Priorsford Bridge

Looking at Tweed Green from the south side of the river, the hill on the right is Venlaw, law being a familiar term for a hill in the lowlands. The footbridge is Priorsford bridge, a shortcut for lots of Peebles residents, including the kids at the High School.

The white building was the old hospital years ago, where many of the native folk of the town were born. They are known as Gutterbluids, and the incomers are Stooriefits! Peebles babies are usually born in Edinburgh these days.

The spire is St Andrews Leckie Church of Scotland in the Eastgate.

It's a lovely walk along the Green, across Priorsford Bridge, back to Tweed Bridge on the south side of the river, with a choice of crossing the bridge and returning to the Green or continuing upriver to cross Fotheringham Bridge, Manor Bridge or Lyne Bridge, depending on how energetic you feel, and returning along the northern bank of the river!

High water

This arch of Tweed Bridge is often just trickling with water but after much heavy rain last week the river rose quite considerably, eventually flooding the tree roots here. It's gone down again now though.

Kingsmeadows House

Standard Life insurance company bought the house, once the seat of Sir John Hay, in the early 1950s since when it has been a repositary for their documents and more recently holiday accommodation for SL staff. There is a wonderful picture of the staircase on this website - here - and another of the house from across the river - here.

St Margaret's

It would be interesting to know the history of this old house facing Tweed on the south side of the river. The name and the ornamented front wall with its thistles and roses, the ornate door with its pair of lions, would suggest it was named for the Saxon Queen Margaret, wife of King Malcolm Canmore of Scotland, who was in fact canonised in 1250 almost 200 years after her death.

Standalane Cottage

....takes its name from the farm that stands alone on the hillside up the old North drove road to the left of the picture here. The drove road along which sheep and/or cattle were walked to and from markets continued past Standalane Farm and on to West Linton. The cottage must belong to the farm although these days it is probably not a farmworker's cottage. Stand alane (alone) has now been shortened to Stan'lan with just a hint of the d of stand!

The Hydro

Peebles Hydro seems to be well known all over the country! If people know nothing else about Peebles, they know of the Hydro. Built originally in 1881, destroyed by fire in 1905, and rebuilt in two years, the hydro was where one came to take the waters. Now it is a hotel with so many facilities that it isn't necessary to leave the building at all! I love this view of the rooftops through the trees of Kingsmeadows.

Rosetta Road

The old county buildings! Now part of the building is home to various departments of the council; the local Sheriff Court convenes in part, and at the rear is the new police station. As I think I mentioned before this building stands on the site of the old Poor House.

Kingsland School

The pupils of St Andrews School at the bottom of School Brae marched all the way from their old school to the new one here at Kingsland, about a hundred years ago, and soon the pupils from here will be attending another new school at what is called Neidpath Grazings.

School bell

The bell tower at Kingsland School - I don't suppose they ring it any more. Kingsland, on the northern edge of town is now too small for the catchment area so a new school is being built on the west edge of town, - a controversial site if ever there was one and the kids and staff want to keep the name, which is really only relevant to the position this one is in! It was built on King's land!

Tea is served!

The Tontine hotel front entrance with a large sign advertising afternoon tea, now being served.

Hanging baskets

Outside Scott Brothers's hardware shop, there is one of the beautiful hanging baskets provided by the council. See the chairs? Displayed outside the shop and for sale, you often find people sitting down on them for a wee rest!

This picture was unfortunately taken into the sun, because I love the view and because the clouds were wonderful, but I hope it will enlarge when you click it to see the view closer up!
It's the view towards Peebles from the north of the town, with the hills to the south and on either side of the valley of the Eddleston Water.
Do you see the scarecrow over the hedge? The white farm in the distance is Chapelhill Farm and there are a few of the buildings of the town in the distance, above the scarecrow's right arm - I presume he's facing Peebles direction!

Council Flowers

Everywhere is looking good just now with all the tubs and baskets provided by the local council.
They've really gone to town outside the Chambers Institution. Here, I am looking through the entrance into the Quadrangle with the Burgh Hall at the far end.
Through here you will also find the War Memorial, the Registrar's Office, and the door to the library, art gallery and museum.

young blackbird

I thought this young blackbird had damaged a wing, but as I got closer, it pulled in its droopy wing, hopped off and then flew onto the wall, allowing me to get a photo.

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.