The Yarrow Water is a river in the Borders in the south east of Scotland. It is a tributary of the Ettrick Water (itself a tributary of the Tweed) and renowned for its high quality trout and salmon fishing.[1][2] The name "Yarrow" may derive from the Celtic word garw meaning "rough" or possibly share a derivation with the English name "Jarrow".[3]
The Yarrow Valley in winter
The valley was the birthplace of Mungo Park and has inspired several well-known songs and poems. Its traditions and folk tales were well documented by Walter Scott, who spent part of his childhood nearby, and in adult life returned to live in the vicinity at Abbotsford House, near Melrose.[4]
Its source is St. Mary's Loch and from there the Yarrow Water flows 20 kilometres (12 mi) in an easterly direction with a fall of 123.5 metres (405 ft) passing the settlements of Yarrow Feus, Yarrow and Yarrowford before joining the Ettrick near to the site of the 1645 Battle of Philiphaugh just west of Selkirk.[2][5][6] This confluence, which occurs at the eastern edge of the Duke of Buccleuch's Bowhill Estate, is known as the Meetings Pool.[1] The valley is traversed by the A708 that runs from Selkirk to Moffat.
The explorer Mungo Park was born at Foulshiels on the left bank of the river in 1771.[7] In May 1804 Walter Scott came upon Park throwing stones into a deep pool in the river and remarked that "This appears but an idle amusement for one who has seen so much adventure".[2] Park replied that this was "Not so idle perhaps, as you suppose. This was the way I used to ascertain the depth of a river in Africa".[2] Although he had not yet told anyone, Park was considering his second and fateful expedition at the time.[2] At about the same time, James Hogg ("The Ettrick Shepherd") had come to the attention of Scott whilst the former was working at Blackhouse Farm in the Yarrow valley.[8]
The impressive ruins of Newark Castle, held by the Earls of Douglas in the 15th century, lie on the right bank of the river opposite Foulshiels.[9]
In literature
The Dowie Dens
The folk song "The Dowie Dens o Yarrow" (English: "the dismal, narrow wooded valleys of Yarrow") refers to an ambush and murder that takes place in the locality. According to Walter Scott the song is based on a real incident that took place in the seventeenth century, although some modern scholars are sceptical about this story as one of the origins of the song.[10][11] These include a poem by William Hamilton of Bangour called "The Braes of Yarrow" first published in Edinburgh in 1724 and said to be "written in imitation of an old Scottish ballad on a similar subject".[12]
Outlaw Murray
"The Sang of the Outlaw Murray" is a lay that may have been composed in the reign of James V and which was collected by Walter Scott. Local tradition held that the events took place in the vicinity of Newark Castle, although Scott himself believed that the old tower at Hangingshaw, a seat of the Philiphaugh family near Yarrowford, was the correct location. He was assured by "the late excellent antiquarian Mr. Plummer, sheriff-depute of Selkirkshire... that he remembered the insignia of the unicorns, &c. so often mentioned in the ballad, in existence" there.[13]
William Wordsworth
James Hogg- detail of an oil painting by W. Nicholson
although this deprecation did not deter a further visit to the area when he journeyed down the length of the Yarrow in the company of James Hogg and the subsequent publication of "Yarrow Visited" in 1814 and "Yarrow Revisited" in 1838.[2]
Wordsworth's 1835 "Extempore Effusion upon the Death of James Hogg" includes the lines:
The wood of Carterhaugh near the confluence of the Yarrow and Ettrick, is the setting for the ballad "Tam Lin".[16] This song, collected in 1729, tells the story of a maiden and her relationship to the faery world. It begins:
It is possible that this tale is derived from the 13th century ballad, "Thomas the Rhymer", that concerns Thomas Learmonth of nearby Erceldoune.[18]
Folk tales
Carterhaugh with Harehead Hill (centre) and Foulshiels Hill (at left) beyond.
