Witchcraft

The Witches of Auchencrow and the Bogle of Billie Mire

Auchencrow, Berwickshire

Recorded 1856; refers to earlier centuries

A nineteenth century verse records that in the days of auld lang syne the wives of Auchencrow were witches all. It names Jamie Bour, an old crabbed carle, as the warlock in the row. Bour is said to have been a servant of Robert Logan of Restalrig, who held property in the village and was implicated in the Gowrie conspiracy, tried after his death in 1608. A second rhyme mentions the bogle in the Billy Myre, apparently a boggy area near Billie Tower.

George Henderson collected the rhymes in 1856 and added that some verses appeared more recent than the age they describe. They are place rhymes and local reputation, not trial records, and I have not found a witchcraft case for Auchencrow or Jamie Bour.

Evidence
Long-standing local tradition
Access
Open ground
Location
55.840, -2.239 (Sited to the village)

Sources: Wikipedia, "Auchencrow" [other]

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