(Ordnance Survey Map grid reference: 74 NT 591 316)
|
5 miles SE of Melrose, near St.Boswells. Dryburgh Abbey is situated in a beautiful and tranquil place. Enough of the ruins remain to appreciate the intrinsic quality of the architecture, much of it dating from the 12th and 13th century. The famous 'Romantic' writer Sir Walter Scott is buried in the abbey as is one of the generals who presided over the slaughter on the 'Western Front' in World War One: Field Marshall Earl Haig.
(Ordnance Survey Map grid reference: 74 NT 639 428)
 |
A higher quality version of this picture can be found in the gallery. A good example of a late 16th century tower house featuring an original iron gate. Situated on the Earlston road half a mile west of Gordon. There is no admission charge to see this site so if you're in the area it's worth making a visit.
(Ordnance Survey Map grid reference: 79 NY 496 961)
 |
A site well worth making the detour to visit. Parts of the castle date from the 14th century though restoration work was carried out in the 19th. It is situated in an isolated position in Liddesdale, 5.5 miles north-east of Newcastleton off the Hawick-Newcastleton road (B6399). It can also be reached from Hawick- Carlisle road (A7) and is 12 miles south of Hawick. As mentioned above the Borders were the stage for much violent confrontation between Scotland and England. Hermitage Castle was dubbed "the guardhouse of the bloodiest valley in Britain". Famously Mary Queen of Scots visited the castle on 16 October 1566 to meet James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, keeper of the castle. He had been wounded in a skirmish with a local bandit and was recovering at the castle. Mary was at the time married to Lord Darnley who was murdered in February 1567. Mary married Bothwell in May 1567 but he fled into exile after the battle of Carberry that summer.
Situated in the town of Jedburgh. One of the border abbeys founded by David I and the Bishop of Glasgow about 1138 for Augustinian canons. The church is mostly in the Romanesque and early Gothic styles, and is remarkably complete. Remains of the domestic buildings have been uncovered.
Situated in the town of Kelso. Only a fragment remains in the form of the west end of the great abbey church of the Tironensians who David I brought to Kelso in 1128. No admission charge but still worth seeing if you're in the area.
Situated in the town of Melrose. Founded around 1136 as a Cistercian abbey by David I and repeatedly wrecked in the Wars of Independence. The surviving remains of the church are of the 15th century, and are of an elegance unique in Scotland. The Commendator's house contains displays relating to the abbey's history and to the Roman fort at Newstead.
The historic sites mentioned above are all administered by 'Historic Scotland'. This is an organisation which maintains ancient monuments on behalf of the government. A small admission charge is charged at many of the sites (to help pay for the continuing maintenance). Various types of season ticket are available which make charges even more reasonable since once purchased you can visit an unlimited number of sites free of charge. These season tickets are available from sites which charge for admission and have a custodian.
© Copyright Len Nicholson, 1996