Selkirk, Scottish Borders Explained

Country:Scotland
Official Name:Selkirk
Static Image Name:Selkirk town centre, tolbooth and Sir Walter Scott statue.jpg
Static Image Width:280px
Static Image Caption:Selkirk town centre, showing the town house and the statue of Sir Walter Scott
Coordinates:55.55°N -2.84°W
Map Type:Scotland
Population Ref:
Os Grid Reference:NT471288
Unitary Scotland:Scottish Borders
Lieutenancy Scotland:Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale
Constituency Westminster:Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Constituency Scottish Parliament:Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire
Post Town:SELKIRK
Postcode District:TD7
Postcode Area:TD
Dial Code:01750
Edinburgh Distance Mi:31
London Distance Mi:301

Selkirk is a town and historic royal burgh in the Scottish Borders council district of southeastern Scotland. It lies on the Ettrick Water, a tributary of the River Tweed. The people of the town are known as Souters, which means cobblers (shoe makers and menders). At the time of the 2011 census, Selkirk's population was 5,784.[1] [2]

History

Early origins

Selkirk was formerly the county town of Selkirkshire. Selkirk is one of the oldest Royal Burghs in Scotland and is the site of the earliest settlements in what is now the Scottish Borders.[3] The town's name means "church by the hall" from the Old English sele ("hall" or "manor") and cirice ("church").[4] [5]

Selkirk was the site of the first Borders abbey, a community of Tironensian monks who moved to Kelso Abbey during the reign of King David I. In 1113, King David I granted Selkirk large amounts of land. William Wallace was declared guardian of Scotland in the town at the Kirk o' the Forest in 1297.[6]

War of the Three Kingdoms

Selkirk sent a contingent of 80 men to fight at the Battle of Flodden in 1513; however, only one man, "Fletcher", returned from the battle, bearing a blood-stained English flag belonging to the Macclesfield regiment.[7]

During the series of conflicts that would become known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Selkirk played host to the Royalist army of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, with his cavalry installed in the burgh, whilst the Royalist infantry were camped at the plain of Philiphaugh, below the town. On the morning of 13 September 1645, a covenanting army led by Sir David Leslie attacked the royalist forces camped at Philiphaugh, and a rout ensued. Montrose arrived to find his army in disarray and had to flee the field. The surrendered Royalist troops were subsequently executed.

The novelist, Sir Walter Scott, presided, as the sheriff-depute, in the courtroom at Selkirk Town House in the early 19th century.[8]

Recent history

Selkirk grew in the mid-19th century because of its woollen industry, although that industry largely closed in the 1970s.[9] The town is also known for bannocks, a dry fruit cake, which was first sold in the market place by a local baker, Robbie Douglas, in 1859.[10]

Culture

Traditions

The Selkirk Common Riding is a celebration of the history and traditions of the Royal and Ancient Burgh. It is held on the second Friday after the first Monday in June.[11]

Landmarks

The remains of the "forest kirk", referred to in ancient times as the church of St Mary of the Forest, still stand in the old churchyard. It is also the final resting place of several maternal ancestors of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the US.[12]

Just to the south of the town is The Haining, the late 18th-century residence of the Pringle family. In 2009 the last owner died, and left the house and grounds "for the benefit of the community of Selkirkshire and the wider public."[13] A charitable trust is now planning to restore the building as an art gallery.[14]

The Selkirk Grace

The Selkirk Grace has no connection with the town of Selkirk, beyond its name; it originated in the west of Scotland. Although attributed to Robert Burns, the Selkirk Grace was already known in the 17th century, as the "Galloway Grace" or the "Covenanters' Grace". It came to be called the Selkirk Grace because Burns was said to have delivered it at a dinner given by the Earl of Selkirk at St Mary's Isle Priory, in Kirkcudbright in Galloway.[15]

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it,

But we hae meat and we can eat,

Sae let the Lord be thankit.

In English

Some have meat and cannot eat,

And some would eat that want it,

But we have meat and we can eat,

So let God be thanked.

Sport

Rugby union plays its role in Selkirk culture and society. Selkirk RFC play in their home games at Philiphaugh, competing in the Scottish Premiership and the Border League.[16]

The town cricket club was formed in 1851 and still plays in the Border League. The cricket ground at Philiphaugh is the site of the Battle of Philiphaugh.[17]

The town also has a footballing tradition, having produced some players of note in the Scottish game including Bobby Johnstone of Hibernian.[18]

Media

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC Scotland and ITV Border. Television signals are received from the nearby Selkirk TV transmitter. [19]

Local radio stations are BBC Radio Scotland on 93.5 FM and Greatest Hits Radio Scottish Borders and North Northumberland on 96.8 FM.

