Melrose, Scottish Borders

{{Short description|Town in Scottish Borders, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox UK place | country = Scotland | static_image_name = Melrose Town Centre from Quarry Hill - geograph.org.uk - 609004.jpg | official_name = Melrose | scots_name = Melrose | gaelic_name = Maolros | map_type = Scotland | coordinates = {{coord|55.598|-2.731|display=inline,title}} | population = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Melrose}} | population_ref = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref> | os_grid_reference = NT5434 | unitary_scotland = [[Scottish Borders]] | lieutenancy_scotland = [[Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale]] | constituency_westminster = [[Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency)|Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk]] | constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale]] | post_town = MELROSE | postcode_district = TD6 | postcode_area = TD | dial_code = 01896 }}

'''Melrose''' ({{langx|gd|Maolros}}, "bald moor")<ref name=tailleir>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Gaelic/placenamesK-O.pdf|title=Gaelic Placenames collected by Iain Mac an Tailleir (2003)|website=Scottish.parliament.uk|access-date=2 March 2019}}</ref> is a town and [[civil parishes in Scotland|civil parish]] in the [[Scottish Borders]], historically in [[Roxburghshire]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Database: Melrose|url=http://www.gaelicplacenames.org/databaseresult.php?redirect=true&keyword=Melrose&lang=en|work=Gaelic Place-names of Scotland|publisher=Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba|access-date=31 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327145413/http://www.gaelicplacenames.org/databaseresult.php?redirect=true&keyword=Melrose&lang=en|archive-date=27 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> It lies within the [[Eildon]] [[Area committee|committee area]] of [[Scottish Borders Council]].

==History== The original Melrose was ''Mailros'',<ref>{{Citation |last= |first= |author-link= |date=1835 |editor-last=Stevenson |editor-first=Joseph |editor-link=Joseph Stevenson |contribution= |title=Chronica de Mailros, e Codice Unico |volume= |edition= |publisher=The Bannatyne Club |publication-place=Edinburgh |pages= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gvQHAAAAQAAJ }} {{in lang|la}}</ref> meaning "the bare peninsula" in [[Old Welsh]] or [[Brythonic languages|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, Scottish Borders|Newstead]], [[Lilliesleaf]] and [[Bowden, Scottish Borders|Bowden]].

[[File:Photo_of_stonework_at_Melrose_Abbey.jpg|thumb|right|Mel & Rose symbols in stonework at Abbey]]

King [[David I of Scotland]] took the throne in 1124, and sought to create a new [[Cistercian order|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 [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Virgin Mary]], to whom all [[Cistercians|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 I of Scotland|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 Empire|Roman]] [[castra|fort]] of ''[[Trimontium (Newstead)|Trimontium]]'', [[Abbotsford House]] the home of [[Sir Walter Scott]], and [[Dryburgh Abbey]] where he was buried in 1832. The [[Corn Exchange, Melrose|Corn Exchange]], which was designed by [[David Cousin]], was completed in 1863.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|desc=Market Square, Corn Exchange and K. H. Thorburn, Chemist|num= LB37797|access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref>

The war memorial, erected in 1920, was designed by Sir [[Robert Lorimer]].<ref>Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Robert Lorimer</ref>

==Sport== Melrose is the birthplace of [[Rugby sevens|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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bordersbookfestival.org/|title=Borders Book Festival|website=Borders Book Festival|access-date=2 March 2019}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.melroserugby.org/events-at-the-greenyards/eildon-hill-run | title=Eildon Three Hill Race | date=22 June 2024 }}</ref> 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 [https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/guadalhorce-valley/douglas-days-festival-teba-hailed-great-success-20230829123347-nt.html Douglas Day] is celebrated annually.

==Notable people== [[Image:Catherine Helen Spence plate, Melrose.jpg|right|thumb|170px|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 Hill]]s, which overlook the town * [[James Blair (VC)|James Blair]], recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]] * [[Craig Chalmers]], rugby union footballer, capped 60 times for Scotland * [[Richard Curle]], author, critic and journalist<ref>* {{cite journal|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/710490/summary|first=Jeffrey|last=Meyers|author-link=Jeffrey Meyers|title=Memoirs of Conrad: Ford Madox and Company in Search of a Character|journal=English Literature in Transition, 1880–1920|volume=62|issue=1|year=2019|page=104}}</ref> * [[Sir Adam Ferguson]], army officer and Deputy Keeper of the [[Honours of Scotland|Scottish Regalia]] lived at Huntlyburn House, now a wing of the Hospital. * Rosie Frew, Bowden and Melrose Parish Minister, [[General Assembly of the Church of Scotland|Church of Scotland General Assembly]] [[Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland|Moderator]] for 2025-26<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scotland |first=The Church of |date=2024-10-31 |title=Rev Rosemary Frew is Moderator Designate for 2025-26 |url=https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/rev-rosemary-frew-is-moderator-designate-for-2025-26 |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=The Church of Scotland |language=en}}</ref> * [[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]], zoologist * [[William Alexander Kerr|William Kerr]], recipient of the Victoria Cross * [[Keith Robertson (Scottish rugby union)|Keith Robertson]], rugby union footballer * [[Mark Robertson (rugby union)|Mark Robertson]], son of Keith Robertson; rugby union sevens, 2016 Olympic silver medalist * [[Sarah Robertson (field hockey)|Sarah Robertson]], field hockey player<ref>{{cite web |title=Sarah Robertson |url=https://www.scottish-hockey.org.uk/player/sarah-robertson/ |website=Scottish Hockey |date=15 June 2017 |access-date=29 July 2022}}</ref> * 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 coach

==Twinning==

Melrose is twinned with the town of [[Teba]] in southern Spain where [https://www.douglasdaysteba.com/ Douglas Day] is celebrated annually in memory of the [[Battle of Teba]].

==Gallery== <gallery widths=150> File:MelroseAbbey01.jpg|Melrose Abbey File:Trimontium.jpg|Eildon Hills File:Abbotsford07.jpg|Abbotsford File:Market Square in Melrose - geograph.org.uk - 788464.jpg|Market Square File:Roman Heritage Centre in Melrose - geograph.org.uk - 554644.jpg|The Roman Heritage Centre </gallery>

==See also== {{Wikivoyage|Melrose (Scotland)}} {{Commons category|Melrose, Scottish Borders}} *[[Borders General Hospital]] *Buglass, Scottish surname from old lands of Booklawes near Melrose *[[Harmony Garden, Scottish Borders|Harmony Garden]], a [[National Trust for Scotland]] garden in Melrose *[[Priorwood Garden]], also [[National Trust for Scotland|NTS]] *[[List of places in the Scottish Borders]] *[[List of places in Scotland]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160627163655/http://www.melrose.bordernet.co.uk/ Melrose official website]

[[Category:Melrose, Scottish Borders| ]] [[Category:Eildon]] [[Category:Towns in the Scottish Borders]] [[Category:Parishes in Roxburghshire]] [[Category:Populated places on the River Tweed]]