Kelso, Scottish Borders

Kelso is a market town in the Scottish border country ( Scottish Borders ). Here the rivers flow Tweed and Teviot together. Kelso has about 5,300 inhabitants ( 2004 estimate ) and is considered one of the most charming and picturesque towns in the area, with its cobbled streets, elegant Georgian buildings and the cobbled market place in the French style. Main attractions in Kelso include the ruins of Kelso Abbey and Floors Castle, a house that was designed by William Adam and completed in 1726.

History

The origin of the town of Kelso is due to the construction of Kelso Abbey in 1128. The town's name derives from the fact that the first settlements were built on a chalky digestion. During this time the town was known as Calkou. Although a small village existed before the completion of the Abbey in 1128, but it was not until the arrival of the monks, which resuscitated the settlement. Many of the monks were skilled craftsmen and helped the locals as the place grew. The Abbey dominated large parts of life in Kelso till the Reformation in the 16th century. Then let the power and wealth of the monastery and after the family Ker of Cessford took over the estate of the abbey largely so that it almost was the owner of the town of Kelso from 1600.

Sir Walter Scott visited in 1783, the high school of Kelso and said of the city that they are " the most beautiful if not the most romantic village in Scotland " was. Another attraction is the Cobby Riverside Walk, which leads from the city center on the banks of the Tweed to Floors Castle. Kelso has two bridges over the Tweed. " Rennie 's Bridge " was completed in 1803 as a replacement for an older bridge that was washed away during the flood of 1797. It was built by John Rennie of Haddington, in London, Waterloo Bridge built later. The bridge in Kelso is a smaller and earlier version of Waterloo Bridge. Hunter 's Bridge, a kilometer downstream, is a modern structure that was built for the relief of Rennie 's Bridge and around passes the traffic load around the city.

From Kelso comes, among other things, the civil engineer James Brunlees (1816-1892), who constructed many railways across the UK and designed the port facilities in Avonmouth and Whitehaven. Sir William Fairbairn (1789-1874) was another engineer who built the first steam ship with an iron hull and over 1000 bridges constructed, in which he used the steel-tube method for which he pioneered.

Since 1987, between Kelso and Orchies in France is twinned.

Things to Do

The place Kelso has a large sports and leisure activities. The River Tweed is known for its salmon stocks, there are two 18- hole golf courses and a horse racing track, which is known as "Britain's Friendliest Racecourse ".