The Border Reivers were clans and families from the Anglo-Scottish borderlands who dominated the region through raiding and feuding between the 13th and 17th centuries.
Scottish Border Reiver Clans
| Clan | Septs | Area of Influence | Key Strongholds | Notable Figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong | Fairbairn, Foster | Liddesdale, Debatable Lands | Gilnockie Tower, Hollows Tower | Johnnie Armstrong (executed 1530); Kinmont Willie (escaped Carlisle Castle, 1596) |
| Bell | Bell of Blacket House, Kirkconnel | Annandale, Dumfriesshire | Blacket House | Richard Bell (notorious raider) |
| Burn | Bourne, Burnes | Liddesdale, Eskdale | Burnfoot | Walter Burn (raided English East March) |
| Crosier | Croser, Crosser | Eskdale, Ewesdale | Langholm | Walter Crosier (feuded with Armstrongs) |
| Elliott | Eliott, Elliotson | Teviotdale, Liddesdale | Redheugh Tower | Gilbert Elliot of Stobs (skirmish leader) |
| Glendinning | Glendennyn, Glendonwyn | Eskdale, Annandale | Glendinning Tower | Thomas Glendinning (raided Cumberland) |
| Graham | Grame, Grimes | Eskdale, Debatable Lands | Netherby Hall | Richard Graham (exiled by James VI) |
| Hall | Halle, Haule | Teviotdale | Halls of Hendersyde | John Hall (raided Northumberland) |
| Irvine | Irving, Irwin | Annandale | Bonshaw Tower | Christopher Irvine (border feudist) |
| Johnstone | Johnston | Annandale | Lochwood Tower | James Johnstone, 1st Lord (Battle of Dryfe Sands, 1593) |
| Kerr | Tait, Carr, Ker | Teviotdale, Jedburgh | Ferniehirst Castle | Sir Thomas Kerr (raided English East March); Andrew Tait (Kerr ally) |
| Maxwell | Makiswell | Nithsdale | Caerlaverock Castle | Lord Maxwell (killed at Dryfe Sands, 1593) |
| Nixon | Nickson, Nix | Liddesdale | None recorded | Archie Nixon (feuded with Armstrongs) |
| Routledge | Rutledge, Rutter | Redesdale | None recorded | Robert Routledge (raided Cumberland) |
| Scott | Scot, Scote | Teviotdale, Ettrick Forest | Branxholme Castle | Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch (rescued Kinmont Willie, 1596) |
English Border Reiver Families
| Family | Septs | Area of Influence | Key Strongholds | Notable Figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlton | None recorded | North Tyne, Redesdale | Hesleyside Hall | Sir Edward Charlton (raided Scottish Middle March) |
| Dacre | None recorded | Cumbria, Gilsland | Naworth Castle | Lord William Dacre (defended English West March) |
| Dodd | Dodds, Dods | Tynedale, Redesdale | Dod Hill | William Dodd (raided Liddesdale) |
| Forster | Foster | Northumberland, Redesdale | Bamburgh Castle | Sir John Forster (Warden of the English Middle March) |
| Hedley | Headley | Northumberland | None recorded | Adam Hedley (cross-border raider) |
| Heron | Heryn | Northumberland, East March | Ford Castle | Sir John Heron (fought Scottish incursions) |
| Milburn | Milbourne | Tynedale | Milburn Hall | William Milburn (raided Liddesdale) |
| Musgrave | Mosgrove | Westmorland, Cumberland | Edenhall | Sir Richard Musgrave (skirmish veteran) |
| Ridley | Riddell | Northumberland | Uncertain | Nicholas Ridley (infamous raider) |
| Robson | None recorded | Redesdale | None recorded | Robert Robson (prominent raider) |
| Shaftoe | Shafto | Northumberland | Bavington Hall | Sir Robert Shaftoe (border conflict leader) |
| Taylor | Tailor, Taylour | Cumberland | Rose Castle | John Taylor (raided Annandale) |
| Trotter | Troter | Borders, Northumberland | Morton Riggs | William Trotter (cross-border raider) |
Clans Subject to Ecclesiastical Condemnation
Several clans faced formal censure for their lawlessness, including:
- Armstrong
- Bell
- Burn
- Crosier
- Elliott
- Forster
- Glendinning
- Graham
- Hall
- Hedley
- Irvine
- Johnstone
- Kerr (and sept Tait)
- Milburn
- Nixon
- Robson
- Routledge
- Scott
- Taylor
Notable Feuds with Dates
| Feud | Clans/Families Involved | Dates | Key Events | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong vs. Johnstone | Armstrong (Scotland) vs. Johnstone (Scotland) | Early 16th C.–1596 | Kinmont Willie Armstrong’s rescue from Carlisle Castle by Scott of Buccleuch. | Temporary truce brokered by James VI; both clans later suppressed post-1603. |
| Maxwell vs. Johnstone | Maxwell (Scotland) vs. Johnstone (Scotland) | 1593 | Battle of Dryfe Sands: Johnstones ambushed Maxwells near Lockerbie. | Lord Maxwell killed; Johnstones gained dominance in Annandale. |
| Scott vs. Kerr | Scott (Scotland) vs. Kerr (Scotland) | 1520s–1545 | Battle of Melrose (1526): Kerrs allied with English to defeat Scotts. | Feud escalated. |
| Graham vs. Musgrave | Graham (Scotland) vs. Musgrave (England) | 1542–1550 | Cross-border raids intensified during the Rough Wooing. | Grahams exiled to Ireland; Musgraves retained control of Westmorland. |
| Elliot vs. Crosier | Elliot (Scotland) vs. Crosier (Scotland) | 1510–1530 | Disputes over Liddesdale territories led to cattle raids and ambushes. | Elliots absorbed Crosier lands; Crosiers faded into obscurity. |
| Forster vs. Heron | Forster (England) vs. Heron (England) | 1558–1569 | Clashed over authority in the English East March. | Forsters retained Warden role; Herons diminished politically. |
| Charlton vs. Robson | Charlton (England) vs. Robson (England) | 1480–1500 | Bloody raids over Redesdale grazing rights. | Intermarriage temporarily eased tensions; feud reignited in the 1520s. |
| Nixon vs. Armstrong | Nixon (Scotland) vs. Armstrong (Scotland) | 1570–1590 | Disputes over Debatable Lands led to retaliatory raids. | Armstrongs dominated; Nixons relegated to minor clan status. |
Legacy & Suppression
The Reivers’ era ended under James VI/I, who pacified the borders after the 1603 Union of the Crowns. Key actions included:
- Mass Executions: “Jeddart Justice” (summary hangings without trial).
- Transportation: Exiled Reivers became mercenaries in European wars.
- Fortification Demolition: Peel towers dismantled to disrupt raiding.
Modern Descendants:
- Tait: Survives in the Scottish Borders as a distinct surname.
- Burn: Evolved into the Burnes of Kemnay, a prominent Aberdeenshire family.
Key Locations to Visit:
- Ferniehirst Castle (Jedburgh): Kerr stronghold with Tait connections.
- Dod Hill (Northumberland): Dodd family’s raiding base.
- Glendinning Tower (Eskdale): Ruins of Glendinning power.
Final Note: The Reivers’ blend of lawlessness and loyalty remains embedded in Border folklore, immortalised in ballads like “The Ballad of Kinmont Willie”.
