The border reivers were involved in the theft of livestock, kidnapping for ransom, murder, mutilation, burglaries and tit-for-tat feuds in Northumberland, Cumberland, Roxburghshire and Dumfriesshire from the late thirteenth to the mid-seventeenth century.
At the time when the lands around the Border were divided into six marches, the people were subjected to laws different from those of England and Scotland, known as Border or March Law.
Blood feuds were very common and pursued relentlessly once engaged while there were ‘trods’ to recover stolen goods. A Hot Trod took place directly after a raid while a Cold Trod could be taken days or weeks after cattle had been lifted. It was an offence not to join a trod.
Saddle up and ride into the bloody history of the border reivers.
