Jedburgh

The history of the Royal Burgh dates back many centuries. Around AD830, Bishop Ecgred of Lindisfarne formed two settlements on the Jed Water, calling them both by the same name.

The oldest written form of this name is Gedwearde - meaning “the enclosed settlement by the River Jed” - which dates from around 1050. By the mid 16th century, the name ‘Jedworth’ was being used, even today locally the town is referred to as ‘Jeddart’.

Situated close to the National Border between Scotland and England, the town saw more than its fair share of turmoil. During the Wars of Independence in the 13th and 14th centuries, the English captured Jedburgh on numerous occasions. The town and Abbey were burned three times in the 15th century by the English, providing evidence of the strategic value of the town. The 16th century was no less troublesome and several attempts were made to restore order to the area. The English attacked and captured the town in 1544 as part of the “Rough Wooing” and a year later, the Earl of Hertford invaded Scotland on the orders of Henry VIII of England and laid waste to vast tracts of southern Scotland.

The Union of the Crowns in 1603 ended cross-Border warfare and brought about an increase in trade. In 1707, the Union of the Parliaments had further ramifications for trade between the two countries. The ‘Treaty of Union’ was supposed to be to the equal benefit of both Kingdoms but punitive taxes on traditional Scottish goods saw a decline in industries such as tanning and malting, particularly in Jedburgh. Thus many people left the Border towns to find work elsewhere.

By 1741, the town was in a state of poverty and financial assistance had to be sought. Jedburgh, unlike some Border towns, was not subject to expansion as a result of the industrial revolution and early attempts to introduce woollen manufacture in the 18th century were unsuccessful. By the early 19th century however, the recovery from the Union began at last.
Today, the town retains largely the same plan as it had centuries ago, comprising the High Street and Castlegate with closes and tofts running at right angles to these main streets, similar to the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
Jedburgh lies on the A68 from Edinburgh. The quiet nature and great beauty of the town and its Abbey make it an essential stop for tourists from all over the world. The sight of the Abbey as you approach from the south gives a real sense of the history of the town you are entering.

Please allow at least 44 minutes to complete it, excluding the time taken to enjoy the destinations along the way.

For more walks around Jedburgh, download the booklet at https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/downloads/file/675/jedburgh