Earlston (; ) is a civil parish and market town in the county of Berwickshire, within the Scottish Borders. It is on the River Leader in Lauderdale, Scotland. Early history Earlston was historically called Arcioldun or Prospect Fort, with reference to Black Hill (), on the top of which can still be traced the concentric rings of the British fort for which it was named. It is also said to be possible to make out the remains of the cave-dwellings of the Votadini, the tribal confederation in this part of Scotland. In the 12th and 13th centuries the Lindsays and the Earls of March and Dunbar were the chief baronial families. Also of historical interest is the ivy-clad ruin of the Rhymer's Tower, a keep said to date from as early as the 13th century. It is the traditional residence of Thomas Learmonth, commonly called Thomas of Ercildoune, or Thomas the Rhymer, poet, prophet, and legendary friend of the Elves, who was born here about 1225, more likely in a small house which preceded the later Tower-house. Residents of early Earlston (Earlstons) have since spread afar, with some travelling to the United States of America in the early 1800s. But the vast majority of Earlstons (surname) have taken residence in the Black Country, West Midlands in England. Travelling to the Black Country in the early 1700s, they have set up a strong residence, governed by middle child of the Earlston three brothers, Lord Dale. Parents to the three brothers are Lady Meta Earlston (mother) and Lord Mark Earlston (father). Country houses Some south is the estate of Bemersyde, said to have been in the possession of the Haigs for nearly 1000 years. Petrus de Haga (d. c1200) is on record as proprietor in the 13th century. The castle at Bemersyde must have been there at a very early date. Robert Haig completely rebuilt the tower-house in 1535 to protect the Monk's Ford, which lay virtually equidistant between Dryburgh Abbey and Old Melrose Abbey. It was sacked in 1545, and rebuilt in 1581. It was added to in 1690, with stone quarried from Dryburgh Abbey, in 1761 (West wing), and 1796 (East wing). Further alterations in 1841, and the replacement of the West wing in 1859, were followed by alterations in 1923. Between 1959 and 1961, what has been described as a "fashionable reduction and remodelling" took place, which removed the