The Border Telegraph and Southern Reporter are the town's local newspapers. [20] [21]

Notable people

Climate

Like the rest of the British Isles, Selkirk has a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. However the area appears to have one of the widest absolute temperature ranges in the United Kingdom. The absolute minimum temperature of -26.6C at the nearest weather station is both a daily record,[36] and the record lowest temperature for the UK outside of the Highlands. Conversely, Scotland's highest temperature of 32.9C was recorded at Greycook, St. Boswells[37] just 8miles to the east.

Twinning

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scotland Census 2011.
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 6 June 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194901/http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/7742/selkirk_june_2014 . 4 March 2016 . Selkirk General Community Profile 2014, p3
  3. Book: Neville . Gwen Kennedy . The Mother Town: Civic Ritual, Symbol, and Experience in the Borders of Scotland . 1994 . Oxford UP . Oxford . 9780195090321 . 76 .
  4. A Dictionary of British Place-Names, David Mills, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2011,, 9780199609086. p.411
  5. Web site: Selkirk - Ordnance Survey large scale Scottish town plans, 1847-1895 - National Library of Scotland.
  6. Web site: Study uncovers potential Kirk of the Forest site where William Wallace was made Guardian of Scotland. 29 April 2016. Scottish Borders Council. 7 August 2022.
  7. Web site: Selkirk & the Fletcher Monument. Flodden 1513. 7 August 2022.
  8. Web site: Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom. Live Borders. 7 August 2022.
  9. Web site: George Roberts and Co., Woollen Manufacturer, Selkirk. Archives Hub. 7 August 2022.
  10. Encyclopedia: Selkirk Bannock . 2008-10-18 . Practically Edible: The Web's Biggest Food Encyclopaedia . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090227151711/http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/encyclopaedia%21openframeset%26frame%3DRight%26Src%3D/edible.nsf/pages/selkirkbannock%21opendocument . 2009-02-27 .
  11. Web site: Selkirk Common Riding . Selkirk Royal Burgh . 18 December 2019.
  12. Web site: The Auld Kirk. Scotland Starts Here. 7 August 2022.
  13. Web site: Altruistic millionaire leaves his historic mansion for the benefit of the community . The Southern Reporter . 6 August 2009 .
  14. Web site: Vision: Art Gallery and Visitors Centre . The Haining, Selkirkshire . Haining Charitable Trust . 21 September 2011.
  15. Web site: What is the Selkirk Grace prayer - and why is it recited on Burns Night?. 2022-03-23. www.scotsman.com. en.
  16. News: Let there be light as Selkirk RFC planning bid approved. 8 May 2022. Border Telegraph. 7 August 2022.
  17. Web site: Welcome. Selkirk Cricket Club. 7 August 2022.
  18. Bobby Johnstone. The Passing of an Age by John Leigh
  19. Web site: Selkirk (The Scottish Borders, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter . 1 May 2004 . 12 October 2023 .
  20. Web site: Border Telegraph. 23 November 2013. British Papers. 11 October 2023.
  21. Web site: Southern Reporter. 21 January 2014. British Papers. 11 October 2023.
  22. Web site: Obituary - Peter Blake, Scots actor best known for Dear John. The Herald. 27 July 2018 . Glasgow. 22 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180728112657/http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/16381417.obituary-peter-blake-scots-actor-best-known-for-dear-john/#. 28 July 2018. live.
  23. Deaths . . 1866 . Sylvanus . Urban . Edward Cave . 1 . January–June 1866 . Bradbury, Evans and Co. . London . 761–762.
  24. Web site: Monarch Of The Glen – Live Chats. BBC. 7 August 2022.
  25. News: Bench in memory of Selkirk singer unveiled in home town. 1 December 2021. Border Telegraph. 7 August 2022.
  26. News: Andrew Lang: the life and times of a prolific talent. 30 January 2012. The Scotsman. 7 August 2022.
  27. lang-gideon-scott-2325 . Lang, Gideon Scott (1819-1880) . 24 October 2007.
  28. Web site: Sandy McMahon. Celtic F. C.. 7 August 2022.
  29. News: Will Ogilvie. Poet is A.R.P. warden. Scotland ready for invaders . The Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales . 72 . 9062 . 9 August 1941 . 29 October 2017 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  30. Web site: Mungo Park. Scotland Starts Here. 7 August 2022.
  31. Web site: Mr. John Roberts. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]. 1905. 31 July 2013.
  32. Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby, Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997,, p. 156
  33. Web site: Sale 7555. 2008. Christie's. 7 August 2022.
  34. Grave of James Sorley, Cannes Cemetery
  35. Web site: Tibbie Tamson's Grave. Canmore. 7 August 2022.
  36. Web site: . 1982 temperature . 4 November 2011 . 19 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110119082325/http://www.torro.org.uk/site/lowtempsyear.php . dead .
  37. Web site: . 2003 temperature.