Talk:Roxburghshire Towns and Villages K

Kelso

Construction of Kelso Abbey commenced around 1125-30, in 1243 the Abbey was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and St John. One of several abbeys in the borders region, Kelso is believed to have been the largest.
The Reformation and the orders of Henry VIII saw the destruction of the abbeys, by the mid 1500's the buildings lay in ruins, what can be seen today is believed to be less than 10% of the original building.
During the mid 1600's a Parish Church was built within the site, this remained until the 1770's. It is rumoured that many of the buildings within Kelso feature dressed stones from the ruined abbey.

Kelso North Parish Church has an ornately carved exterior which is quite a contrast to the rather restrained interior. The church overlooks the river Tweed and the spire is clearly visible from some distance when approaching the town from the West. The building was constructed in 1866, designed by Frederick Pilkington. The building originally served the Free Church but reverted to Church Of Scotland use after the reunions of the assorted church groups.