Carse Loch

In 1465 a charter was granted by Cardinal Antonius of Rome for the Cistercian order of monks from Melrose to build a monastery on the site of the old British fort and druidical circle at Friar's Carse. Only a monastic farm or grange may have actually been established at the site of the present day hotel of Friars Carse rather than a friary The loch was once used as a fish pond by the friars of the monastic grange. William Crawford's map of 1804 shows a Grange Mill and Grange Loch with a single island. Roy's map of 1747 shows a 'Grange Loch' with a mill nearby and a single island. The 1855 OS map shows a substantial loch with a single island and the nearby Carse Mill corn mill with a lade…

A small island in a loch near Friars' Carse was identified as a being the remains of a lake dwelling or crannog, and in 1878 was measured as being circa 80 ft by 70 ft. Some of the timbers were morticed and bore traces of clay flooring and central paving. Medieval pottery was found and additionally a dug-out canoe or logboat with a paddle, carrying an inserted sternboard, was found in the mud near the crannog As stated, the friars are said to have hidden their treasures on the crannog with its pillar or piles during times of war, raids from England, etc. The nearby Debatable lands were also frequently in turmoil. An axe hammer was found on the old crannog that was located in the loch. Carse…