431 



K E L S O. 



Roxburgh 



Castle. 



Kelso. In the beautiful peninsula immediately opposite to 

 ~/ ' Kelso, to the west, and at the extremity of the parish, 

 stands the very last crumbling fragments of what was 

 once Roxburgh Castle, so much celebrated in Scottish 

 history. It was built on the north bank of the Teviot, 

 on a mount rising about sixty feet above its level. The 

 castle was defended by a deep moat, supplied with wa- 

 ter from the river, in connection with which it would at 

 any time have been easily insulated. Indeed, the streams 

 of Tweed and Teviot approach so near above the cas- 

 tle, and then diverge, that it might be easy to convert 

 it, and the whole adjoining ground, into an island; 

 and this probably was sometimes done, for the defence 

 both of the castle, and of the ancient town of Rox- 

 burgh, which stood near it. Camden 533-5 " This cas- 

 tle was anciently called Marchidun, from its standing 

 on the marches ; and, for its natural situation, and out- 

 ward fortifications, was exceedingly strong." Early 

 in the twelfth century, we find it mentioned as a place 

 of national importance ; and it is at various intervals 

 recorded as the arena of bitter and extensive hostility 

 as having often changed masters and as the scene 

 of the birth, imprisonment, marriage festival, and death 

 of kings. James II. of Scotland lost his life while be- 

 sieging this fortress, then in possession of the English. 

 His forces and artillery were drawn up on the north 

 side of the Tweed, opposite to the castle, in a part of 

 what is now the Park of Fleurs ; and while trying a 

 piece of wooden ordnance, it burst and killed him. 

 A holly tree still marks the place where this disaster 

 is said to have happened ; and some of the older inha- 

 bitants remember the vestiges of a village which stood 

 near the place, and was called Fair-Cross.. The name 

 is supposed by some to have originated in an exclama- 

 tion of James' widowed queen, on seeing the body of 

 the fallen monarch, " There lies his Fair corpse;" 

 which, approaching in sound to the other name, and 

 falling in with a favourite religious association, might 

 easily give rise to the altered name. On the following 

 day, James III. then only seven or eight years of age, 

 was crowned at Kelso ; and his gallant motl.er, anima- 

 ting the drooping spirits of the chiefs, by telling them 

 they had still a king, and, shewing him to the army, 

 roused them to new and more vigorous exertion. In 

 a few days the castle was taken, and in a great measure 

 destroyed. It underwent, however, a partial repair; 

 and was again put into a fortified state by the lord pro- 

 tector Somerset, in the reign of Edward VI. It finally 

 fell into decay, after the happy union of Scotland and 

 England, which rendered such strong-holds unneces- 

 sary. Yet it is to be regretted, that the very spot 

 where it stood should retain no mark of its former ex- 

 istence ; and perhaps something might yet be done, at 

 a moderate expence, to prevent the last lingering ves- 

 tiges of its ruins from utterly disappearing. 



Roxburgh. The ancient town of Roxburgh, which stood in a si- 

 tuation of much peril, on a part of the sloping ground 

 between the castle and the junction of the rivers, is re- 

 corded to have been a place of considerable extent and 

 population, where courts of justice were held, at which 

 the king sometimes presided. It was one of the four 

 most ancient royal burghs of Scotland ; and, though 

 fragments of the foundation are sometimes turned up 

 by the plough or spade, not the slightest external trace 

 of it is visible. The church of St. James, which was 

 in or adjoining to the city, was founded, according to 

 the Chronicle of Mailross, (Melrose) in 1134. In at- 

 tempting to trace its foundation, upwards of thirty years 

 ago, a considerable quantity of wheat and barley were 



found in a charred state, on a tiled .pavement; also Kc'si. 

 some pieces of glass and brick, which exhibited marks "*- ~V"* ' 



fr * 



fire. 



On the meadow still called St. James' Sreeri, one of St. James's 

 the greatest fairs, and most ancient, in the south of ^'- 

 Scotland, is annually held on the 5th of August. Of 

 this fair, one half of the customs is drawn by the ma- 

 gistrates of Jedburgh ; the other by the Uuke of Rox- 

 burgh ; and the jealousy of the inhabitants of Kelso for 

 the honour of their superior, gave rise frequently, when 

 the former came to maintain their privilege by " riding 

 the fair," to tragi-comical squabbles, which are now 

 succeeded by perfect harmony and peace. A part of 

 the old church of Maxwell, which, as well a? St. James', 

 is in Kelso parish, was standing a few years ago ; and, 

 till lately, the ground adjoining the place where it stood 

 was used as a place of sepulture. Several tombstones 

 are still to be seen; but the plough, desecrating the 

 spot, and, if not protected, they will speedily va- 

 nish. 



Our limits permit us to add but little respecting the Scenery 

 scenery of Kelso, which renders it an object of high around 

 attraction to travellers. The town, viewed from the Kel6 - 

 neighbouring heights, seems the centre of an amphi- 

 theatre formed by finely wooded rising grounds ; and 

 the lovely streams, (with their pretty islets,) having 

 united their waters, now powerfully, with many noble 

 windings, through a richly cultivated vale. The prince- 

 ly mansion of Fleurs, which was built by Sir John Van- 

 brugh about the year 1718, with its fine terrace and 

 park, command varying prospects of beauty and mag- 

 nificence. But it is scarcely possible for language to 

 describe the charms of the scene which opens on the 

 traveller, as he approaches Kelso on the west, by the 

 road passing Roxburgh castle. Mr. W. Wilson, a re- 

 spectable artist of London, a native of this place, has 

 made it the subject of some justly admired pictures. 

 The approach also from the south by Maxwellheugh, is 

 exquisitely diversified with objects of rural beauty, and 

 possesses, indeed, all the softness and grace of an Ita- 

 lian landscape. The view from the library is also very 

 fine ; and the prospect from Kelso bridge of Ednam 

 house, the abbey, and town ; at a greater distance, 

 Fleurs,- Springwood Park, Wooden, Ilendersyde, and, 

 in the back ground, the romantic Eildon hills, &c. is 

 most justly admired. (/) 



KENDALE, KENTDALE, or KIKKBY IN KENDAL, is 

 a market town of England, in the county of Westmore- 

 land. It stands in an agreeable valley on the west side 

 of the river Kent, which is crossed by three bridges. 

 The town consists of one spacious and well built street, 

 having several narrow streets branching oft' from it at 

 right angles ; and of another main street, called Stram- 

 mongate, in both of which the houses are chiefly built 

 of hewn limestone, and covered with slate. The streets 

 are well paved and lighted. On the east of the tpwn 

 flows the river Kent ; and on the west is a long row of 

 hanging gardens. The church stands at Kirkland, with- 

 out the town. It is 1 80 feet long, and 99 broad. It 

 has five aisles, and a square tower with eight good bells. 

 There are also a meeting-house for Presbyterians, one 

 for Quakers, two for Methodists, and a Roman Catho- 

 lic chapel. The town hall is a " very elegant build- 

 ing ;" and the butcher market, which was built about 

 twenty-three years ago, is neat and convenient. A new 

 gaol, .with cells underneath, has been recently erected. 



The principal charitable establishments are, a free 

 grammar school, on the west side of the church-yard, 

 which is well endowed, and has exhibitions to Queen's 



