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Scottish Borders

Scottish Borders

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<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/62445171@N00/">arjayempee</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62445171@N00/55261029624/" title="Roxburgh Castle (9)"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55261029624_8120c988bb_m.jpg" width="240" height="128" alt="Roxburgh Castle (9)" /></a></p>

<p>The remaining curtain wall along this, the south-east side of the castle, date back to the 12th or 13th centuries. (The bits of wall further up the hill, beyond the dead tree, are 14th or 15th century - post War of Independence.) It still stands 15 feet high in places, and 6 feet thick. There are at least two postern gates in the surviving wall along this side, one of them (robbed of its best stone) is shown here. Both of these entrances are described as requiring iron gates in a survey made in 1416.<br />
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The castle had two main entrances, one at either end, remnants of both of which remain. The main entrance to the castle from the south-west was between the two chunks of masonry visible on the far left of this photo, from where a roadway sloped up to a further gate and the interior of the castle. I assume there must have been an outer gateway as well, in or beside the massive outer rampart.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/62445171@N00/">arjayempee</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62445171@N00/55261030494/" title="Roxburgh Castle (11)"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55261030494_e765d20f05_m.jpg" width="240" height="112" alt="Roxburgh Castle (11)" /></a></p>

<p>The second, but still heavily defended series of gates, was at the north-east end of the castle mound, which provided access to and from the town of Old Roxburgh. The site was increasingly narrow here, with the curtain walls along either side, not far apart. There were two gateways here. The remains of the inner one are mostly concealed by the trees above it, but there is an obvious length of wall extending down the hill to where the curtain wall used to be, to close off access other than through the gate. The second block of masonry, further down the hill to the right, was an outer gateway - more on which in a photo or two.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/62445171@N00/">arjayempee</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62445171@N00/55261195940/" title="Roxburgh castle (12)"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55261195940_c8753e97cc_m.jpg" width="240" height="187" alt="Roxburgh castle (12)" /></a></p>

<p>The outer north-east gateway took the form of a barbican, of which only the south-east side remains. The entrance passage, in which I am standing, extended for 25 feet and stood about 10 feet high with walls about 8 feet in thickness. The stop for a door is still visible at the foot of the wall. Scars where stone has been robbed in front suggest that the barbican extended another 30 feet in front of this surviving fragment. Such is the steepness of the slope in front of the gate, that there must have been steps down would be the only practical method accessing the entrance at this end.<br />
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Roxburgh Castle was affected by the first movements of Edward I against Scotland, and continued to figure prominently in most of the leading events throughout the Wars of the Succession. During the interregnum, the public writings and records had been transmitted from Edinburgh to Roxburgh, where the auditors appointed for Scottish affairs by Edward I. held their assemblies. In 1295 John Baliol consented that Roxburgh, with Berwick and Jedburgh, should be delivered to the Bishop of Carlisle, as a pledge of adherence to the interests of Edward. In September 1292 Edward himself resided at Roxburgh; and four years afterwards, in punishment of some resistance to his claims, he took formal military possession of the castle. In 1297 an unsuccessful attempt was made by the Scots to retake it; but on Shrove-Tuesday 1313, the castle was surprised and captured by Sir James Douglas, while the garrison were indulging in riot.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/62445171@N00/">arjayempee</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62445171@N00/55260007601/" title="Roxburgh Castle (8)"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55260007601_19ef63cf12_m.jpg" width="240" height="117" alt="Roxburgh Castle (8)" /></a></p>

<p>The Eildon Hills on the horizon - known by the Romans as Trimontium - for obvious reasons.<br />
<br />
That David I, King if Scots, should have chosen to have his capital and build his great fortress of Roxburgh so close to the border with England, should not come as a surprise. Relations between the two countries were still relatively friendly in the 12th century and mostly remained so until the end of the 13th. David spent time in England after his exile there in 1093, where he was an important figure in the court of King Henry I, whose first wife Matilda, was David's sister. It is said that by the end of his time in England, David had become a 'fully Normanised prince'. William of Malmesbury wrote that it was in this period that David "rubbed off all tarnish of Scottish barbarity through being polished by intercourse and friendship with us"!!<br />
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Roxburgh saw considerable royal patronage. King David I spent much time in the castle of Roxburgh, partly as his preferred residence, and partly as the ideal base for conducting hostilities in support of his niece Matilda against the 'usurper' King Stephen, during the civil war in England known as The Anarchy. William the Lyon, under the misfortunes of war, delivered up the castle of Roxburgh to Henry II of England in 1174, but received it back from Richard I, and he afterwards held his court here, and 'sent forth forces hence to quell insurrections among his subjects' as far north as the province of Moray. Alexander II resided much at Roxburgh; and was married here in 1239. Alexander III. was born at Roxburgh two years later, and afterwards, at two periods, was shut up in it by turbulences amongst his nobles; and here in 1255 he welcomed his father-in-law, Henry III of England.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/62445171@N00/">arjayempee</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62445171@N00/55260372530/" title="Roxburgh Castle (7)"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55260372530_1a0af3ca23_m.jpg" width="240" height="92" alt="Roxburgh Castle (7)" /></a></p>

