The Border Reivers

For two centuries before the Union of England and Scotland in 1603, the Borders were a dangerous and lawless area where loyalty was to family rather than country. Bands of fighting men known as the Border Reivers engaged in cattle rustling, blackmail, arson and murder on both sides of the Border.

Nowhere were the Reivers more active than in Tynedale and Redesdale. At the Centre you can learn about the local raiding families or "graynes", the Charltons, Dodds, Milburns and Robsons and see exciting displays featuring their fortified pele towers and bastle houses and their weapons and armour, including the famous "Steel Bonnets", and learn about the Charlton Spur and other stories and traditions handed down from those troublesome times.

Is your name Charlton, Dodd, Robson or Milburn, or perhaps Armstrong, Elliot, Graham, Johnstone, Kerr, Maxwell, Nixon, Scott or one of the dozens of other famous raiding families that rode the Borders? Then perhaps your ancestors were Border Reivers! Come to the Centre and find out.

NB:

1. Christopher Robson will give a Talk on the "Riding Surnames of North Tynedale and Redesdale" at the Heritage Centre on Wednesday 9 November 2011 at 7.00 pm. Booking and other information will be updated on our Special Events page nearer the time.

2. Poet Pippa Little published a wonderful collection called FORAY Border Reiver Women in 2009. The book was published by Biscuit Publishing One of Pippa's readings was at the Heritage Centre in November 2009 where her poetry was interspersed with local tunes played on the fiddle by Rachel Pearson of Hesleyside, Bellingham. NEW: Pippa and Rachel perform in 'Love and Conflict, Fear and Delight' here on Sun 7 August 2011 at 2.30 pm.

Please click on images to enlarge

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