Old Photographs Duns Scotland

Old photograph of Duns in the Scottish Borders, Scotland. The town was created a Burgh of Barony in 1490 by James IV heritably for John and George Hume of Ayton, and the townsfolk were given the right to hold a market every Wednesday, and to hold a week-long annual fair between Pentecost and Trinity Sunday. Duns suffered badly in cross-border raiding and feuding, and was burned to the ground three times within 14 years, in 1544, 1545 and 1558 during the war of the Rough Wooing. By 1588 the town had relocated from the ruin at the top of Duns Law to its present location at its foot. In the autumn of 1517, Duns Market Cross was also the destination of the head of the Sieur de la Bastie, the French Ambassador and Warden of the Eastern March, following his murder at Preston, by Home of Wedderburn.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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