[B] This building was taken down in 1835 and rebuilt.
The building still bears his name, and appears to be the very same as it was in his time. It has been more fully brought into notice by the allusion of a poet, who, whatever were his defects, had power to stamp a deathless name on the subject of his muse, although it had not been otherwise entitled to this distinction.
The drowsy Dungeon-clock had number’d two, And _Wallace-Tower_ had sworn the fact was true.
“In one of the hills above Wandel mill there is _Wallace’s Camp_, so called from that great Scotch warrior, who encamped here.” The walls of the castle of Lamington “still remain some stories high, very thick and strong. It was built by a laird of Lamington, of the ancient and honourable name of Baillie, _with_ whom the aforesaid Sir William Wallace was _allied by marriage_; in proof of which, and as a piece of curiosity, Wallace’s chair is now in Bonnington, in the possession of Lady Ross Baillie, the representative of the family of Lamington, being removed from the tower of that place. The chair is remarkably broad and stout.” P. of Lamington, Stat. Acc. VI. 557, 558. V. Note on B. VI. 47, above, p. 374, &c.
I have seen this chair at Bonnington, which is of oak, the posts of it at least, and otherwise corresponding with the description given in the Statistical Account. I am informed that there is a rock in the Pap Craig, a part of Tinto, which is still called _Wallace’s Chair_; and that another in the parish of Symington bears the same name, in a place called the Castlehill.
On the estate of Gladswood, parish of Mertoun, Berwickshire, are still pointed out what are called the _Camp-braes_, where, according to the harmonious voice of popular tradition, Wallace had his camp before one of his battles. It has had two ditches with ramparts; and being situate on the neck of land at the confluence of Leader with the Tweed, might have been rendered almost unassailable, in that age, by a line of communication between the two rivers.
“On the west side of Clatto-moor, are the traces of a camp. It is generally believed to have been occupied by a part of Agricola’s army, and afterwards by Alpin, Wallace, and Monk. Tradition reports that ‘Wallace pitched his camp on Clatto-hill, and ground his corn at Philaw’s mill,’ which is about half a mile from the place where the traces of the camp are seen.” P. Strathmartin, Forfarshire, Stat. Acc. XIII. 99.