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Dunnie

The Dunnie was also said to wander the crags and dales of the Cheviots singing:

"Cockenheugh there's gear enough,

Collierheugh there's mair,

For I've lost the key o' the Bounders, (or "It is also "I've lost the key o' the Bowden-door.")

An' I'm ruined for evermair."^[1]

The Dunnie is thus thought to be a ghost of a reiver who hoarded his loot in the fells and guards his ill-gotten gains to this day.^[1]

In full the song of the dunnie goes:

"Cockenheugh there's gear enough,

Collierheugh there's mair,

For I've lost the key o' the Bounders"

"Ross for rabbits, and Elwick for kail,

Of a' the' towns e'er I saw Howick for ale:

Howick for ale, and Kyloe for scrubbers,

Of a' the towns e'er I saw Lowick for robbers;-

Lowick for robbers, Buckton for breed,

Of a' the towns e'er I saw Holy Island for need;-

Holy Island for need, and Grindon for kye,

Of a' the towns e'er I saw Doddington for rye:-

Doddington for rye, Bowisdon for rigs,

Of a' the towns e'er I saw Barmoor for whigs:-

Barmour for whigs, Tweedmouth for doors,

Of a' the towns e'er I saw Ancroft for whores:-

Ancroft for whores, and Spittal for fishers,

Of a' the towns e'er I saw Berrington for dishes."^[2]

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