Lee Pen

Looking downriver, past Priorsford footbridge and beyond the trees, Lee Pen, the conical hill in the distance is bathed in a little evening sun, unlike Peebles where there was a brief shower of rain.

Secret Gardens

Walking along the High Street you can peep down some of the closes between the shops and sometimes get a glimpse of a garden. This close is looking nice with its planters, hanging baskets and bit of flowerbed.

A wee bit of Tweed Green

Just some of the houses along Tweed Green. The higher buildings are along the High Street. On the right is St Andrews Leckie church in the Eastgate.

View from Tweed Bridge

The Parish Church dominates the Peebles skyline. In front is The Trust - The Bridge Inn - on the ground floor and Franco's pizzeria on the upper floor. Photo taken from Tweed Bridge.

wally dug!

You know those china dogs the Victorians used to stand one at each end of the mantelpiece. We call them wally dugs here in Scotland. This picture, taken in the High Street, made me think of a wally dug!

Lyne

Some countryside today, near Lyne, within easy walking distance of Peebles. At this stage of the year the wild flowers growing along the sides of the road make an excellent foreground to the

gentle hillside scenery behind.

Neidpath Castle

Not far from the site of the new school is 14th century Neidpath Castle, one of a series of fortified towers that were built along the valley of the river Tweed. Originally the stronghold of the Fraser family, it is now owned by the Earl of Wemyss. Its situation on a bluff above the river makes Neidpath a pretty impressive looking castle.

Unfortunately the castle is not open to the public just now. Instead it seems to be concentrating on becoming a special wedding venue, which I am sure it will be, but I am sorry not to be able to visit it any more.

New school

A new school is being built right next to the main road west out of town. The whole project has been controversial ever since Day 1. Basically it is to replace Kingsland Primary School (built on the King's Land) on the north side of the town around a century ago, and whose population has now outgrown the building. Land nearby was suggested, and, I believe, offered, for the new school but excuses as to why this land should not be considered were several - and stupid. It feels like this site beside the main road and nowhere near Kingsland has been railroaded through by members of the council, for whatever reason, despite massive opposition from parents, and other interested parties. To most of us the new site is a most ridiculous choice, but as you can see work is progressing nonetheless and I think it is due to be completed next year. It continues to be controversial in the choice of name. Should it remain Kingsland, or take on a new name with the new building, something that will reflect the area where it is now to stand?

Doctor's house

Lindores is the name of this corner house, built by local doctor, Clement Gunn, a very popular doctor and figure around Peebles in the late 19th century through to the 20th . We have him to thank for some aspects of our annual festival as it was he who suggested new innovations for the Beltane week which are now all part of the tradition.



Amazon's product description of his book - Leaves from the Life of a Country Doctor - says the following: -
"In this work, Clement Gunn presents not only his personal memories of his life as a country doctor but also provides an insight into the tales and traditions of one of Scotland's most beautiful areas. The Borders was a very different place when he went there to practise in 1885 than it is today. As a country Clement Gunn he saw life in both its best and worst aspects; from the poorest hovels to the great houses of the country gentry. Covering his practice on horseback and foot, this highly educated man noted and commented with great perception on both the great events that shaped his times and the more intimate details of daily life; from the weather to the death of Queen Victoria, from Belgian refugees arriving in 1914 to his purchase of a motor tricycle."

The Old Town

This is the last remaining single storey house in the Old Town, Peebles, although it has had an attic conversion to add another room upstairs.
The bigger window on the right that looks as if it might have once been another door, was actually an external passageway to the back of the house. You can see by the position of the chimney that the "end" of the house was to the left of the passageway.