Call it a lost world or a no man’s land or a nameless moor, this beautiful terrain lying between England and Scotland was once a realm of bloodshed and rivalry. For around 300 years, from about 1400 to 1700, the countryside was inhabited by clans that survived by plundering and killing others. Neither England nor Scotland had the courage to take the charge of this 50-square-mile tract stretching from the Solway Firth to Langholm, Scotland. Read on to know the history.
The Land Was Inhibited By Border Reivers
The lawless clans living in the region in the past were known as Border Reivers. ‘Reiving’ is actually a Scot word which means raiding or plundering. These people lived by looting each other’s livestock. The most notable clans among them were the Armstrongs. They wanted the land to be theirs and not to be controlled by either England or Scotland. They had their own rules, making the place a ‘no-go zone’ for outsiders. To stop the governments of these countries from taking authorities, the rogues kept launching numerous attacks on fields and settlements, murders, cattle raiding, firing and robbing outside the Debatable Lands. They utilized their gains from these activities to become the major landowners.
The Daring Declaration
To nullify the attempts of these clans, the Crown officers of England and Wales had to make a daring declaration in 1551, that stated, “All Englishmen and Scottish men, after this proclamation made, are and shall be free to rob, burn, spoil, slay, murder and destroy all and every such person, their bodies, buildings, goods and cattle as do remain or shall inhabit upon any part of the said Debatable Land without any redress to be made for the same.” A year after, the administrations agreed upon setting up a borderline. Owing to the decisions, the Scots’ Dyke was built. It became the first man-made European frontier since the era of the Romans. But even that couldn’t stop the dangerous acts of the reivers.
In 1603, when King James VI of Scotland became James I of England too, he finally took a big step for the ‘Pacification of the Borders’, damaging the homes of the border clans, bringing together their family members and transferring them to Ireland and several other places.
Author Graham Robb has also written a book on the history of the place, named. ‘The Debatable Land: The Lost World Between Scotland and England’. It was published in 2018.
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What Is It Today?
By looking at the rustic paradise today, it’s hard to guess that a place with such tranquillity had such a deadly history. The hills, the woody valleys, the swift rivers, the multiple towers and the lush green moorland make the place as marvellous as a painting. Borders Railway of Scotland offers a steam train experience to this moorland. Apart from that, the place is famous for long-distance horse-riding, cycling and hiking. There are also picturesque beaches around the area such as the Coldingham.
The place also has buildings and structures of historical relevance. One of them is the statue of Alexander Armstrong, the last chief of the Scottish Armstrong clan. Another noteworthy ancient structure around this place is the Gilnockie Tower, which is sometimes referred to as the Hollows Tower. Also, the Reiver Trail walking path guides tourists to the significant reiver sites.
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You might have made plans to visit numerous popular destinations in England and Scotland, but this one lesser-known locale definitely deserves a place in your bucket list. The charm of the place will cast a spell on you that will linger in your memories for a lifetime.