Behind the curve

By cassegw

Jock Howieson's House

A couple of weeks ago I took a shot of the Cramond Brig and referred to a story about a Mr Howieson and him saving James V.

Since then I did some investigation and was able to identify where the ruins of his house were and today went back.

Tonight, I did some further research and found that the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland were not too impressed :-

"Archaeological Notes
NT17NE 2 17997 75372

(NT 1799 7537) Jock Howieson's House (NR)
OS 6" map (1938)

A small cottage, said to be the house of Jock Howieson who rescued James V from a gang of gipsies or robbers while His Majesty was in disguise as the Laird of Ballengeich.
OS Name Book 1852.

There seems to be no authentic evidence for the event noted in the Ordnance Survey Name Book (ONB), and it would appear to be simply an 18th century tale, used by Scott in his "Tales of a Grandfather". Of the house itself, none of it could possibly date to the time of James V.
G A Fothergall 1910.

This cottage appears to be no earlier than 18th century. No evidence for the tradition mentioned above was found. Should be discredited as an antiquity (R B K Stevenson, NMAS).
Visited by OS (JLD), 1 December 1953."


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