Last week we took a trip down south again, but just going a wee bit over the border this time, intending to visit Flodden battle field. But we stopped off in the small border town of Kelso to stretch our legs and have a look at the town and its surroundings.
Kelso is a nice wee place and as it’s not really close to a big town it is well served with shops and feels quite affluent compared with most towns nowadays.
In fact Kelso benefits from having Floors Castle on its doorstep, it’s the home of the Duke of Roxburghe, actually I think he owns a lot around and about that area. I knew someone who lived in Kelso for a short time recently and hated it because she said it was still stuck in a feudal system with the duke’s influence being everywhere. I don’t know that I would like that myself as I’m not into forelock tugging and sucking up to the so called nobility. The photo below is of Floors Castle as seen from Kelso Bridge.
The river is the Tweed of course.
The photo below was taken from the other side of the bridge.
And this is the ruins of Kelso Abbey which are by the river.
As you can see the town itself has some very grand old buildings. I have it on good authority that the posher hotels here are very good hunting grounds if you’re a young thing and you fancy bagging yourself a wealthy husband, I suspect that they might be more bother than they are worth though!
During World War 2 Kelso was ‘taken by storm’ by the very friendly Polish Army. Prior to that the women of the town had only ever been courted by rough, rural Scottish lads apparently, and the courtly manners of the Poles just bowled the local women over! I used to have a very dear old gardening friend who was born and brought up in Kelso and she had the best time of her life in those days when everyone lived life to the max because you never knew when a bomb might drop on you – or your gentlemen friend would be given orders to leave the town and prepare for battle.
So that was Kelso and from there we drove to Flodden where the fighting was a lot longer ago, almost 500 years in fact. More about that soon.
It’s hard to believe “the lord of the manor” continuing nowadays. I was dumbfounded when I watched Princess Diana’s butler, Paul somebody, talk about how he wanted a job like that all his life. He actually aspired to this way of life. Thanks for the pictures.
Lorraine,
I know I find it hard to believe too but I suppose some people must have the feeling that as they can’t become a lord or duke then the next best thing is to ‘serve’ them. Not my idea of fun!
I like Kelso – your photos do make it look grand and so open! When we go it’s chock-a-block with cars everywhere making it very difficult to find a space to park.
I’ve still to visit Floors Castle. As I don’t live in Kelso, just shop there, I’ve never noticed the duke’s influence, although there was a very interesting painting of him at the Kelso Art show the other week. He had a long oblong, wooden-looking face, not that I’m saying it was a true likeness as I’ve never seen him. Anyway I do hope to visit the castle soon – it looks interesting.
Margaret,
I haven’t been there yet either but my friend did say that the duke wasn’t too popular when he dumped his first wife (the Duke of Westminster’s sister I think) for a newer model. Wife 1 will have the last laugh I imagine though as her son will inherit it all!
I loved the part about the polish men and living to the max! I bet your friend was a great story teller!
Peggy Ann,
She certainly had plenty of fun during the war and had lots of tales to tell!
Your towns are so beautiful. We hardly have any picturesque ruins here, only decrepit industrial buildings and disintegrating non-descript housing. I’m so envious!
Joan,
I think Kelso looks grander than most Scottish towns, it also has a horse racing track and that must bring in money to the area. You’ll just have to move somewhere more historic and scenic in the US!