Melrose
Melrose
Melrose is in the historical county of Roxburghshire in the Scottish borders, it is also the location for some of the most beautiful monastic ruins in Britain that of Melrose abbey the abbey was founded by the Cistercians on the order of King David 1 in the 12th century.
The place was badly damaged by Richard II of England in 1385; it was subsequently rebuilt only to be damaged again by the English in 1544. The Abbey was rescued by the Duke of Buccleuch and Sir Walter Scott in 1822, the heart of Robert the Bruce is buried here, Sir Walter Scott's home Abbotsford house is nearby.
Melrose was home to two VC medal holders, William Kerr and James Blair who both received their awards for bravery during the Indian mutiny.
Melrose hosts the Borders book festival in June, nearby the Harmony garden national Trust Scotland is worth a visit. As well as poets writers and VC medal holders the town also has a famous daughter.
Catherine Helen Spence was born in Melrose in 1825 Called the "Greatest Australian Woman" by Miles Franklin and given the nomenclature of "Grand Old Woman of Australia' on her eightieth birthday, Spence was commemorated on the Australian five-dollar note issued for the Centenary of Federation of Australia.
Activities in Melrose
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