The subject matter of Tam Lin is referred to in various other local traditions. Scott recorded that:
The peasants point out upon the plain [of Caterhaugh], those electrical rings which vulgar credulity supposes to be traces of the Fairy revels. Here, they say, were placed the stands of milk, and of water, in which Tamlane was dipped in order to effect the disenchantment; and upon these spots, according to their mode of expressing themselves, the grass will never grow.[19]
He went on to complain that "in no part of Scotland, indeed, has the belief in Fairies maintained its ground with more pertinacity than in Selkirkshire" and describes a story "implicitly believed by all"[19] said to have occurred in the seventeenth century on Peat Law, to the east of Foulshiels Hill:[6]
The victim of elfin sport was a poor man, who, being employed in pulling heather upon Peatlaw, a hill not far from Carterhaugh, had tired of his labour and laid him down to sleep upon a Fairy ring. When he awakened he was amazed to find himself in the midst of a populous city, to which, as well as to the means of his transportation, he was an utter stranger. His coat was left upon the Peatlaw; and his bonnet, which had fallen off in the course of his aerial journey, was afterwards found hanging upon the steeple of the church of Lanark.[19]
^ ab"Ettrick & Yarrow Fishing" elfisheries.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
^ abcdef"Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: Yair, Yarrow, Yarrow Water" electricscotland.com. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
^Taylor (1921) p. 131. Google Books. Retrieved 25 July 2009. - Watson (2004) p. 522 contains the note "Yarrow is Gierua c. 1120, Gierwa, Gieruua c. 1150 (Lawrie). This like Gala, is an English name and may be compared with Jarrow, in Bede 'In Gyruum'."
^"Sandyknowe and Early Childhood" walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2009. - "Welcome to Abbotsford". scottsabbotsford.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
^"Yarrow Water" Gazetteer for Scotland. The Institute of Geography, University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
^Yarrow Unvisited online-literature.com. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
^"Extempore Effusion upon the Death of James Hogg" Virginia University. Retrieved 25 July 2009. This eulogy notwithstanding, Wordsworth's notes state "He was undoubtedly a man of original genius, but of coarse manners and low and offensive opinions."
^"Tam Lin and Carterhaugh, Selkirk, Scotland" tam-lin.org. Retrieved 25 July 209.
^Tam Lin balladry" tam-lin.org. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
Taylor, Isaac (1921) Words & places: illustrations of history, ethnology and geography. Kessinger.
Watson, W.J. (2004) The History of the Celtic Place-names of Scotland. First published 1926. Reprinted with an introduction by Simon Taylor. Edinburgh. Birlinn. ISBN1-84158-323-5
yarrow, water, river, lancashire, river, yarrow, lancashire, river, borders, south, east, scotland, tributary, ettrick, water, itself, tributary, tweed, renowned, high, quality, trout, salmon, fishing, name, yarrow, derive, from, celtic, word, garw, meaning, r. For the river in Lancashire see River Yarrow Lancashire The Yarrow Water is a river in the Borders in the south east of Scotland It is a tributary of the Ettrick Water itself a tributary of the Tweed and renowned for its high quality trout and salmon fishing 1 2 The name Yarrow may derive from the Celtic word garw meaning rough or possibly share a derivation with the English name Jarrow 3 The Yarrow Valley in winter The valley was the birthplace of Mungo Park and has inspired several well known songs and poems Its traditions and folk tales were well documented by Walter Scott who spent part of his childhood nearby and in adult life returned to live in the vicinity at Abbotsford House near Melrose 4 Contents 1 Geography and history 2 In literature 2 1 The Dowie Dens 2 2 Outlaw Murray 2 3 William Wordsworth 2 4 Tam Lin 3 Folk tales 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksGeography