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Nestled near Bonchester Bridge, Ruletownhead farm has been a Douglas
family haven for over 150 years. In 2022, the farm celebrated a century
and a half of being tended by the Douglas family. The legacy began with
Charlie Douglas's grandfather taking the reins in 1872. It then passed
to his father in 1920, and now rests in the capable hands of Charlie's
son, Peter.
Back in 1966, Ruletownhead wasn't alone. It thrived
alongside neighboring Doorpool, together forming a vast 1,000-acre
spread dedicated to raising various livestock. The farms provided
employment for a small crew – two men and a young boy at Doorpool, and
three men with two young boys at Ruletownhead.
The pastures
buzzed with life – around 800 ewes, mostly half-breeds with a sprinkling
of South Country and Cheviot breeds, grazed freely. These ewes doted on
their Suffolk Cross lambs, while Charlie maintained a smaller flock of
South Country Cheviot ewes for their more manageable lambs, perfect for
spring sales.
But sheep weren't the only stars of the show.
Ruletownhead also boasted a herd of 130 majestic Blue Grey Cows. These
cows mated with Angus calves, and their offspring found eager buyers at
the autumn sales in Hawick and Newcastleton.
Feeding this sizable
menagerie required careful planning. Oats (grown on 100 acres) and
turnips (covering 50 acres) formed the staple diet. Charlie also added a
20-acre plot dedicated to rape, where Blackfaced lambs from Mainside
feasted. To ensure enough winter feed, hay production was crucial, and a
pick-up baler made the task a breeze. Oats were harvested using a
binder, though a shift towards combining was underway.
Charlie
wasn't afraid of a little diversification. He maintained a small,
unregistered flock of Suffolk ewes, raising his own rams alongside
purchasing around 250 replacement ewe lambs, usually brought in from St.
Boswells.
The Douglas family's love for the land extended beyond
farming. Both Charlie and his wife were ardent followers of the
Jed-forest Hunt, and tasted victory in point-to-point races with their
champion horse, Snooker II. Golden Cloud, another of their horses,
excelled in the show ring, amassing numerous first prizes and
championships under Mrs. Douglas's skilled care. The accompanying
photograph captures a glimpse of this bygone era – Dave Hedley clipping
wool in the old closes at Ruletownhead, with Charlie and Diana Douglas
looking on, a testament to their dedication to their farm and their
passion for the equestrian world.
Ruletoonheid (rool-tin-heed,
-toon-) n. Ruletownhead, former farm in Hobkirk Parish, once part of
the Abbotrule estate. Adam and Walter Turnbull were tenants there in
1643, when it was valued at £140. It had the same value in 1678. It
later became part of the Parish of Hobkirk. In the late 17th century
part of it was owned by Helen Turnbull, along with West Fodderlee.
In earlier times the farm seems to have been incorporated into West
Fodderlee, the Grange and Bowatsyde. In 1788 it was owned by the
trustees of George Dickson and valued at £96 11s. George Elliot was
there in 1794 and John Walker in 1797, with James Dalgleish being
shepherd in the same year. Robert Rutherford was a servant there in
1801. In 1811 it was listed (in 2 parts, split between Hobkirk and
Southdean Parishes) along with ‘Bossithill’ and Burnkinford, among the
possessions of Charles Kerr of Abbotrule, having a combined value of
about £224 and previously being owned by George Dickson and George
Elliot.
By about 1874 it was owned by David Henderson, including
a part formerly belonging to Walter Turnbull (valued at £96 11s). The
tenant was Tom Brown in the mid-to-late 19th century, then passing to
the Douglas family. Tom Douglas was owner in the early 20th century,
when it was valued at about £300. It seems there was once also a corn
mill here (also formerly written ‘Ruletonhead’ and ‘Rule-town-head’, it
was ‘Roulltounehead’ and ‘Roultonhead’ in 1678).
Ruletownhead is
a tiny hamlet in Roxburghshire, consisting of just a farm and a few
cottages along the lane, at the head of the Rule Burn, where that stream
is formed by the union of minor brooks off the gentle hills. The burn in
time runs down to the Rule Water, a mile and a half to the west of
Ruletownhead.
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