Page "Innerleithen" Paragraph 9

Accounts of Innerleithen date from the 12th century, when it was recorded as " Inverlethane ".

It is said that a son of King Malcolm IV of Scotland ( who was staying at Traquair House on a hunting trip ), drowned accidentally in a deep pool at the confluence of the rivers Leithen and Tweed.

The body was recovered by locals and taken to the church, in recognition of which the King bestowed the right of sanctuary to the land.

The pool where the drowning is alleged to have taken place is still known locally as " The Droont Pool ".

However, it should be borne in mind that Malcolm IV is reported to have died childless at the age of twenty five, so the veracity of this claim is questionable.