and history Edit Mungo Park Its source is St Mary s Loch and from there the Yarrow Water flows 20 kilometres 12 mi in an easterly direction with a fall of 123 5 metres 405 ft passing the settlements of Yarrow Feus Yarrow and Yarrowford before joining the Ettrick near to the site of the 1645 Battle of Philiphaugh just west of Selkirk 2 5 6 This confluence which occurs at the eastern edge of the Duke of Buccleuch s Bowhill Estate is known as the Meetings Pool 1 The valley is traversed by the A708 that runs from Selkirk to Moffat The explorer Mungo Park was born at Foulshiels on the left bank of the river in 1771 7 In May 1804 Walter Scott came upon Park throwing stones into a deep pool in the river and remarked that This appears but an idle amusement for one who has seen so much adventure 2 Park replied that this was Not so idle perhaps as you suppose This was the way I used to ascertain the depth of a river in Africa 2 Although he had not yet told anyone Park was considering his second and fateful expedition at the time 2 At about the same time James Hogg The Ettrick Shepherd had come to the attention of Scott whilst the former was working at Blackhouse Farm in the Yarrow valley 8 The impressive ruins of Newark Castle held by the Earls of Douglas in the 15th century lie on the right bank of the river opposite Foulshiels 9 In literature EditThe Dowie Dens Edit The folk song The Dowie Dens o Yarrow English the dismal narrow wooded valleys of Yarrow refers to an ambush and murder that takes place in the locality According to Walter Scott the song is based on a real incident that took place in the seventeenth century although some modern scholars are sceptical about this story as one of the origins of the song 10 11 These include a poem by William Hamilton of Bangour called The Braes of Yarrow first published in Edinburgh in 1724 and said to be written in imitation of an old Scottish ballad on a similar subject 12 Outlaw Murray Edit The Sang of the Outlaw Murray is a lay that may have been composed in the reign of James V and which was collected by Walter Scott Local tradition held that the events took place in the vicinity of Newark Castle although Scott himself believed that the old tower at Hangingshaw a seat of the Philiphaugh family near Yarrowford was the correct location He was assured by the late excellent antiquarian Mr Plummer sheriff depute of Selkirkshire that he remembered the insignia of the unicorns amp c so often mentioned in the ballad in existence there 13 William Wordsworth Edit James Hogg detail of an oil painting by W Nicholson In his 1803 publication Yarrow Unvisited William Wordsworth wrote What s Yarrow but a river bare That glides the dark hills under There are a thousand such elsewhere As worthy of your wonder 14 although this deprecation did not deter a further visit to the area when he journeyed down the length of the Yarrow in the company of James Hogg and the subsequent publication of Yarrow Visited in 1814 and Yarrow Revisited in 1838 2 Wordsworth s 1835 Extempore Effusion upon the Death of James Hogg includes the lines The mighty Minstrel breathes no longer Mid mouldering ruins low he lies And death upon the braes of Yarrow Has closed the Shepherd poet s eyes 15 Tam Lin Edit The wood of Carterhaugh near the confluence of the Yarrow and Ettrick is the setting for the ballad Tam Lin 16 This song collected in 1729 tells the story of a maiden and her relationship to the faery world It begins O I forbid you maidens a That wear gowd on your hair To come or gae by Carterhaugh For young Tam Lin is there There s nane that gaes by Carterhaugh But they leave him a wad Either their rings or green mantles Or else their maidenhead 17 It is possible that this tale is derived from the 13th century ballad Thomas the Rhymer that concerns Thomas Learmonth of nearby Erceldoune 18 Folk tales Edit Carterhaugh with Harehead Hill centre and Foulshiels Hill at left beyond The subject matter of Tam Lin is referred to in various other local traditions Scott recorded that The peasants point out upon the plain of Caterhaugh those electrical rings