In Scotland

Dumfriesshire History
The Border Reivers	Annan	Clan names	Place names of the Bells	Famous People	Famous Sites of Annan

The Border Reivers Between the 13th and 16th centuries, feuding families on either side of the Scottish-English borders, would ride by night, raiding cattle and striking terror. Four border fortresses can still be seen today. The Reivers "rode with the moonlight" with "steill bonnets" and "laing spears". Border clans included the Armstrongs (the most feared clan), the Bells (English and Scottish), Grahams, Johnstones, Scotts, Elliotts, Maxwells, Douglases, Croziers and Irvines.

Reiver Information More information on Reivers

Annan Originally Annan was a market town serving the local rich farming area. Industries included grain milling and cotton spinning, with trade common with America. Tea clippers were built at shipyards in Annan, and a large port flourished.

Clans Annan is home to families including the Maxwells, Irvines, Carlisles, Bells, Carruthers, Johnstones, Elliotts and the Armstrongs.

Placenames Bell Family homes in the Annan District included properties at Middlebie, Middlebie Hall, Dornock House, Todholes, Round Bush, The Flosh, Potstown and The Broats - all within a short distance of each other.

Famous People of Area

Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed at an inn in the High Street, Annan	Robert Burns, poet, was an a frequent visitor to the town and the harbour, working as an exciseman patrolling the shore of Annan.
Mary Queen of Scots	Thomas Carlyle, an essayist and historian and social critic, was born at Ecclefechan.

Famous Sites of Annan

Annan Online - pictures and information

More information

Click on all pictures for a larger image

Bonshaw Tower, a scene of fierce border fighting, is still the seat of the Irving Clan. Stapleton Tower was built by the Johnstone Clan.

Robert the Bruce's motte dates from the 12th century, and was the first of the castles built by the Norman dynasty. Stronghold of the Lords of Annandale.

Bruce's Cave, reputed to be the cave where Robert the Bruce saw the spider, is near the village of Kirkpatrick Fleming.

Glinockie Tower, at Hollows near Canonbie, dates from the 16th century, and is the Clan Armstrong Centre.

Burnswark Hill was an Iron Age hillfort and dates from about 6th century BC. The hilltop earthwork was flanked by two Roman siege camps in 2nd century AD. It is 3 miles north of Ecclefechan.