Local author explores the best of Borders folklore

Renowned story-teller James, who hails from Jedburgh, was reading from his recently published collection of the region's best loved tales to a packed Marquee at Harmony House last week. 

Staying true to his roots, he spoke, as he writes, in a broad Borders accent which added to the authenticity of the tales; it was being told like a bit of gossip rather than a contrived narrative.

And, he explained that those stories that locals have been told throughout generations have long peppered the identity and the psyche of the Borders.

"We all know the story of Thomas the Rhymer," said James. "He is by far the most famous character in Borders folklore, but there are many more myths and fascinating tales that some people may not know about.

"The history of the Borders is teeming with myths and legends that has characterised its identity."

Thomas the Rhymer, born in Earlston, is said to have sat beneath the Eildon Tree, near Melrose, when the Elf-Queen whisked him away to a hollow in the Eildon hills and off to The Fairy Otherworld.

On returning to the real world, he found he could no longer tell a lie, and was thus known as True Thomas.

Some say that Thomas became immortal and still lives gathering horses for the sleeping knights that rest deep within the hollow hills and people still walk the Eildons where Thomas the Rhymer met the Fairy Queen, to visit Rhymer's Stone.

James talked about his childhood fishing on the Bowmont Water, Yetholm, and the story of a wee lassies' date with the devil, which is said to have occurred down there.

And, he entertained his captive audience with the tale of Tam Lin who lived in the Carterhaugh Woods near Selkirk.

Many a young lassie was told by her granny never to walk into the woods, as Tam would only let them pass for a token of treasure or their 'maidenhood.' 

This permeation into the child psyche, throughout generations, shows the power of story telling which sees the myth amalgamate into a truth; an "aye been."

Most of the Carterhaugh has long been cut down but parts remain, together with a mossy old well marked with the name of 'Tamlane's Well.' 

And, visitors often walk up to the castle of Tam's supposed true-love, Janet, which can be reached by walking from the Bowhill Estate.

"These aren't just stories," explained James to his captive audience. "They actually form part of the Borders' history. And they are known far and wide, so people who aren't from here associate the stories with the region.

"I remember being told them as a wee boy and they stay with you."

The characters of these stories have become immortalised alongside the likes of Walter Scott and William Wallace, with plaques and relics across the countryside commemorating where they 'lived.'

James' talk was very engaging and he has a great story-telling voice which completely draws you in. "My dad was the master of the dramatic pause," he said. So it seems he perhaps inherited the story-telling mastery from him. 

His book, Scottish Borders Folk Tales is the essential, magical collection of all those stories we all love, richly illustrated by James himself.