Rule Water

A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

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Rule Water, a troutful stream of Teviotdale, Roxburghshire, formed by several burns that descend from the watershed with Liddesdale, and running 9¼ miles northward, partly within Hobkirk parish, and partly on the boundary between Hobkirk and Cavers on the left and Bedrule on the right, till it falls into the Teviot, 21/8 miles NNE of Denholm. 'Between red czlar banks that frightful scowl, Fringed with grey hazel roars the mining Rowll,' whose deep rocky ravine is overhung to the right by Bonchester Hill, to the left by Ruberslaw. In tradition or song Rule Water is associated with the old roistering clan of the Turnbulls, and with Sir Walter Scott's 'jovial harper, rattling roaring Willie.'-Ord. Sur., sh.

An accompanying 19th C. Ordnance Survey map is available, or use the map tab to the right of this page.

Note: This text has been made available using a process of scanning and optical character recognition. Despite manual checking, some typographical errors may remain. Please remember this description dates from the 1880s; names may have changed, administrative divisions will certainly be different and there are known to be occasional errors of fact in the original text, which we have not corrected because we wish to maintain its integrity. This information is provided subject to our standard disclaimer

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