Archaeology Notes

Event ID 712010

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/712010

NT24SE 1 25 40.

(Name: NT 2534 4061) Town Wall (NR)

(Name: NT 2519 4033) Town Wall (NR) (course of)

OS 25" map (1965)

Town Wall, Peebles: In medieval times, Peebles does not seem to have been surrounded by any defensive walls other than the continuous boundary walls of the various burgess tenements. Early in 1570, however, it was decided to erect a town wall. From the West Port (NT24SE 1.1) the wall ran E along the N side of Tweed Green. At the foot of Tweedbrae, it turned N to link up with the East Port (NT24SE 1.2) from which it extended on approximately the same alignment as far as Borthwicks Walls. The wall then ran W to the North Port (NT24SE 1.4), thence along Ushers Wynd to the Eddleston Water, following the river as far as the bridge leading to Old Town, where it again returned S to meet the West Port. The wall was maintained in good repair until at least the second decade of the 18th century, but it generally disappeared c.1800 leaving only a few fragments.

The principal remains now visible comprise two sections of wall linked by a tower. The first section runs E from the S side of Glencorse House, for 100 yds to the tower (at NT 2537 4061). A second section of wall runs S for 25 yds from the tower.

The tower is circular on plan, 9' in internal diameter, and has two wide-mouthed cannon-parts, only one of which retains its original form. The wall, built of rubble masonry, is 3' thick x 9' high.

What appears to be another short section of the wall was revealed in 1963 when houses were demolished at the head of the S side of Ushers Wynd. This fragment measured 6'5" in length, 2'11" in width, and c.6' in height.

RCAHMS 1967, visited 1963

The remains are as described.

Visited by OS (EGC) 1 March 1962 and (SFS) 16 September 1974