The original Melrose was Mailros[citation needed], 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.
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).
The Melrose war memorial was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer in 1920.[4]
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 always 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.
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[5] 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.
Other events
Melrose hosts the annual Eildon Two Hills Race, attracting many runners, and the Melrose Pipe Band Championships, attracting pipers from all over the world.
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 (1825–1910), Australian author, teacher, journalist, politician and suffragette; born in Melrose, and left for Australia aged fourteen
^"Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
^"Gaelic Placenames collected by Iain Mac an Tailleir (2003)" (PDF). Scottish.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
^. Gaelic Place-names of Scotland. Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
^Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Robert Lorimer
^"Borders Book Festival". Borders Book Festival. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
^* Meyers, Jeffrey (2019). "Memoirs of Conrad: Ford Madox and Company in Search of a Character". English Literature in Transition, 1880–1920. 62 (1): 104.
^"Sarah Robertson". Scottish Hockey. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
External links
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Melrose (Scotland).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melrose, Scottish Borders.
May 04, 2023
melrose, scottish, borders, melrose, scottish, gaelic, maolros, bald, moor, town, civil, parish, scottish, borders, historically, roxburghshire, lies, within, eildon, committee, area, scottish, borders, council, melrosescottish, gaelic, maolrosscots, melroseme. 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 MelroseScottish Gaelic MaolrosScots MelroseMelroseLocation within the Scottish BordersPopulation2 500 mid 2020 est 1 OS grid referenceNT5434Council areaScottish BordersLieutenancy areaRoxburgh Ettrick and LauderdaleCountryScotlandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townMELROSEPostcode districtTD6Dialling code01896PoliceScotlandFireScottishAmbulanceScottishUK ParliamentBerwickshire Roxburgh and SelkirkScottish ParliamentMidlothian South Tweeddale and LauderdaleList of places UK Scotland 55 35 53 N 2 43 52 W 55 598 N 2 731 W 55 598 2 731 Coordinates 55 35 53 N 2 43 52 W 55 598 N 2 731 W 55 598 2 731 Contents 1 History 2 Sport 3 Festivals 4 Other events 5 Notable people 6 Gallery 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksHistory EditThe original Melrose was Mailros citation needed 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 Mel amp 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 s buried Melrose is surrounded by the small villages of Darnick Gattonside Newstead Lilliesleaf and Bowden The Melrose war memorial was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer in 1920 4 Sport EditMelrose 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 always 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 Festivals EditEvery 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 5 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 Other events EditMelrose hosts the annual Eildon Two Hills Race attracting many runners and the Melrose Pipe Band Championships attracting pipers from all over the world Notable people Edit 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 King Arthur supposedly buried in the Eildon Hills which overlook the town James Blair recipient of the Victoria Cross Craig Chalmers rugby union footballer capped 60 times for Scotland Richard Curle author critic and journalist 6 Sir Adam Ferguson army officer and Deputy Keeper of the Scottish Regalia lived at Huntlyburn House now a wing of the Hospital Ned Haig butcher and rugby union footballer who founded rugby sevens and the Melrose Sevens Stuart Hogg rugby union footballer captain of Scotland John Robertson Henderson FRSE FZS FLS zoologist William Kerr recipient of the Victoria Cross Keith Robertson rugby union footballer Mark Robertson son of Keith Robertson rugby union sevens 2016 Olympic silver medalist Sarah Robertson field hockey player 7 Sir Walter Scott his home Abbotsford House lies a few miles west of the town Catherine Helen Spence 1825 1910 Australian author teacher journalist politician and suffragette born in Melrose and left for Australia aged fourteen Jim Telfer rugby union footballer and coachGallery Edit Melrose Abbey Eildon Hills Abbotsford Market Square The Roman Heritage CentreSee also EditBorders General Hospital Buglass Scottish surname from old lands of Booklawes near Melrose Harmony Garden a National Trust for Scotland garden in Melrose Priorwood Garden also NTS List of places in the Scottish Borders List of places in ScotlandReferences Edit Mid 2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland National Records of Scotland 31 March 2022 Retrieved 31 March 2022 Gaelic Placenames collected by Iain Mac an Tailleir 2003 PDF Scottish parliament uk Retrieved 2 March 2019 Database Melrose Gaelic Place names of Scotland Ainmean Aite na h Alba Archived from the original on 27 March 2016 Retrieved 31 October 2011 Dictionary of Scottish Architects Robert Lorimer Borders Book Festival Borders Book Festival Retrieved 2 March 2019 Meyers Jeffrey 2019 Memoirs of Conrad Ford Madox and Company in Search of a Character English Literature in Transition 1880 1920 62 1 104 Sarah Robertson Scottish Hockey Retrieved 29 July 2022 External links Edit Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Melrose Scotland Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melrose Scottish Borders Melrose official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melrose Scottish Borders amp oldid 1148195278, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
