Hidden Histories Of The Scottish Borders

Discover the history of Kirkhope Tower, a Scottish tower house overlooking the Ettrick Valley near Ettrickbridge. In this episode of Hidden Histories of the Scottish Borders, we explore its uncertain origins, unusual defensive features and connections to the Border Reivers, including Walter Scott of Harden — the notorious Auld Wat. From the Black Douglas lordship to the Scotts of Harden, follow the changing fortunes of a building shaped by centuries of conflict and family ambition.Separating documented history from tradition, we touch on Auld Wat’s role in rescuing Kinmont Willie from Carlisle Castle and consider what his association with Kirkhope can tell us. The story continues through the tower’s sale to the Duchess of Buccleuch, its abandonment and its remarkable restoration. Join us for an atmospheric journey into Scottish Borders history, where a small stone tower opens a window onto a turbulent past.A message to regular listeners:The next episode will be published on 12 November, when the podcast will move to fortnightly releases.Music creditsLuminance by Scott Buckley The Distant Sun by Scott BuckleyAge of Wonder by Scott Buckleyhttps://soundcloud.com/scottbuckleyRoyalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Podcast theme from Pixabay.com

Discover the dramatic history of Kelso Abbey, once one of Scotland’s wealthiest medieval monasteries. In this episode of Hidden Histories of the Scottish Borders, we explore its origins under King David I, its powerful monastic community and its connections to nearby Roxburgh Castle.Hear about the Wars of Independence, the coronation of James III and the devastating siege of 1545. Follow the abbey’s story through royal tragedy, border warfare and the Scottish Reformation. Explore the lives and events behind Kelso Abbey’s surviving ruins—and their place in the history of the Scottish Borders.Music creditsAurora and Cirrus both tracks by Scot Buckleyhttps://soundcloud.com/scottbuckleyRoyalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional clips, including the podcast theme, from Pixabay.com

In this episode of Hidden Histories of the Scottish Borders, we explore Castlehill Tower, which sits about 5 kilometres south west of Peebles. Overlooking Manor Water, this ruined fifteenth-century tower house reveals a story of Border Reivers, beacon warnings and Covenanter connections. Discover the families who owned it, its formidable defences, and the unanswered questions surrounding its eventual abandonment.Music credits: All music from https://pixabay.com

Hidden among the fields near Chirnside in the Scottish Borders, the ruins of Billie Castle conceal a fascinating history of medieval power struggles, English invasions and powerful Scottish families. In this episode of Hidden Histories of the Scottish Borders, we explore the castle's connections to the Dunbars, the Douglas Earls of Angus and the Rentons of Billie, including its role as a refuge for Archibald Douglas during his conflict with King James V in 1528.Discover how Billie Castle suffered during the devastating Rough Wooing of the 1540s, why King James VI visited in 1596, and how the Renton family's marriage alliances connected this little-known Berwickshire stronghold to Alexander Leslie, Earl of Leven, a leading commander of the Scottish Covenanters. From medieval Border warfare to the religious upheavals of seventeenth-century Scotland, uncover the remarkable stories behind one of the Scottish Borders' forgotten castles.Music creditsOmega | The Rise | Ascension | Falling Together | Bring Me The SkyAll tracks by Scott Buckleyhttps://soundcloud.com/scottbuckleyRoyalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Podcast theme from Pixabay.com

In this episode of Hidden Histories of the Scottish Borders, we explore the dramatic story of Ferniehirst Castle, one of the best-preserved Border fortresses in Scotland. Standing above the River Jed near Jedburgh, this remarkable stronghold was home to the powerful Kerr family for more than five centuries and witnessed raids, sieges, family feuds, royal intrigue and some of the fiercest fighting of the Anglo-Scottish Border wars.Discover the legend of Dand Kerr, the famous left-handed staircase, the brutal violence of the Rough Wooing, the Battle of Ancrum Moor, and the castle's role in the struggles surrounding Mary, Queen of Scots. From Border Reivers to royal courtiers, the story of Ferniehirst reveals how one family survived the turbulent history of the Scottish Borders and left behind a castle whose stones still echo with the conflicts of the past.Music creditsPeace by Jeremusic70  https://pixabay.comThe Ocean by Savfk  https://www.youtube.com/savfkmusicThe Impossible by Savfk  https://www.youtube.com/savfkmusicAdrift Among Infinite Stars by Scott Buckley https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckleyUndertow by Scott Buckley  https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckleyI Walk With Ghosts by Scott Buckley  https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckleyRoyalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/