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Selkirk is a Town in the Borders region in
southeast Scotland, 41 miles south of Edinburgh.
Selkirk is popular for its Old Courthouse
Museum at the Market Square where Sir
Walter Scott was Sheriff of Selkirkshire for
about 30 years, Halliwells House
Museum a 1700s House at the Square, the
Old Church
(Auld Kirk) on Kirk Wynd by the Square with
connections to William Wallace, Hainingside Gallery on
West Port by the Square, walk round Haining
Loch and Mansion on the Town south side,
Haining House Kennels by the
house for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Statue,
Lochcarron Visitor
Centre largest remaining Textile Factory in
the Borders on Dunsdale Road, Salmon Viewing Centre
2 miles southwest, Bowhill House and
Gardens 3 miles southwest, and Abbotsford
House home of Sir Walter Scott 5 miles
northeast.
For Images on Mobile swipe right
Click On Map for area
Attractions
Camping &
Touring Parks in area
The images top are of Selkirk Market Cross,
Selkirk Town Hall where the Old Courtroom
Museum is situated, and a Statue of Sir Walter
Scott in front. The Town Hall was built in
1804, Statue of Sir Walter Scott erected in
1839.
Sir Walter Scott worked as Sheriff at the
Courtroom for about 30 years, until his death
in 1832.
The Old Church is around from the Courtroom
on Kirk Wind, right in the top image. Many
Scottish Kings hunted in Selkirk Forest and
held Parliaments here. William Wallace was
proclaimed Guardian of Scotland at the Auld
Kirk in March 1298.
The Murray Vault at the Auld Kirk is for the
Murray Family, vast landowners in the area,
related to Franklin D Roosevelt, the US
President.
The High Street runs north from the
Courthouse to the Parish Church built in 1880,
and the Victoria Halls.
Just before the Parish Church is the Mungo
Park Monument. Mungo Park was
from the Selkirk area, famous for exploring
Africa in the 1790s.
The Victoria Halls,
built in 1895, is now used for Live Music and
Events.
At the front of the Victoria Hall is the
Battle of Flodden Monument, erected in 1913 to
honour the only survivor of 80 Selkirk men who
fought alongside King James IV at the Battle of
Flodden.
The Battle of Flodden took place in 1513, 31
miles east of Selkirk at Flodden Field.
A heavy defeat for the Scots, with the King
killed in Battle along with many Nobles.
The Haining
Mansion, Loch and Kennels are a half mile walk
from Selkirk Town Hall, by going up Kirk Wynd,
then up Castle Street, then its a 2 minute walk
from the Estate Gates down to the Mansion. You
can walk right round the Loch and visit the
Kennels next to the Mansion to view the statue
of Old Ginger, the first of the Dandie Dinmont
Terrier breed.
You can drive to the Haining by going down
West Port from the Town Hall to the Main Gaits
entrance on the left. The Mansion is now used
for Weddings and Local Events.
Selkirk Golf
Club, founded in 1883, is 1 mile southeast
of the Town.
The Lochcarron
Visitor Centre for Tartans and fine Tweeds is
on the west side of Selkirk, on Dunsdale
Road.
The Waterwheel Cafe and Salmon Viewing Centre
are 2 miles southwest of Selkirk in the
Philiphaugh Estate. The Salmon Viewing Centre
is just round from the Cafe, then the falls on
Ettrick Water are a 5 minute walk from the
Centre, past the Sawmill then turn right, with
September and October the best months to view
the Salmon jumping.
Bowhill House
and Gardens with a large Kids Play are 3 miles
southeast of Selkirk, just past the Salmon
View, open most of the summer with House tours
normally in August. The ruins of Newark Castle
are a half mile walk from Bowhill House.
Abbotsford
House, home of Sir Walter Scott, is 5 miles
northeast of Selkirk with Tours of the House,
Gardens, and there is a large Museum with a
Diner.
Selkirk Interesting History
1100s early - Selkirk Castle
was built on the south side of Selkirk for the
Royals, at the north end of Haining Loch, on a
high spot, little remains.
1113 - the small Selkirk Abbey
was built for Prince David of Scotland, the
first Abbey in the Borders area.
1123 - Prince David became King.
Selkirk was surrounded by a vast forest at
this time, a popular place for Royals to Hunt
deer, boar and wolf.
1128 - King David had a much larger Abbey
built at Kelso 19 miles east, leading to the
end of Selkirk Abbey, nothing remains.
1152 - the original Auld Kirk was built in
the centre of Selkirk.
1200s - the Murray family
gained control of Philiphaugh Estate 2 miles
southwest of Selkirk. The Murray Vault for
burials is at the Auld Kirk.
1298 - William Wallace was proclaimed
Guardian of Scotland at the Auld Kirk.
1334 - Selkirk Castle was abandoned after
dammage during the wars with England.
1400s - Newark Castle
was built for Archibald Douglas, 4 miles
southwest of Selkirk.
1400s - Selkirk was famous for Shoe
Making.
1645 - Covenanters
executed 100 royalist soldiers along with 300
women and children at Newark Castle after the
Battle of Philiphaugh.
1708 - Bowhill House
was built for John Murray / Lord Bowhill, 3
miles southwest of Selkirk, by Newark
Castle.
1760s - the first of many Woolen Mills
opened in Selkirk.
1735 - James Murray
left Selkirkshire to live in Charleston in
America. His ancestor Franklin D Roosevelt
became President of the US in 1933.
1790s - The Haining
Mansion was built for the Pringle Family at the
head of Haining Loch, half of a mile south of
Selkirk centre, next to where Selkirk Castle
was located.
1799 - Sir Walter Scott became Sheriff of
Selkirk.
1825 - Abbotsford Mansion was built for Sir
Walter Scott, 5 miles northeast of Selkirk.
1832 - Sir Walter Scott died with his burial
at Dryburgh Abbey, 13 miles east of
Selkirk.
1842 - Old Ginger, a
Dandie Dinmont Terrier was born at the Kennels
next to the Haining Mansion. There is a Statue
of this Terrier at the Kennels, erected in
2017.
1847 - a Cholera outbreak lead to a number
of deaths with the victims buried at the
Auld Kirk in
unmarked graves.
1869 - there were seven Mills in Selkirk
producing fine tweeds, Lochcarron of Scotland is the
last remaining Mill, specializing in Tartan
clothing.
1800s late? - Newark Castle fell into
ruin.
2010 - The Haining was opened to the public
with woodland walks.
2018 - The Haining Mansion was converted to
be used for Weddings and Events.
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