Historic Galashiels

Archaeology and Development

M Rorke, D Gallagher, C McKean, E Patricia Dennison and G Ewart

This survey gives an accessible and broad-ranging synthesis of the history and archaeology of Galashiels, and aims to pose questions for further investigation.

Nestled into a narrow valley, part in Roxburghshire and part in Selkirkshire, Galashiels owes its development to the Gala Water which provided an ideal source of power for the mills of the woollen industry, while the farms in the surrounding hills initially provided the wool.

Medieval settlement in the valley focused around two or three fortified tower houses, in what became known as the Old Town. The first mills were established in the late sixteenth century and the creation of the town as a burgh of barony in 1599 opened the way to prosperity through regular markets. At the same time, the construction of the Galashiels Dam, a lade which followed the contours of the valley, created a guaranteed flow of water for the numerous mills which had sprung up. The rapid growth in the population of Scotland from the late eighteenth century created a demand for the town’s woollen products.

The surviving buildings reflect the town’s development, from the seventeenth-century tower houses to the grand villas and workers’ housing of the nineteenth century. The book concludes with an inventory of all the town’s mills.

The town has received a little archaeological investigation, so the authors consider areas of particular archaeological potential, in order to inform future management of Gala’s built and natural landscape.

This book is part of the Scottish Burgh Survey – a series funded by Historic Scotland designed to identify the archaeological potential of Scotland’s historic towns.

Key Points

1. Part of the established series, the Scottish Burgh Survey.
2. An interesting introduction for general readers.
3. Includes useful information for planners.
4. Inventory of mills in Galashiels.
5. Extensively illustrated, including colour.
6. Complete with an A2 folded colour broadsheet

About the Authors

The authors are all experts on the medieval and later history of Scotland, some lecturing at Scottish universities.

Readership

This book will be suitable for general readers, planners, local government officers, undergraduate students of Scottish urban history, course lecturers.

Info: ISBN: 978-1-902771-80-9; 144pp, 71 illus incl colour, May 2011, Price £9.50 GBP
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