Melrose in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Melrose, market town and par. with ry. sta., NW. Roxburghshire - par., 25,794 ac., pop. 11,131; town, 3½ miles SE. of Galashiels and 37 miles SE. of Edinburgh by rail, pop. 1550; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks. Market-day, Monday. The par. contains part of the town of Galashiels. In the market-place is a stone cross, bearing date 1642. In W. vicinity of town is a large hydropathic establishment. Melrose, a very ancient place, originally called Fordel, is the "Kennaquhair" of Scott's Abbot and Monastery, It is picturesquely situated in the Vale of Melrose, a hollow between the Eildon Hills and the river Tweed, and is visited by great numbers of tourists, attracted chiefly by Melrose Abbey, the present remains of which are between 400 and 500 years old, and constitute one of the most interesting relics of late Gothic architecture in Scotland. In Melrose Abbey are the remains of Alexander II., of Michael Scot, of many of the Douglas family, and the heart of the Bruce. The ruins were repaired by the Duke of Buccleuch in 1822.