Folklore & legend

The Brownie of Cranshaws and the Corn on Raven Craig

Cranshaws Castle, Lammermuir Hills

Traditional; belief said to have survived in remote areas into the twentieth century

Cranshaws Castle, a sixteenth century tower, is described as long the haunt of a brownie, one of the familiar spirits that did farm and house work by night for families that treated them well. The rule was to leave a jug of milk and a barley bannock. If a brownie was laughed at or his work lightly spoken of, the family would be dogged by ill luck until he was appeased.

The Cranshaws brownie, offended at a remark about his work, took up an entire crop that he had threshed and carried it two miles down the river to the Raven Craig, where he threw it over the cliff. The Langs say belief in the brownie died hard in the Border, and that in remote up the water districts he may have survived almost until the advent of motor cars.

Another source lists the story among Whiteadder myths and legends.

Cranshaws Castle is privately owned and let as holiday accommodation.
Evidence
Long-standing local tradition
Access
Private property
Location
55.848, -2.509 (Sited to the building or field)

Sources: Andrew Lang and John Lang, Highways and Byways in the Border (Project Gutenberg) [public-domain]; Wikipedia, "Cranshaws Castle" [other]; Whiteadder Archaeology, "The brownie of Cranshaws" [other]

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