Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for Henderland

Henderland, a farm in the Megget section of Lyne and Megget parish, S Peeblesshire, on the left bank of Megget Water, 5 furlongs W of St Mary's Loch, and 18 miles WSW of Selkirk. A spot here, called the Chapel Knowe, which some years ago was enclosed and planted, contains a grave-slab, sculptured with a sword and other emblems, and bearing inscription ' Here lyis Perys of Cokburne and hys wyfe Mariory.' This was the famous Border freebooter, Piers Cockburn of Henderland, whose ruined stronghold stands hard by, and whose execution at Edinburgh by James V. in 1529 forms the theme of that exquisite ballad The Border Widow's Lament-

I sew'd his sheet, making my mane;
I watch'd the corpse, myself alane;
I watch'd his body night and day;
no living creature came that way.

'I took his body on my back.
And whiles i gaed, and whiles i sat;
I digg'd a grave, and laid him in,
And happ'd aim wi' the sod sae green.

'Nae living. man I'll love again,
Since now my lovely knight is slain;
wi' ae lock o' his yellow hair
I'll chain my heart for evermair.'


(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a farm"   (ADL Feature Type: "agricultural sites")
Administrative units: Lyne ScoP       Peebles Shire ScoCnty

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