Border Reivers at Tosson Tower

Burgh marsh ( pronounced ‘Bruff’ ) is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a desolate monument stands on the spot where an English King died on his way to do battle with the Scots. There is also an impressive bronze statue in memory of King Edward the First – also known as ‘Longshanks’ and ‘The Hammer of the Scots’ – at the edge of the Burgh-by-Sands village green by the Greyhound Inn. Longshanks was heading North over the border to wage another campaign against his old adversary Robert the Bruce in July 1307 when he took ill and died on the barren salt marsh. Not like Braveheart at all. Edward was laid in state after his death in the fortified local church of St. Michael’s.

Another dwelling of the Grahams, Kirkandrews Tower is a Grade Two listed pele dating from the 16 th century situated on the West bank of the River Esk near Longtown. The isolated square tower is reputed to have been built by Thomas Graham in around 1540 and is well preserved with a vaulted basement, two floors and a spiral staircase to the attic. The property is now situated next door to a high end self-catering holiday let at Kirkandrews House, with prices and details available online. The hardy Grahams had held no land on the Esk within the living memory of men in 1583, as detailed in a note on the Border Riders from Thomas Musgrave, deputy of Bewcastle, to Lord Burghley. But Lord Dacre led a warden party over the line but the Scottish riders had been tipped off that he was coming. The West March warden suspected old Richard Graham of the forewarning and was going to execute him for it, but Graham escaped the jail and captured the Storey who had in fact bla...

Counterfeiter, murderer, protection racketeer – Richard Graham, or Richie as he was better known, of Brackenhill was a celebrated reiver who was one of the masterminds behind the breaking of Kinmont Willie from Carlisle. Any Scottish raid into Cumbria would have to pass through the Graham’s lands to reach the City and the Grahams were in the plot up to their necks. Many of them were related to the Armstrongs through marriage. Richie was one of six Grahams along with Walter, Will, John, William and Hutcheon that claimed they were ‘innocent of the detestable treason of the breaking of Carlisle castle and no way consenting to the taking of Kinmont out of the same.’ Their words. But they had. Buccleuch admitted as much. The Brackenhill fortified red sandstone pele that stands near Longtown today was built for Richie in 1584, replacing a much earlier tower on the spot. The Grade Two listed building has been classified as a ‘building at risk’ from disrepair by English Her...