Introduction

This afternoon, I am reporting on Newstead in the Scottish Borders region, reputedly the oldest village in Scotland.

Main Street, Newstead in context of local landscape.

Information on Newstead-Part 1

The population of Newstead is about 256. The village is located within the Eildon and Leaderfoot National Scenic Area. The original village has developed in a linear form along either side of the Main Street. Properties range from single to two storeys in height.

The name may have derived from Old English and translate as ‘New farmstead’ or similar.

Newstead is, reputedly, the oldest continually-inhabited settlement in Scotland. It sits between the abbey town of Melrose and the former important Roman site of Trimontium. It is likely that a community grew up to provide for the needs of the Roman soldiers in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Attracted by good farmland the community may have remained after departure of the Romans. A population is recorded there from 650 AD onwards, until the present day. The stonemasons, architects and other tradesmen who built Melrose Abbey were lodged at Newstead. In 1905 it was the site of a discovery of a very rare Roman helmet.

The village is purely residential with the only public building being the village hall.

Information on Newstead-Part 2

The architecture in the images herein includes older houses which have minimal windows or doors facing the Main Street. It is the writer’s assumption that these features were incorporated for defense during the violent ‘reiving period‘ from 13th to early 17th centuries. This was a time when the Borders region was known as the ‘debateable land’ and plundered by both English and Scots alike. To illustrate this point, the image below is of a Bastle House in Haltwhistle, England, about 75 miles south.This contains similar, defensible features to those found in Newstead.

16th/17th century defensible house in Haltwhistle, England.

Claymires Lane

House dated 1764.

A narrow street or alley, presumably connecting with a water source.

St. John’s Wynd (lane)

War Memorial

A very defensible house

Village Hall

Street View

Landscape near Newstead

Thee are a number of pleasant and easy accessible walking routes covering the short distance between Newstead and Melrose.

More Information

For more information on Scotland’s, history, architecture and the Scottish Borders region please refer to the Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4. This publication is also available via Kindle.