Peebles Attractions

The Eastgate Theatre hosts a varied and diverse programme including music, drama, dance, comedy and literature events. We also have an exhibition space.

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A symbolic centre of a Scottish market town, the Mercat (market) Cross of Peebles is situated in Eastgate (formerly Cross Gate). It confirms the town?s former trading status. Here the public market was held, the Town Drummer announced royal and other proclamations to the people of the Burgh and criminals punished. This tradition is carried on in the Beltane Festival.

The Cross Keys Hotel or Cleikum Inn)was built in 1693 as a town mansion by Walter Williamson of Cardrona. Later, this inn had strong associations with Sir Walter Scott, the famous Scottish novelist.

The ?new town? centred on High Street, was developed from the 15th century. The street level that you see today is lower than it was in the past. In 1846, High Street was lowered by almost 1m drains were built, projecting stairs removed and pavements laid.

Originating in the 16th c., the Chambers Institution has an interesting history. Belonging to the Church, it was the Dean's House, and later passed to the Queensberry branch of the Douglas family.

In the quadrangle of the Chambers Institution, the War Memorial unveiled in 1922 by Field Marshal Earl Haig of Bemersyde, lists the names of 225 Peebleans killed in the First World War - a veritable decimation of the then male population of 2257.

The facade conceals an older interior with a thick walled barrel-vaulted room, or "bastel house" (from the the French "bastille"), and was formely a refuge and strongly built for defence.

The construction of the Tontine Hotel was financed on the "tontine principle" - an early form of life annuity - by which the last survivor of its original subscribers would fall heir to the property.

The Parish Church is built on Castlehill, at the junction of the Eddleston Water and River Tweed, on the site of Peebles Castle. The Burgh Arms carved in stone was saved when the 18th century church was demolished.

Sheriff Court House was formerly the County Rooms and the Burgh Prison. Its old cells are sill there but have not been in use since 1878.

Bank House stands on the site of an older building, the pre-reformation Chapel Of The Virgin. When it was demolished the 17th c. Peebles Silver Arrow was recovered from where it had been concealed during the Cromwellian occupation of Scotland.

Traditionally the Common Land on which the townsfolk still have the right to hang out washing to dry.

Tweed Bridge is at a very early bridging point of the river. Until the 18c. it was the only bridge crossing above Kelso.

Eddleston Water, better known locally as "The Cuddy", was originaly the main access into the town from the west, where there were two medieval church settlements.

Biggiesknowe was once the centre of the burgh's hand-weaving cottage industry. The famous publishers William Chambers and his brother Robert were born in one of the older houses. In another was born respected professor of logic at St Andrews and Glasgow Universities, John Veitch.

The ruined Cross Kirk, standing high above Eddleston Water, was founded in 1261 on the spot where an old stone cross was located. Open daily all year. FREE admission

The church of St. Andrew of Peebles was founded in 1195. There are many fine old gravestones to be found in the graveyard.

Traquair House situated 7 miles from Peebles was originally owned by the kings of Scotland. It later became the home of the Earls of Traquair and is still lived in by their decendants, the Maxwell Stuart family. It is well known as the oldest inhabited and most romantic house in Scotland.

A Specialist Garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh located 8 miles from Peebles. The first exotic tree species introduced to Scotland were brought to Dawyck by the Veitch family in the late seventeenth century. Over 300 years of sustained tree planting have made Dawyck one of the finest arboreta in the country. The real foundations of the Garden were laid by the Naesmyth family who acquired the estate in 1691.

The Estate dates back as far as 1296 and today Kailzie Gardens are open 7 days a week throughout the year. The Gardens provide a rich variety of colour and charm for both the keen gardener, and for the visitor simply wanting to enjoy a beautiful garden in peaceful surroundings.