Bank House

About Bank House

A rather unassuming building on the corner. It is built on the site of the Chapel of the Virgin, which dated from the middle of the 14th century, King David II, by character in 1367, gave to "...the chapel of Saint Mary newly founded with the Burgh...our mill of Innerlethane..."
The chapel was demolished in 1780, at which time the 'Peebles Silver Arrow' was discovered where it had been hidden in order to save it from being carried off as booty by Cromwell's troops when they occupied the town in 1650-51. The Royal Company of Archer's used to meet annually to compete for this prize, although they now meet only every six years. Until the Town House was built in 1753, Bank House was a meeting place for the Town Council. More recently, it was to this house that the author of "The 39 Steps", John Buchan, paid many visits and his sister (who wrote under the name O. Douglas) lived and wrote from here. Unfortunately, the building was partly demolished in 1975 to allow the Cuddy Bridge to be widened.
At this end of the High Street, at a point close to the road junction stood the West Port. This port was fortified by a building known as 'The Steeple', which was built between 1488 and 1496. It was built adjoining the chapel and for many years, served as the town jail and a meeting place for the Town Council. The construction of the Town House in 1753 saw the removal of the Steeple in 1776 and no trace remains but there is a plan in the Chambers Institution.