Anglo-Scottish border
The Anglo-Scottish border separates England and Scotland, two constituent countries of the United Kingdom. At around 100 miles long, the border stretches from Marshal Meadows Bay, just north of Berwick-upon-Tweed on the North Sea coast in the east, to the Solway Firth in the west. Although the area's political status has been ever-changing for much of the past 2000 years, being a frontier region long before the nations of England or Scotland came to exist, the geographical border of England and Scotland has changed little since the signing of the Treaty of York in 1237, save for in the late 15th century, when Berwick-upon-Tweed was recaptured by Edward IV of England.
Historically, the region around the Anglo-Scottish border, including (but not limited to), the counties directly facing it, has been referred to as the Scottish Marches and the Middle Shires.
Border region
Two English counties border Scotland, namely Cumberland and Northumberland, whilst three Scottish counties, Berwickshire, Dumfriesshire and Roxburghshire, border England.
The Anglo-Scottish border region was known as the "Scottish Marches" between the 13th and 17th centuries, and constituted six March lordships; three either side of the border. On the English side, the West March broadly comprised the counties Cumberland and Westmorland, the Middle March covered most of Northumberland, with the East March covering the far north-east of that county. On the Scottish side, the West March approximately covered the combined area of Kirkcudbrightshire and Dumfriesshire, the Middle March was roughly co-extensive with the counties Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire and Peeblesshire, and the East March covered Berwickshire.
Characteristics
Much of the architecture in the Anglo-Scottish border region reflects its history as a militarised frontier. The Middle Shires have many castles; Northumberland, for example, has more counties than any other in England with over 70. Located entirely within English border counties of Cumberland and Northumberland is Hadrian's Wall (which has long been mistaken for the Anglo-Scottish border).
History
For a time in the mid-12th century, large areas of northern England were effectively under Scottish control, due to much of England being in the grips of a civil war known as "the Anarchy" in the time of King Stephen. After persistent Scottish raids following English victory at the Battle of the Standard (1138), a peace treaty was signed at Durham, giving the Scottish King David control over Northumberland, except for the castles at Bamburgh and Newcastle; Hexhamshire was also excluded as at the time this was an independent county palatinate under the control of the Archbishop of York. At this time, Northumberland also included a detached part around the River Tees known as the Wapentake of Sadberge.[1]
The English territory held by Scotland was recovered in 1157 by Henry II.
Hadrian's Wall misconception
Hadrian's Wall has never formed a political border between England and Scotland (nor between any nations or states since the early 5th century). This is despite popular opinion, and colloquialisms like "north of Hadrian's Wall" as a synonym for Scotland.
