Photos and the City

Tag: my new british summer

Berwick upon Tweed

As I had to change buses at Berwick upon Tweed anyway I decided to explore the town a bit. Even so, it is surrounded by the Scottish Borders. Berwick upon Tween is actually the most northern town in England. It used to be Scottish but during a turbulent past the town had be captured a few times before finally falling into English hands in 1482.

I started by walking towards the River Tweed and the still existing Elizabethian Walls, which were built to keep invading Scots from entering the town. And they are still very impressive today!

The later Elizabethan Walls (which are still complete) are a mile and a-quarter in length. The ramparts completely surround the town, with four gates through which entry to the town is enabled.

Berwick’s Elizabethan Walls are the only example of bastioned town walls in Britain and one of the best preserved examples in Europe. When built in 1558 – designed to keep out the marauding Scots who regularly laid claim to the town – it was the most expensive undertaking of England’s Golden Age. (Visitnorthumberland.com)

It is a lovely walk along or better said on the city walls and gives great views of River Tweed and also the city centre.

Berwick upon Tweed fort

After a bit, I reached the remains of the former fortress and fortification, that seem to be a beautiful garden and playground today. Again offering amazing views over the city.

This was the munitions dump, the place where ammunition was made and stored.

17/12/2019
Eyemouth

On my last day in the Scottish Borders, I boarded another bus and drove about 2 hours towards the coastline to Eyemouth – a tip I got from Ruth, who I had photographed at Scott´s View. I originally had planned to go to St. Abbs, but that was even further away and had less buses going there – it has to wait for another time.

Eyemouth is a small town on the coast of the Scottish Borders and about 13 km north of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Fishing at Eyemouth dates back to the 13th century and the harbour is still active with its colourful fleet. Like other coastal communities in the 18th century, smuggling was rife amidst the clusters of houses, narrow wynds, caves and underground tunnels. (Visit Scotland)

Eyemouth lies along a sandy bay within steep cliffs and offers a beautiful walk along the cliffs towards St. Abbs.

Eyemouth Fort

Above the village, you´d find the remains of a former fort – Fort Point, the first Trace Italienne style fortification in Britain built in 1547 and finally demolished in 1559.

View in direction of St. Abbs Head – I will come back for that!

10/12/2019
Peebles

On my way back from Rosslyn Chapel to Galashiels, I made a little stop in Peeples, a lovely town in the Scottish Borders. Originally a market town Peebles played an important role in the woollen industry of the Borders during the 19th and early-20th centuries. But the mills closed down in the mid-1960s and most people work in and around Edinburgh or in tourism.

Cross Kirk

I made my way from the High Street towards Cross Kirk, an ancient holy site standing in a slightly wooded enclosure in a quiet residential area near the centre of Peebles.

Founded by the Trinitarian order in the late 1100s. In 1261 a cross and relics of St Nicholas of Myrna were discovered hidden here. It is unknown how the relics made their way to Scotland but after the discovery, a few miracles happened. As a result, a priory was founded by the king and in 1474 increased to that of a monastery with a new bell tower.

The Reformation of 1560 brought an end to Cross Kirk’s existence as a monastery and thereafter it served as the parish kirk, replacing St Andrew’s Church, which had been burned down by the English in 1548. In 1656 the church was shortened, with the old choir being turned into a schoolroom. (Undiscovered Scotland)

But a new parish church was built and Cross Kirk was abandoned in 1784. The domestic buildings had been dismantled for the stones and in the late 1800s, Cross Kirk was described as a ruin.

Today the Historic Environment of Scotland cares for Cross Kirk and it is free to visit all year round.

Peebles

I made my way back towards the centre of Pebbles.

On the way, I came by a chocolate café and shop called “Cocoa Black” and run by UK World Chocolate Master Ruth Hinks and definitely worth a visit. The dark hot chocolate was amazing!

The old parish church in the back on the other side of the river and (below) the view over Pebbles from the church.

Back at the High Street, I spend the time until my bus came with strolling around the local shops.

03/12/2019