Melrose, Scottish Borders

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Melrose
Melrose Town Centre from Quarry Hill - geograph.org.uk - 609004.jpg
Scottish Borders UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Melrose
Location within the Scottish Borders
Population2,500 (2020) [1]
OS grid reference NT5434
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MELROSE
Postcode district TD6
Dialling code 01896
Police Scotland
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
55°35′53″N2°43′52″W / 55.598°N 2.731°W / 55.598; -2.731

Melrose (Scottish Gaelic : Maolros, "bald moor") [2] is a town and civil parish in the Scottish Borders, historically in Roxburghshire. [3] It lies within the Eildon committee area of Scottish Borders Council.

Contents


History

The original Melrose was Mailros, [4] meaning "the bare peninsula" in Old Welsh or Brythonic. This referred to a neck of land by the River Tweed several miles east of the present town, where in the 6th century a monastery was founded associated with St Cuthbert. It was recorded by Bede, and also in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle with the name Magilros. This monastery and settlement, later known as "Old Melrose", were long abandoned by the 12th century. Melrose is surrounded by the small villages of Darnick, Gattonside, Newstead, Lilliesleaf and Bowden.

Mel & Rose symbols in stonework at Abbey Photo of stonework at Melrose Abbey.jpg
Mel & Rose symbols in stonework at Abbey

King David I of Scotland took the throne in 1124, and sought to create a new Cistercian monastery on that site; however the monks preferred a site further west called "Fordel". So the monastery now known as Melrose Abbey was founded there in 1136, and the town of Melrose grew up on its present site around it. In the late Middle Ages, its name was represented by a mell (a mason's hammer) and a rose (for the Virgin Mary, to whom all Cistercian abbeys were dedicated). The Abbey fell into ruin after the Reformation but is still a striking structure. Several Scottish nobles are buried there, and a casket has been found which is believed to contain the heart of King Robert the Bruce. The casket has been re-buried in the Abbey. The Abbey ruins are cared for by Historic Scotland (open all year; entrance charge).

Nearby is the Roman fort of Trimontium , Abbotsford House the home of Sir Walter Scott, and Dryburgh Abbey where he was buried in 1832. The Corn Exchange, which was designed by David Cousin, was completed in 1863. [5]

The war memorial, erected in 1920, was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer. [6]

Sport

Melrose is the birthplace of Rugby Sevens and also has a rugby union team, Melrose RFC. Every year on the second Saturday in April the famous Melrose Sevens are held at the Greenyards and is the biggest annual sporting event held in the town. Rugby union has historically been the most popular sport in Melrose.

Melrose Golf Club is a nine-hole golf course situated on the edge of the town at the foot of the Eildon Hills.

Melrose Cricket Club is situated next to Borders General Hospital at Huntlyburn.

Melrose Football Club SCIO, founded in 1995, is the grassroot junior football club that serves the town and local area. Junior boys teams play with the Scottish Borders Junior Football Association. Youth Boys teams play with the South East Region Youth Football Association. Girls teams are affiliated to Scottish Women's Football and play in leagues across the Borders and Lothians. Melrose FC is currently (2025) the largest girls football club in the Scottish Borders.

Events

Every June, the week-long Melrose Festival takes place. This involves appointing a Melrosian who has lived in the town for most of his life; and a queen and her court are appointed from the local primary school, Melrose Primary School (previously named Melrose Grammar School).

Melrose is now host to the annual Borders Book Festival [7] which also takes place during June. The 2005 festival hosted guests including Michael Palin and Germaine Greer; Ian Rankin and Rory Bremner appeared in 2006.

Melrose hosts the annual Eildon Three Hill Race, [8] attracting many runners, and the Melrose Pipe Band Championships, attracting pipers from all over the world.

Melrose is twinned with the town of Teba in southern Spain where Douglas Day is celebrated annually.

Notable people

A wall plaque at the Townhouse Hotel in Melrose, Scotland. Spence lived the first 14 years of her life in a building which is now part of the hotel. Catherine Helen Spence plate, Melrose.jpg
A wall plaque at the Townhouse Hotel in Melrose, Scotland. Spence lived the first 14 years of her life in a building which is now part of the hotel.


Twinning

Melrose is twinned with the town of Teba in southern Spain where Douglas Day is celebrated annually in memory of the Battle of Teba.

See also

References

  1. "Population estimates for settlements and localities in Scotland: mid-2020". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. "Gaelic Placenames collected by Iain Mac an Tailleir (2003)" (PDF). Scottish.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  3. "Database: Melrose". Gaelic Place-names of Scotland. Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  4. Stevenson, Joseph, ed. (1835), Chronica de Mailros, e Codice Unico, Edinburgh: The Bannatyne Club(in Latin)
  5. Historic Environment Scotland. "Market Square, Corn Exchange and K. H. Thorburn, Chemist (LB37797)" . Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  6. Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Robert Lorimer
  7. "Borders Book Festival". Borders Book Festival. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  8. "Eildon Three Hill Race". 22 June 2024.
  9. Scotland, The Church of (31 October 2024). "Rev Rosemary Frew is Moderator Designate for 2025-26". The Church of Scotland. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  10. "Sarah Robertson". Scottish Hockey. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2022.