Prehistory & Ancient Borders · Melrose
Wrangholm: Where Reivers and Druids Collide in the Lost Village of the Scottish Borders
An investigation into 15th-century landowner Robert Pringle of Wrangholm leads deep into the layered history of the Scottish Borders — where Border Reiver legacy meets something far older.
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An investigation into 15th-century landowner Robert Pringle of Wrangholm leads deep into the layered history of the Scottish Borders — where Border Reiver legacy meets something far older. Load the film below, then press play to watch it here in the archive.
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Privacy & cookiesWhile investigating 15th century landowner Robert Pringle of Wrangholm we could find no trace of the village, but the prehistoric monoliths and remains on the site made it even more interesting…..
Wrangholm, near Smailholm Tower, Scottish Borders
Where Time Stands Still and History Collides
What do a 15th-century Border Reiver and a 5,000-year-old prehistoric temple have in common?
Turns out — quite a lot.
While searching for traces of a largely forgotten Borderland landowner — Robert Pringle of Wrangholm — I found myself in the rolling hills near Smailholm Tower, uncovering a story that reaches far beyond the Reiving days and into the mystical roots of ancient Scotland.
The Pringles of Wrangholm: A Lost Legacy
The Pringle family were a powerful force across the Scottish Borders — with towers, farms, and estates scattered throughout the land. While many of their holdings are well-documented, Wrangholm — once a village and estate — has all but disappeared from the modern map.
All that remains today are ploughed-out fields and whispers on old documents. But in trying to find Robert Pringle’s land, I stumbled upon something far older… and possibly far more important.
A Temple Before Time: The Prehistoric Sacred Site
Hidden within the Wrangholm landscape is a huge ancient stone circle complex. At the outer edge, a solitary marker: Cossar’s Stone, a weathered standing stone said to mark the boundary of this ancient site. And at its centre? The awe-inspiring Brother Stones.
These twin monoliths — standing tall for over 5,000 years — are thought to be remnants of a vast Neolithic temple. Dated to around 3000 BC, this site predates the pyramids and Stonehenge, and yet remains virtually unknown outside local folklore.
The stones stand proud, gazing across the Borders countryside — witnesses to millennia of history, from Druids to Reivers, Romans to redcoats.
A Landscape of Layers
This isn’t just a religious or ritual site. Nearby, you’ll find a prehistoric hillfort, cultivation terraces, and other signs of a once-thriving ancient community. Clearly, this was more than just a sacred temple — it was a central hub of life, learning, and belief.
When Robert Pringle looked out across his new lands in 1451, he would have seen these same stones — and possibly wondered, just like we do now, what were they for? What power, legend, or memory did they hold?
Myth of the Brothers
The twin stones are steeped in local legend. One tale claims they mark the graves of two brothers, separated by faith — one Catholic, the other Protestant — who fought and died on this very hill. But given the stones’ prehistoric origins, it’s likely just poetic folklore.
Still… you feel something here.
Even the most sceptical among us can’t help but feel the energy, the stillness, the pull of this place.
Why Isn’t This Place Famous?
The site of Wrangholm’s ancient monoliths deserves far more recognition. While places like Avebury or Callanish draw international crowds, these equally significant stones lie in near-total obscurity.
No signs. No crowds. Just ancient stones standing silently, weathering the wind.
And maybe — that’s part of the magic.
Final Thoughts: Worship the Sun, the Hills, the Past
Whether you’re from Massachusetts, Melrose, Melbourne, or Montreal — if your soul is stirred by ancient mystery, silent landscapes, and stories etched in stone, then Wrangholm is calling.
Come and see for yourself.
Bring your curiosity, your reverence, and your walking boots. The ancestors are waiting.
Keep exploring
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