Potterlamport (The Gatehouse Record of the Aglionby Platt)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Forkings

In the civil parish of Castleton.
In the historic county of Roxburghshire, Scotland.
Modern Authority of Scottish Borders, Scotland.
1974 county of Borders, Scotland.

OS Map Grid Reference: NY49748935
Latitude 55.19594° Longitude -2.79091°

The given map reference is suggested as the probable location of Potterlamport shown on the Aglionby Platt.

There are no visible remains.

The likely form(s) of this building in 1590 are;

Tower House (gentry)
Pele House ('bastle').

Reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland

Description

(NY 4974 8935) Westburnflat Tower (NR) (Site of) (OS 6" map (1957))
This spot was pointed out in 1858 by two local informants as the site of Westburnflat Tower, property of the Armstrongs. It was occupied at the beginning of the 18th century by Willie of Westburnflat, the last of the Border rievers, who was hanged at Selkirk for stealing cattle. (Name Book 1858)
The indicated site falls on a level area overlooking the Liddel Water; no structural remains could be seen. The landowner (Sir Arthur Elliot, Redheugh, Newcastleton) agrees with the OS site, though Dr Robson (Hawick Museum) has no documentary evidence to support the existence of a tower here. Visited by OS (TRG) 2 July 1979 (Canmore 67860)
A map in the British Museum, dated 1590, marks "Potterlamport" with a tower symbol on the E side of the Liddle Water, between Castleton and Whithaugh. (Name "Pouterlampert Sike": NY 513 882) (A Jeffrey 1864)
Pouterlampert Sike flows, for its entire length, through mature forestry and therefore detailed inspection of the area is not possible. Dr Robson (curator Hawick Museum) has no documentary evidence to support the indicated existence of a tower in this locality and he suggests that the name "Potterlampert" almost certainly refers to a purely domestic occupation site. Visited by OS (JRL) 8 August 1979 (Canmore 67940)

A lintel bearing a shield, an inscription, and dated 1621 has been inserted in the W gable of the old schoolhouse, adjoining the parish church. (RCAHMS 1956)
Lintel as described except that it is in the North gable of the building. No further information obtained. Visited by OS (TRG) 26 June 1979. (Canmore 67871)

Comments

A fortified house is marked on the 1590 house under the name 'Potterlamport' between Whithaugh and Casteltown. The 1608 Pont map has only Byrchoom marked which refers to the settlement/homestead of Breyholm (NY505896). The site of Westburnflat Tower, recorded in Canmore, is at this approximately same position, however the 1590 map is by no means easy to interpret and gives only approximate positions. The 1752 Roy map does not help to narrow down possibilities, the only settlement shown on that map between Whithaugh and Castletown is called Forkings which must be the Westburnflat farmstead at NY49618941.
The C17 lintel in the old school house (NY497894) suggest a building of some pretension in the area. An 'old tower' site was known to locals in the mid C19. It would, therefore, seem reasonable to suggest this as a possible location of the fortified house shown on the 1590 map, although I can give no explanation for the name (and the several changes of name).
The form of the 'tower' is not known. A small three stoyer tower is not impossible but a pele-house bastle may be more likely.

Sources of information, references and further reading

Canmore (The online National Monument Record for Scotland) Number 67860; 67940.

Books
- Coventry, M., 2008, Castles of the Clans: the strongholds and seats of 750 Scottish families and clans (Musselburgh) p. 15
  RCAHMS, 1956, An inventory of the ancient and historical monuments of Roxburghshire (Edinburgh: The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland) Vol. 1 p. 89 no. 86 online copy
Periodical Articles
- Ellis, H., 1829, 'Copy of a manuscript tract addressed to Lord Burghley, illustrative of the Border topography of Scotland, AD 1590, with a platt or map of the Borders taken in the same year' Archaeologia Vol. 22 p. 161-71 online copy
Maps (Early maps)
- 1590, A Platt of the opposete Borders of Scotland to ye west marches of England (The Aglionby Platt) British Library online Gallery and Old Cumbria Gazetteer
  Blaeu, J., 1654, 'Lidalia vel Lidisdalia regio, Lidisdail' in Theatrum Orbis Terrerum, sive Atlas Novus, Vol.5; Scotice et Hibernia (Amsterdam) Map online copy
  Roy Military Survey of Scotland 1747-55 British Library Maps C.9.b 6/1c online copy
Other sources: Theses; 'grey' literature; in-house reports; unpublished works; etc.
- Ordnance Survey (Name Book), Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey (6 inch and 1/2500 scale) Roxburghshire Book No. 7 p. 23 online transcription (Held at RCAHMS on micro fiche)

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.
It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from ANY site without proper recording and reporting.
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The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of Historic England, RCAHMS (or its successor Historic Environment Scotland), County Historic Environment Records and other individuals and organisations. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes.
The author and compiler of Gatehouse does not receive any income from the site and funds it himself. The information within this site is provided freely for educational purposes only.

The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

The possible site or monument is represented on maps as a point location. This is a guide only. It should be noted that OS grid references defines an area, not a point location. In practice this means the actual center of the site or monument may often, but not always, be to the North East of the point shown. Locations derived from OS grid references and from latitude longitiude may differ by a small distance.
Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link.

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The Gatehouse website record of

Potterlamport (Westburnflat Tower)

a location shown on a 1590 map of the West Marches of Scotland (The Aglionby Platt)