the NNE, two areas of rig (NT82SW 29 and NT82SW 130), lying on the moderate NE-facing slope of the watershed between The Folly Hope and the main river valley, impinge upon and largely destroy the upper limits of the contour cultivation. Both the current N and the lower limits of the cultivation are largely defined by the upper edge of the improvement field-pattern around Cliftoncote Farm, except on the SE where a small area of cross-contour rig (NT82SW 131) has encroached. Only on the SW is there any idea of the original boundary of the contour cultivation which fades out as the slope overlooking a minor burn becomes steep. The extreme SSW angle of the cultivation is crossed by a low bank indicating the course of a mill-lade feeding the mill-pond (NT82SW 73) at Cliftoncote Farm.

The character of the cultivation varies considerably over the hillside. Even amongst the twelve terraces previously recorded , there is considerable variation. About four were considered to be fairly well preserved, having c.1m high scarps. The remainder were slighter with 0.3m to 0.5m high scarps. The working area of the terraces, which is about 6m in width, was considered to be covered with soil-slip. Some of the terraces observed by the present survey display evidence of being cultivated as rigs on the working surfaces, creating a confusing picture. In places the terracing could be up to 16m wide with two to three rigs, each about 4m wide, on each shelf. Some of the rig even displays signs of stressing. Higher up the slopes the terraces narrow to about 4m in width with about 0.5m high scarps; rig cultivation is no longer evident.

REFERENCE: RCAHMS vol.2 1956, 363 no.732:

Information from RJ Mercer (University of Edinburgh) 24 March 1987

RCAHMS MS/2598. No. 9/075