Old Photograph Cottage Post Office Bowden Scotland

Old photograph of the cottage Post Office and Grocer Shop in Bowden located three miles South of Melrose, Scottish Borders, Scotland. In 1113 when King David I of Scotland granted lands to the monks of Selkirk he also granted them the land at Bothandene, now Bowden, and Hailiedene, now Holydean. The charter was renewed in 1124 when the monks moved to Kelso where they founded the maginificent Kelso Abbey At the same time a religious establishment was founded at Bowden. The abbot of Kelso built a tower at Holydean which was destroyed in 1296. The tower was rebuilt and extend by Isabel Ker of Cessford and renamed Castle Holydean The castle became the home of the Ker family, later the Dukes of Roxburghe lived there for two centuries before finally being destroyed in 1760 by the 3rd Duke, John Ker. The Roxburghes moved to their new home Floors Castle in the early 18th century. In 1531, Bowden village was granted the right to hold a market, the first non burghal market in Scotland, and a market cross, which still stands today was erected, such was the importance of the village in mediaeval times. The cross is now used as the parish war memorial.





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