A historical archive of the Anglo-Scottish Borderc. 1300–1603
History · People · Place
The Border Reivers
Stories from the edge of two kingdoms
History of the Anglo-Scottish Border

The Border Reivers: life on the edge of two kingdoms.

Explore the riders, families, strongholds and laws that shaped the English and Scottish Marches from the thirteenth to the early seventeenth century.

Illustrative landscape concept
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Who were the Border Reivers?

Border Reivers were people of the Anglo-Scottish borderlands whose raids, feuds and shifting allegiances marked life in the Marches. Cattle theft was one part of a much larger story: families defended their lands, wardens enforced border law, and fortified homes offered protection in troubled times. Start with the introductory history, then explore the people, places and records behind it. Read the introduction →

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Four paths into the archive
Featured essay

An introduction to the Border Reivers

The geography of the Borders between England and Scotland is dominated by the bleak rolling hills of the Cheviots. The immediate surrounding area is varied though often no…

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From the collection

Stories worth exploring

Reiver Information

Sir Robert Carey

Part II – Sir Robert CareyBefore looking at the powers and effectiveness of Sir Robert Carey, his background and…

Law and order

The Laws of the Marches

This chapter will now outline the laws by which Sir Robert Carey would rule, and then say something of…

Photo History

Hermitage Castle

Hermitage Castle resides in the small valley of the Hermitage Water in Liddesdale, that turbulent Reiver infested haunt. The…

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Books, documents and further reading behind the stories.

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