which vulgar credulity supposes to be traces of the Fairy revels Here they say were placed the stands of milk and of water in which Tamlane was dipped in order to effect the disenchantment and upon these spots according to their mode of expressing themselves the grass will never grow 19 He went on to complain that in no part of Scotland indeed has the belief in Fairies maintained its ground with more pertinacity than in Selkirkshire and describes a story implicitly believed by all 19 said to have occurred in the seventeenth century on Peat Law to the east of Foulshiels Hill 6 The victim of elfin sport was a poor man who being employed in pulling heather upon Peatlaw a hill not far from Carterhaugh had tired of his labour and laid him down to sleep upon a Fairy ring When he awakened he was amazed to find himself in the midst of a populous city to which as well as to the means of his transportation he was an utter stranger His coat was left upon the Peatlaw and his bonnet which had fallen off in the course of his aerial journey was afterwards found hanging upon the steeple of the church of Lanark 19 See also EditYarrowford List of places in the Scottish Borders List of places in ScotlandReferences EditNotes Edit a b Ettrick amp Yarrow Fishing elfisheries co uk Retrieved 25 July 2009 a b c d e f Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland Yair Yarrow Yarrow Water electricscotland com Retrieved 25 July 2009 Taylor 1921 p 131 Google Books Retrieved 25 July 2009 Watson 2004 p 522 contains the note Yarrow is Gierua c 1120 Gierwa Gieruua c 1150 Lawrie This like Gala is an English name and may be compared with Jarrow in Bede In Gyruum Sandyknowe and Early Childhood walterscott lib ed ac uk Retrieved 26 July 2009 Welcome to Abbotsford scottsabbotsford co uk Retrieved 26 July 2009 Yarrow Water Gazetteer for Scotland The Institute of Geography University of Edinburgh Retrieved 25 July 2009 a b Get a map Ordnance Survey Retrieved 25 July 2009 Foulshiels Gazetteer for Scotland The Institute of Geography University of Edinburgh Retrieved 25 July 2009 James Hogg The Ettrick Shepherd ettrickyarrow bordernet co uk Retrieved 25 July 2009 Coventry 2008 p 158 Scott 1806 Vol II The Dowie Dens of Yarrow www humanitiesweb Retrieved 25 July 2009 Lloyd 1975 p 129 Percy 1858 p 294 Hamilton 1850 Scott 1806 The Sang of the Outlaw Murray Yarrow Unvisited online literature com Retrieved 25 July 2009 Extempore Effusion upon the Death of James Hogg Virginia University Retrieved 25 July 2009 This eulogy notwithstanding Wordsworth s notes state He was undoubtedly a man of original genius but of coarse manners and low and offensive opinions Tam Lin and Carterhaugh Selkirk Scotland tam lin org Retrieved 25 July 209 Tam Lin balladry tam lin org Retrieved 25 July 2009 Thomas the Rhymer in Scott 1806 Part Third a b c Scott 1806 Introduction to the Tale of Tamlane On the Fairies of Popular Superstition tam lin org Retrieved 25 July 2009 Bibliography Edit Coventry Martin 2008 Castles of the Clans Musselburgh Goblinshead ISBN 978 1 899874 36 1 Hamilton William 1850 The Poems and Songs of William Hamilton of Bangour Edinburgh Lloyd A L 1975 Folk Song in England London Paladin Percy Thomas 1858 Reliques of Ancient English Poetry Consisting of Ballads Songs and Other Pieces of Our Earlier Poets Edinburgh James Nichol Scott Sir Walter 1806 Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border Gutenberg org Melrose Taylor Isaac 1921 Words amp places illustrations of history ethnology and geography Kessinger Watson W J 2004 The History of the Celtic Place names of Scotland First published 1926 Reprinted with an introduction by Simon Taylor Edinburgh Birlinn ISBN 1 84158 323 5External links EditSCRAN Yarrow Water QuickTime VR Panorama Gazetteer for Scotland Yarrow Water Wordsworth s Yarrow Unvisited Wordsworth s Yarrow Visited Wordsworth s Yarrow Revisited grid reference NT425292 Coordinates 55 33 11 N 2 54 47 W 55 5531 N 2 9130 W 55 5531 2 9130 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yarrow Water amp oldid 1082180556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
