Events

Scottish Borders Heritage Week

Saturday 11th to Sunday 18th September 2010

The second annual Borders Heritage Week highlights
the history of conflict along the region’s historically
shifting frontiers. The many fortifications, battles and
skirmishes fought in the Borders since the Bronze Age
nearly 5,000 years ago have left deep impressions in
the landscape. Iron Age hillforts, the fortified
strongholds of warrior kings, can be found on many of
the hills around you. The romans marched through
the Borders along Dere Street and occupied the valleys
in their forts and marching camps as they sought to
control the native population. The Dark Age kings of
Anglo-Saxon Northumbria and the native Britons were
engaged in a near constant to-ing and fro-ing of their
frontiers and built fortified frontiers, such as the
sinuous Catrail and Heriots Dyke. The medieval period
saw an explosion of castle building and warfare, and
the Borders was one of the most hotly contested lands
in Britain by both the kingdoms of England and
Scotland. And because of this, the Borders became a
virtually lawless land where local ‘reiving’ families, on
both sides of the border held the power, fortified their
homes and fought with each other for many
generations. The area was not spared during the
religious conflicts of the 16th and 17th centuries
either, and Cromwell himself laid to waste many of the
Border towers, churches and abbeys. Large battles
were fought in the region over this period at Flodden,
Ancrum Moor and Philiphaugh. While peace settled
on the region, Borders familes have been asked to
make sacrifices in foreign conflicts ever since.
Throughout time conflict has been a frequent visitor to
the shifting frontiers of the Borders. During this
Heritage Week, as you visit the scenic forts and
castles, churches and abbeys, take time to reflect on
those who lived fought and died during this dramatic
history.

For further information.

• Also see : http://www.scottishbordersheritage.co.uk/49837