Border Reivers - a Feud between the Reeds and Halls of Redesdale

Feud was the cancer of the Border lands of England and Scotland in the days of the Border Reivers, from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Nationality had little meaning as clans and families from both sides of the Border joined together should they have a common foe.

Confrontations were all too common as men endeavoured to protect their livestock and goods from the raids of the malevolent marauders.

Inevitably death ensued from the bitter conflict and many a clan or family was left baying for revenge.

By the code of honour that was part and parcel of their make-up, the Border Reivers sought a solution to their loss which had nothing to do with the justice of the day with its petitions and trials, its order and its form. They followed an older way of life when revenge was acceptable:'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth' and duly took the law into their own hands.

They would enter into feud with any clan or family who stole from them or killed their loved ones. A feud could last for generations, its reason for being often lost in time or embellished by word of mouth from father to son. In the words of the 16th century king of Scotland, James V1, it was the 'canker' of the Borders; the evil for which there did not seem to be an answer.

Moreover feud was not confined to cross Border relationships, between Scots and English. It was just as likely to infest the families who lived on the same side of the frontier, adding to the turmoil and unrest. It was the curse of those who tried to bring peace and order to a region literally at war.

Redesdale in Northumberland is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Known as Wild Redesdale, it offers the visitor vista after vista of breathtaking scenery. Its wildness is raw, untamed and very spectacular. Yet this place is within thirty miles of Newcastle, a thriving city which is a sharp contrast to the peace and tranquillity offered by such wonderful Redesdale villages as Elsdon and Otterburn, (site of the battle between Percy of England and Douglas of Scotland in 1388).

The Reiving Times

The Halls and the Reeds were the surnames (families) that vied for control in Redesdale, Northumberland in the times of the Border Reivers. Outwardly allies, treachery would lead to a lasting feud between the two families.

Redesdale was reknowned for the fierceness of its people in the times of the Border Reivers. None were more so than the families of the Halls and Reeds. Like many of the Border families or clans who were prominent in wealth or numbers, they vied with each for control of the region.

Often allies when the common weal dictated that they stand firm against outside opposition, particularly from the Scottish raiders, at other times they would be at feud as they sought to cement some sort of dominance over each other. Both clans lived in the vicinity of Otterburn, the Halls at Otterburn tower, Girsonfield and Shittleheugh, the Reeds at Troughend.

Parcy Reed

When Parcy Reed of Troughend, a notable Border Reiver if ever there was one, was made Keeper of Redesdale, the chief officer of law for the area by the Warden of the Middle March, the Halls, a fiercer clan than the Reeds if that were possible, were incensed at the decision.

Outwardly still allies to Parcy and the Reeds and his rise to fame and power, they planned to achieve the downfall of the man who threatened their overall control of Redesdale. As Keeper Parcy had the invested power to deal many a blow at the Halls and they shuddered at the contemplation of being answerable to the Reeds for their strangle-hold on the Border folk of Redesdale, a domain they considered their own.

The Involvement of the Reivers of Liddesdale

On the Scottish side of the Border Line lived the notorious Crosiers. Based at Rakistonlees in Liddesdale, they were friends and allies of the Armstrongs and Elliots, names that were the very embodiment of the reiving way of life. The Halls befriended the Crosiers who were up in arms at Parcy Reed's ability and success as Keeper in curtailing their raids over the Border into England and Redesdale. He had captured many of their clansmen and brought them to justice.

The Halls and Crosiers planned to rid the world of Parcy Reed and to that end, invited him to go hunting in the forest of Carter. Parcy readily accepted the prospect of some sport. At the end of the hunting the party rested at the Batingehope burn and Parcy fell asleep.

The Treachery of the Halls

When Parcy awoke he was immediately confronted by five of the Crosiers of Liddesdale who, according to the Ballad, the 'Death of Parcy Reed' welcomed him from his slumber with the words:-

'Weel met, weel met now Parcy Reed, Thou art the very man we sought, Owre lang hae we been in your debt (over long) Now we will pay thee as we ought.'

The Halls then stood by as the Crosiers mutilated Parcy's body with many a cut and thrust from their deadly swords. It is said that the body of was so cut up that it had to be carried in a blanket back to Troughend for burial.

The common folk of Redesdale were up in arms on learning of Parcy's fate, how he was ambushed and murdered. Even though they were subject to the retaliatory Scottish raids that had inevitably followed Parcy's incursions north of the Border before his installation as Keeper, they would have no truck with the traitorous Halls.

It is said that the Halls left the valley of the Rede, hounded out by a people who demanded they never return, such was the hatred they had brought upon themselves.

The Legacy of Parcy Reed

The ghost of Parcy Reed it is said, even today, haunts the banks of the Batinghopeburn. It is a brave man who, looking for food and shelter following a day's walking in the hills, wends his way down the burn at twilight. Parcy still cries out for justice following such a cruel end. It appears there has been more than one encounter with his tortured soul.

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