Newstead, Scottish Borders
Encyclopedia
Newstead is a village
in the Scottish Borders
, just east of Melrose, coordinates 55.599704, -2.691987. It has a population of approximately 260, according to the 2001 census.
It is reputedly the oldest continually inhabited settlement in Scotland
. As there were undoubtedly buildings, inhabited by the locals who provided for the needs of the soldiers when the Romans were there, and that the people who remained when the Romans went back south continued to live there, and that a population is recorded there from 650AD onwards, until the present day, then this statement is probably true. The stonemasons and architects and other tradesmen who built Melrose Abbey
were lodged there. In 1905 it was the site of a discovery of a very rare Roman helmet
.
It is situated in the valley of the River Tweed
, at a crossing point for the Roman Dere Street
. Newstead was of great strategic importance throughout history. This was principally due to the proximity of the prominent Eildon Hill
. Former inhabitants include: the ancient Selgovae; the Roman army at Trimontium (Newstead); monks and masons, builders of nearby Melrose Abbey and, more recently, navvies working on the impressive railway viaduct
at Leaderfoot
.
Newstead lies within the Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk constituency and the MP is Michael Moore. It lies in the Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Scottish Parliament constituency and the MSP is Jeremy Purvis.
St John's Wynd, a lane leading to the site of the first Masonic Lodge in Scotland. Set up by the masons, mainly to control the level of training and craftsmanship of the apprentices, before becoming journeymen, the Lodge was certainly there prior to 1600. The building fell into disrepair after the Lodge moved its premises into Melrose in 1742. Only a marker stone and plaque now remain.
The old railway bridge at Leaderfoot is only a ten minute walk from Newstead village. In 1865 the magnificent Leaderfoot Viaduct
of nineteen arches was constructed for the St Boswells Junction to Reston section of the Berwickshire Railway, a line which closed in 1948. It is no longer considered safe to walk over the bridge, so only viewing the bridge is possible. It is small5.
Another person of note is Admiral Sir Henry Fairfax of Ravenswood. Born in Edinburgh of the well-known Fairfax family, his life was spent in the navy. As owner of much of the land around Newstead, on his death in 1900, his widow Dame Harriet gave land and set up a trust to provide a Library, a Mission Hall, and a Reading Room for the benefit of the residents of the village of Newstead, as a memorial to her husband. Unfortunately, nothing now remains of any of these buildings. The marble bust which was in the grounds is now in the Village Hall.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
, just east of Melrose, coordinates 55.599704, -2.691987. It has a population of approximately 260, according to the 2001 census.
It is reputedly the oldest continually inhabited settlement in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. As there were undoubtedly buildings, inhabited by the locals who provided for the needs of the soldiers when the Romans were there, and that the people who remained when the Romans went back south continued to live there, and that a population is recorded there from 650AD onwards, until the present day, then this statement is probably true. The stonemasons and architects and other tradesmen who built Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey is a Gothic-style abbey in Melrose, Scotland. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. It was headed by the Abbot or Commendator of Melrose. Today the abbey is maintained by Historic Scotland...
were lodged there. In 1905 it was the site of a discovery of a very rare Roman helmet
Newstead Helmet
The Newstead Helmet is an iron Roman cavalry helmet dating to 80–100 AD that was discovered at the site of a Roman fort in Newstead, near Melrose in Roxburghshire, Scotland in 1905. It is now part of the Newstead Collection at the National Museum in Edinburgh. The helmet would have been worn by...
.
It is situated in the valley of the River Tweed
River Tweed
The River Tweed, or Tweed Water, is long and flows primarily through the Borders region of Great Britain. It rises on Tweedsmuir at Tweed's Well near where the Clyde, draining northwest, and the Annan draining south also rise. "Annan, Tweed and Clyde rise oot the ae hillside" as the Border saying...
, at a crossing point for the Roman Dere Street
Dere Street
Dere Street or Deere Street, was a Roman road between Eboracum and Veluniate, in what is now Scotland. It still exists in the form of the route of many major roads, including the A1 and A68 just north of Corbridge.Its name corresponds with the post Roman Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Deira, through...
. Newstead was of great strategic importance throughout history. This was principally due to the proximity of the prominent Eildon Hill
Eildon Hill
Not to be confused with Eldon Hill, EnglandEildon Hill lies just south of Melrose, Scotland in the Scottish Borders, overlooking the town. The name is usually pluralised into "the Eildons" or "Eildon Hills", because of its triple peak....
. Former inhabitants include: the ancient Selgovae; the Roman army at Trimontium (Newstead); monks and masons, builders of nearby Melrose Abbey and, more recently, navvies working on the impressive railway viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
at Leaderfoot
Leaderfoot Viaduct
Leaderfoot Viaduct is a railway viaduct over the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, UK. It is situated 2.5 km east of Melrose at ....
.
Newstead lies within the Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk constituency and the MP is Michael Moore. It lies in the Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Scottish Parliament constituency and the MSP is Jeremy Purvis.
Places of interest
On the main street of Newstead lies the village hall which was the School until 1941 when it was closed. This is used as the main place for residents to hold meetings or other community functions in the village as it is the only non residential building in the village available for public use.St John's Wynd, a lane leading to the site of the first Masonic Lodge in Scotland. Set up by the masons, mainly to control the level of training and craftsmanship of the apprentices, before becoming journeymen, the Lodge was certainly there prior to 1600. The building fell into disrepair after the Lodge moved its premises into Melrose in 1742. Only a marker stone and plaque now remain.
The old railway bridge at Leaderfoot is only a ten minute walk from Newstead village. In 1865 the magnificent Leaderfoot Viaduct
Leaderfoot Viaduct
Leaderfoot Viaduct is a railway viaduct over the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders, Scotland, UK. It is situated 2.5 km east of Melrose at ....
of nineteen arches was constructed for the St Boswells Junction to Reston section of the Berwickshire Railway, a line which closed in 1948. It is no longer considered safe to walk over the bridge, so only viewing the bridge is possible. It is small5.
Famous residents
One of the best known inhabitants is the journalist and author Liz Taylor who writes under the name Elisabeth McNeill. Her most famous novel is probably "A Bridge in Time".Another person of note is Admiral Sir Henry Fairfax of Ravenswood. Born in Edinburgh of the well-known Fairfax family, his life was spent in the navy. As owner of much of the land around Newstead, on his death in 1900, his widow Dame Harriet gave land and set up a trust to provide a Library, a Mission Hall, and a Reading Room for the benefit of the residents of the village of Newstead, as a memorial to her husband. Unfortunately, nothing now remains of any of these buildings. The marble bust which was in the grounds is now in the Village Hall.
External links
- http://www.newstead.bordernet.co.uk/history/
- http://www.scottishbordersheritage.co.uk/heritage/lastdetails.jsp?id=211
- http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/elisabeth-mcneill/