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Melrose
Scottish Gaelic: *Maolros*
Scots: *Melrose*
Melrose Scottish Gaelic: Maolros; Scots: Melrose;
	Melrose Location within the Scottish Borders
Population	2,500 (2022)
OS grid reference	NT5434
Council area	Scottish Borders;
Lieutenancy area	Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale;
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MELROSE
Postcode district	TD6
Dialling code	01896
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk;
Scottish Parliament	Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale;
	List of places UK Scotland 55°35′53″N 2°43′52″W / 55.598°N 2.731°W

Melrose (Scottish Gaelic: Maolros, "bald moor")^[2] is a town and civil parish in the Scottish Borders, historically in Roxburghshire.^[3] It lies within the Eildon committee area of Scottish Borders Council.

History

The original Melrose was Mailros,^[4] meaning "the bare peninsula" in Old Welsh or Brythonic. This referred to a neck of land by the River Tweed several miles east of the present town, where in the 6th century a monastery was founded associated with St Cuthbert. It was recorded by Bede, and also in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle with the name Magilros. This monastery and settlement, later known as "Old Melrose", were long abandoned by the 12th century. Melrose is surrounded by the small villages of Darnick, Gattonside, Newstead, Lilliesleaf and Bowden.

King David I of Scotland took the throne in 1124, and sought to create a new Cistercian monastery on that site; however the monks preferred a site further west called "Fordel". So the monastery now known as Melrose Abbey was founded there in 1136, and the town of Melrose grew up on its present site around it. In the late Middle Ages, its name was represented by a mell (a mason's hammer) and a rose (for the Virgin Mary, to whom all Cistercian abbeys were dedicated). The Abbey fell into ruin after the Reformation but is still a striking structure. Several Scottish nobles are buried there, and a casket has been found which is believed to contain the heart of King Robert the Bruce. The casket has been re-buried in the Abbey. The Abbey ruins are cared for by Historic Scotland (open all year; entrance charge).

Nearby is the Roman fort of Trimontium, Abbotsford House the home of Sir Walter Scott, and Dryburgh Abbey where he was buried in 1832. The Corn Exchange, which was designed by David Cousin, was completed in 1863.^[5]

The war memorial, erected in 1920, was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer.^[6]

Sport

Melrose is the birthplace of Rugby Sevens and also has a rugby union team, Melrose RFC. Every year on the second Saturday in April the famous Melrose Sevens are held at the Greenyards and is the biggest annual sporting event held in the town. Rugby union has always been the most popular sport in Melrose.

Melrose Golf Club is a nine-hole golf course situated on the edge of the town at the foot of the Eildon Hills.

Melrose Cricket Club is situated next to Borders General Hospital at Huntlyburn.

Events

Every June, the week-long Melrose Festival takes place. This involves appointing a Melrosian who has lived in the town for most of his life; and a queen and her court are appointed from the local primary school, Melrose Primary School (previously named Melrose Grammar School).

Melrose is now host to the annual Borders Book Festival^[7] which also takes place during June. The 2005 festival hosted guests including Michael Palin and Germaine Greer; Ian Rankin and Rory Bremner appeared in 2006.

Melrose hosts the annual Eildon Three Hill Race,^[8] attracting many runners, and the Melrose Pipe Band Championships, attracting pipers from all over the world.

Notable people

King Arthur, supposedly buried in the Eildon Hills, which overlook the town
James Blair, recipient of the Victoria Cross
Craig Chalmers, rugby union footballer, capped 60 times for Scotland
Richard Curle, author, critic and journalist^[9]
Sir Adam Ferguson, army officer and Deputy Keeper of the Scottish Regalia lived at Huntlyburn House, now a wing of the Hospital.
Rosie Frew, Bowden and Melrose Parish Minister, Church of Scotland General Assembly Moderator-Designate for 2025.^[10]
Ned Haig, butcher and rugby union footballer who founded rugby sevens and the Melrose Sevens
Stuart Hogg, rugby union footballer, captain of Scotland
John Robertson Henderson, zoologist
William Kerr, recipient of the Victoria Cross
Keith Robertson, rugby union footballer
Mark Robertson, son of Keith Robertson; rugby union sevens, 2016 Olympic silver medalist
Sarah Robertson, field hockey player^[11]
Sir Walter Scott, his home Abbotsford House lies a few miles west of the town
Catherine Helen Spence (1825–1910), Australian author, teacher, journalist, politician and suffragette; born in Melrose, and left for Australia aged fourteen
Jim Telfer, rugby union footballer and coach