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Galashiels Attractions
Galashiels History
Galashiels became a Burgh in 1599
Margaret Tudor and King James IV at Mercat Cross 1503
The first Railway in Galashiels was in 1849
Galashiels was first mentioned in written records in 1124
Galashiels was famous for its textiles
There was 3 fulling Mills in the late 1500s.
The mills were for beating and cleaning of the wool before making into textiles.
Galashiels Town Crest
The Galashiels town crest depicts a fox trying to reach the ripe fruits on a plum tree.
The motto Sour Plums refers to a Border raid (of which there were many!)
which happened in 1337.
At that time a party of English soldiers were taken by surprise
whilst gathering plums.
‘Soor Plums’ is also a well-known hard sweet.
Border Reiver Soldier Statue
The bronze statue of a 17th century Borders Reiver on horseback outside the Burgh Chamber and War Memorial.
The Border Reiver term was used to describe the outlaws who raided along the Anglo-Scottish Border, They would raid homes, cattle rustling and many other criminal acts of violence.
At their height during the period of the early 1300's and late 1400's
They were against how their lands were given to the lords by the English aristocrats
Robert Coltart Statue
Galashiels was also home to the author of the famous Scottish song,
"Coulters Candy".
Robert Coltart was a weaver in the town,
he also made confectionery in nearby Melrose.
The song was created as an advertisement,
BBC renamed it as "Sugar Candy" when played by the BBC.
The song is possibly better known by the first line of its chorus
"Ally, bally, ally bally bee". Coltart died in 1890.
Sir Walter Scott Way
There is a long distance walk way named "Sir Walter Scott Way",
which joins Moffat to Cockburnspath that passes through Galashiels.
Sir Walter Scott built his house named Abbotsford
across the River Tweed from Galashiels.
Old Gala House
Old Gala House was originally built in 1457 the owners of the lands
the Hoppringill family, who had been granted the lands of Gala by the Earl of Douglas.
Old Gala House is a museum and conference centre.
A wedding venue and graduation hall
The archives of Borders Family History Society are stored here.
Scottish College of Textiles
In 1922, the South of Scotland Technical College became
the Scottish Woollen Technical College.
In 1968 it became the Scottish College of Textiles
then after the merger in 1998 with Heriot-Watt University the name changed to
Heriot-Watt School of Textiles & Design in 2002
It now has the best design and production facilities for textiles and fashion in the UK.
With honorary graduates Jasper Conran, Bruce Oldfield, Mary Portas
and Dame Vivienne Westwood.
Galashiels War Memorial
The war memorial at the Burgh building in Galashiels is a memorial to the people that lost their lives in the world wars
Sir Walter Scott Memorial
The memorial to Sir Walter Scott is for the 100th anniversary of the writer’s death.
The bronze bust of Walter Scott is the centre piece of the memorial.
Robert Burns Memorial Bust
The bust of Robert Burns in Galashiels was unveiled on the 31st May 1913.
commemorates Burns’ re-writing of the song ‘Braw Lads o’ Galla Water’.
Robert Burns being the author of the town’s favourite lines - Braw Braw Lads.
The Galashiels Burns Club was founded in 1907.
Galashiels Mercat Cross
The Mercat Cross, or ‘Market Cross’, was where a market would be held.
There has been a Mercat Cross on the present site since 1599
The originally Mercat Cross was removed in 1820. It was replaced by the present cross circa 1850. The shaft of the original being preserved in the Old Gala House Museum.