Burnhead Tower

Burnhead Tower is a rectangular tower house extended by the addition of a modern house on one side. It is privately occupied and sits on a platform of land overlooking the Boonraw Bun, which flows into the Teviot about half a mile to the south.

The tower was accessed through a ground floor dorway which opened into a small lobby, with a mural stair leading around the north-east corner to the first floor. A second vaulted cellar lay to the south-west, and was provided with a tiny slit widow. There were two storeys and an attic above this level, but the interior arrangements were altered significantly when the new mansion was built in the 19th century, added to the south gable. The second floor and attic have been completely removed, leaving a section of wallwalk along the north gable.

The National archive holds a set of notes relating to the Scott family of Burnhead. In 1484, David Lord Lindsay of the Byres disponed the lands of Over and Nether Newhall in Roxburghshire, now known as Burnhead and Burnfoot, to James Scott, the younger son of Sir Walter Scott of Kirkurd. James’ second son John became the second laird of Burnhead in 1492. The next laird seems to have been another John, who died in 1582 – but this is a remarkable generation gap and must be considered with caution. Robert (IV) died in 1609, and his son Willimam (V) was a retainer of the Duke of Buccleuch, and died c1640. His son Robert (VI) died in 1677, and his son Robert (VIII) in 1755. Robert was followed by his son William (IX) who died unmarried in 1795, and William by his sister Margaret, who was succeeded by her cousin William Watson c1815. In the 1850s, the Scott Watson family carried out the extension and rebuilding work at Burnhead. The Scott Watson family remain owners of the Burnhead estate.

There is a tradition, reported on Canmore, that a “Hobbie Elliot” of Burnhead was accused of raiding in 1584. Examination of the “Border Papers” reveals that, in May 1584, “Hobbie Ellott of the Burneheades” was listed among several people who had been on a successful raid to “the Slymefoote” on the Middle March. A further report by Sir John Forster dated June 1585 named “Hobb Ellott of the Burneheades, called “Fydlers Hob” as part of the same raid. A John Ellott “the lard of the Burneheades” was named in 1589 as carrying out raiding – and later in the same (very lengthy) list dated October 1595, the following were named- “Gyb Ellott brother to Wyll of the Fawandeshe, Arche and Hobe Ellott sons to the said Wyll, and Hob Ellott the laird of the Burnheads, for 60 kye and oxen, and 6 horses and mares.” However, as the item is actually listing damages caused by Anthony Carleton for his “hearshipp at Tredermayne” upon a list of lords, it has to be said that Elliot was a victim rather than a perpetrator. The next item records that John Armstrong had raided  Hob Elliot “kyll of the spade” and “Wyll Elliots” John of Burnheads to the tune of 24 “kye and oxen“. Subsequently the Elliotts of Burnheads are listed as having been involved in a raid in Gilsland resulting in the loss of 400 cattle and 6 horses. The following year, it was reported that “Buckcleugh, Hobb Elwood larde of Burnehead, Scottesmen” and others met with the outlawed Thomas Carleton.

However, if we ignore the fact that the date given is 1584, and the accusations were listed a decade later (sometimes these cases built up for years before they could be investigated) the Scotts retained Burnhead throughout this period. Or perhaps not. The laird in 1584 and 1595 would have been Robert Scott (VI), who would have recently taken up his lands after the death of his extremely long-lived predecessor John in 1582. It is not likely that the Elliots were Scott tenants – the two families were at feud – and the Scotts had Burnhead as their seat here. Yet in the 1580s/90s we have not just one, but two Elliot lairds of Burnhead, Robert (Hobb) and John – albeit the designation is “of the Burneheads” which may not be the same place. However, the only other Burnhead I have found is near Kirk Yetholm, which is a long way from the Elliot stronghold of Upper Liddesdale. There is no reason to suppose that the Scotts temporarily lost control of Burnhead – but I have no evidence that confirms it did happen. The only hint is a summons raised by the earl of Glencairn in 1603 to remove men including Robert Scot of Burnhead and Robert Scot of Burnfoot who were occupying the lands and barony of Hassendean – also acquired by James Scott in 1484, and granted to his eldest son David, whose descendants included the Buccleuch family. Perhaps there was some legal challenge here to the Scott occupancy of all the lands at a time when their chief, Buccleuch, was enduring a period of displeasure from King James VI which has been lost.

The tower can be seen from parts of the B6359, but is within private grounds with no public right of way.

HES Canmore database entry