history border reivers debatable land

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Discover a wealth of heritage...

If you’re interested in history in Cumbria, there’s plenty for you in the Debatable Lands. This area was once a wild and dangerous place where the infamous Border Reivers warred for 350 years. Earlier still, the area was once a hive of Roman activity. Their story is vividly brought to life at Carlisle’s Tullie House Museum, interpretation centres at Newcastleton and Bewcastle and other sites nearby, including the world famous Hadrian’s Wall.

Take a tour around the parishes to discover the ruins of mediaeval summer shielings up in the moors and the remains of the peel houses, once occupied by the clans.

Discover your roots - Many of the gravestones show the coats of arms of all the old reiving families including Armstrong, Beattie, Bell, Bromfield, Carnaby, Carr, Cecil, Charlton, Collingwood, Craw, Cranston, Croser, Curwen, Davison, Dacre, Dixon, Dodd, Douglas, Dunne, Fenwick, Forster, Gilchrist, Glendinning, Graham, Gray, Halls, Hedley, Henderson, Herden, Heron, Hetherington, Howard, Hume, Hunter, Irvine, Jameson, Kerrs, Laidlaw, Little, Medford, Milburn, Moffat, Musgrave, Nixon, Noble, Ogle, Oliver, Potts, Read, Ridley, Robson, Routledge, Rutherford, Salkeld, Scott, Selby, Shaftoe, Stamper, Storey, Tailor, Taits, Thompson, Trotter, Turnbull, Wilkinson, Witherington and Yarrow who often bore the brunt of (and carried out ! ) cross border raids.

BEWCASTLE CHURCH EXHIBITION CENTRE
The Centre is located beside the church. An exhibition explains the history of the area from prehistoric times to the present day. The church also has information leaflets and souvenirs for sale. Open: all year round from dawn to dusk.

LIDDESDALE HERITAGE CENTRE
Tel: 013873 75816
Situated in Newcastleton. An exhibition telling the story of Liddelsdale, once a valley of Border raids and warfare. Open: most afternoons during the summer.

TULLIE HOUSE MUSEUM & ART GALLERY
Castle Street, Carlisle CA3 8TP Tel 016977 48213 website: www.tullie-house.co.uk
Travel through time, and over 10,000 years of history in the Border Galleries

BIRDOSWALD ROMAN FORT
Tel: 016977 47602
Birdoswald is one of the most spectacular locations for a Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall. Recent excavations, gateways and fort walls can be seen. Open: Daily 1 March - 9 November 10 am - 5 pm

LANERCOST PRIORY
Tel: 016977 3030
The priory lies in a peaceful valley near Hadrian’s Wall. An Augustinian priory founded in 1169 built partially of stones from the roman wall. the main nave survives as the parish church and the undercroft is intact. Open: Daily 1 April - 31 Oct 10 am - 6 pm.

Some more websites with good info on the The Border Reivers and the Debatable lands

The Border Reivers

http://www.nwlink.com/~scotlass/border.htm

http://www.borderreivers.net

http://www.hadrians-wall.org/page.aspx//Things-To-See-And-Do/Reivers-Story

The Anglo-Scottish Border Wars

http://www.edgeguide.co.uk/cumbria/borderwars.htm l