<p>Two miles up the Teviot from here, lies the village of Roxburgh. It would perhaps be more accurate to call it New Roxburgh, because the original village, now referred to as Old Roxburgh, stood on the headland between the two rivers, protected by the fortress. All sign of it above ground has long since disappeared, although a recent Time Team excavation found indications below ground. In this photo, its location was on the flat ground to the right of the castle, around the clump of dark trees (indicated on the photo).<br />
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Old Roxburgh was no mere collection of peasant hovels! King David I, prior to being crowned in 1124, was Earl of Northumberland, and as such the town and the site of his future castle, belonged to him as an appanage of his earldom. In the first half of the 12th century, the town possessed an encincturing fortification of wall and ditch, and had three churches and schools, which David gave to the monks of Kelso Abbey. When he ascended the throne, it became, as a matter of course, a royal burgh - one of only four in Scotland - the others being Edinburgh, Berwick, and Stirling. Also within the town there was a convent of Franciscan monks and a 'Maison Dieu' or hospital, for the reception of pilgrims, and of the diseased and the indigent. The site is still known as the Friar's Haugh.<br />
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Old Roxburgh was governed by a provost and bailies; it had a burgh or city seal; and it was the seat of a royal mint in the reigns of William the Lyon and James II. It also had, from very early times, a weekly market and an annual fair - the latter, known as the St James Fair, continues to be held to this day.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/131232392@N06/">calderwoodroy</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/131232392@N06/55256653409/" title="Borders Buses 11502 on High Street, Melrose"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55256653409_c86b538e86_m.jpg" width="215" height="240" alt="Borders Buses 11502 on High Street, Melrose" /></a></p>

<p>Seen on its way down the High Street in Melrose, is fleet number 11502 working a part route 67 from Kelso to Galashiels via St. Boswells, Newtown St. Boswells, Melrose, Borders General Hospital and Tweedbank.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/201501011@N03/">casa6uga</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/201501011@N03/55254906863/" title="Framed by the Ruins"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55254906863_074016d3e5_m.jpg" width="169" height="240" alt="Framed by the Ruins" /></a></p>

<p>Looking through the towering arches and weathered stone of Jedburgh Abbey, where centuries of history still shape the light, lines, and silence of the ruin.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/88010770@N05/">newpeter</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/88010770@N05/55250386166/" title="River Teviot, Hawick"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55250386166_fa1fac20e3_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="River Teviot, Hawick" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/88010770@N05/">newpeter</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/88010770@N05/55250790905/" title="River Teviot, Hawick"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55250790905_b82be6fc5d_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="River Teviot, Hawick" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/maggiest/">Maggie Studholme</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/maggiest/55244736827/" title="Under the Bridge"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55244736827_d2002d962c_m.jpg" width="240" height="146" alt="Under the Bridge" /></a></p>

<p>I've been feeling very stuck since I got home from Scotland - unable to get on with anything or move forward. People keep telling me it's post holiday blues - and maybe it is - but it needs to be over! So, after a concerted effort at decision-making - here's another one from the trip.<br />
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This view was behind the van when I parked up by Loch Stroan. I got there at dusk and in the gloaming I was too scared to walk under the bridge. It took me two days to venture through - early in the morning, only to find it was not scary at all. <br />
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This was taken from right across the loch, where the edges were quite boggy. I struggled to find a vantage point where all the lines were straight and level (and yes, I had to fiddle a bit with it afterwards), but worth the effort I think.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/redhand1873/">Redhand1872</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/redhand1873/55245016510/" title="Melrose Abbey"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55245016510_1c19320f1e_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="Melrose Abbey" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/redhand1873/">Redhand1872</a> posted a video:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/redhand1873/55244849764/" title="St Mary's Church"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/55244849764_75952c4e33_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="St Mary's Church" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/redhand1873/">Redhand1872</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/redhand1873/55244856519/" title="Melrose Abbey"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55244856519_7106091c4c_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="Melrose Abbey" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/redhand1873/">Redhand1872</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/redhand1873/55243715667/" title="Melrose Abbey"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55243715667_d5f66bc3f9_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="Melrose Abbey" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/redhand1873/">Redhand1872</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/redhand1873/55244617471/" title="Melrose Abbey"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55244617471_5b3a52f3d5_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="Melrose Abbey" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/redhand1873/">Redhand1872</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/redhand1873/55245016340/" title="Melrose Abbey"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55245016340_edc69f3e5b_m.jpg" width="183" height="240" alt="Melrose Abbey" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/redhand1873/">Redhand1872</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/redhand1873/55244761933/" title="Melrose Abbey"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55244761933_01d2ffb138_m.jpg" width="183" height="240" alt="Melrose Abbey" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/redhand1873/">Redhand1872</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/redhand1873/55244856544/" title="Melrose Abbey"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55244856544_4190eaafbc_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="Melrose Abbey" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/redhand1873/">Redhand1872</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/redhand1873/55243715632/" title="Melrose Abbey"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55243715632_c0dff2a893_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="Melrose Abbey" /></a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/redhand1873/">Redhand1872</a> posted a photo:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/redhand1873/55244608166/" title="St Mary's Church"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55244608166_3bd642d239_m.jpg" width="240" height="87" alt="St Mary's Church" /></a></p>

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