The successive tenants of conjoint Bedrule and Fulton have been: W. Pringle (until 1826), Haliburton until 1827, succeeded by Robert Brodie of Nottylees); George Simpson of Oxnam Row (from 1846) and his trustees (1889-1898); and Thomas Aird Smith (from 1898 until 1921). About 1921 Mr. A. B. Usher—a son of the proprietor—took over the management, which is still conducted by Mr H. Usher of Courthill, near Hawick.*

* Information supplied chiefly by Mr. E. Barton, also Tancred's " Rulewater," pp. 205-225.

We have already seen that three and a quarter centuries ago there lived in Fulton various families besides the Turnbulls—such as the Ainslies and Patersons. In 1619 there is also mention of "Thomas Martene in Fultoun." Gordon's map of Teviotdale indicates in this now sequestered spot a fairly important hamlet—if not indeed a village- in the middle of the seventeenth century. Stobie's map (1770) shows three clusters of houses, with the brook—properly called Huntly Burn—flowing between. Fulton, a hamlet on the south side of the burn, is one of these; while on the north bank lay Huntlyhill in two parts, with the valley road running between them. Fullarton's "Gazetteer of Scotland " refers to this now shrunken hamlet as a "village of some little consequence in the times of the Border feuds, but now recognizable only by the vestiges of its castle or peel-house".

While its precursor was erected probably of timber, the successor peel about four centuries ago was built of stone. In 1535 the Scottish estates enacted that all substantial landholders should within the next two years erect a fort or tower of " stone and lyme "—on a scale in accordance with their means; and thus it is probable that the existing tower was built by or soon after 1537. Undoubtedly it suffered in 1545, probably in 1570, and conceivably at other times; but repaired or renovated, the stout edifice continued to serve the feudatory as his dwelling-house, until times became too difficult for him to maintain its upkeep or retain its possession. Thereafter it lapsed in ruin.

Briefly describing the solitary ruins of this simple Border keep just over a century ago, Rev. Alexander Craig of Bedrule stated that "there arc three side walls pretty entire and of great thickness and solidarity.” These walls, however, are of variable thickness, varying from 3 feet 9 inches to 4 feet 2 inches, and rise to a height of about 23 feet. The tower is almost square, with a length of 31 feet and a breadth of 27 feet (or 23 feet, according to another report).

There are some traces of a projection at the south-west angle, in which was contained a circular stairway that led to the loftier apartments. In the interior walls one may still observe the holes for holding the joists which supported the upper floor. Thus the first "ceiling" was not a pend, as was the case in many Border peels. The walls still show the shot-holes from which arrows or arquebuses might be discharged from within against an assaulting enemy. These shot-holes - two in the walls of the ground floor, one in the second storey—have a horizontal external splay.

Authorities.—Register of the Great Seal (1623); Reg. Privy Council; Retours; Exchequer Rolls; Acts of Parlt. of Scotland; Douglas Book; Scotts of Buccleuch; Border Elliots; Leslie's "History of Scotland"; this Society's "Transactions" (especially for 1903, 1906); Berw. Nat. Club's Proceedings vols. xii, xxi, xxv); Tancred's "Rulewater"; New Statistical Account; etc.

* When I visited the ruin in 1946 along with Mr. Barton, I unfortunately had no line or rule and therefore could take no precise measurements. Printed sources have had to be relied on.