The destroyed
royal burgh of
Roxburgh (or
Rosbroch) was an important trading
burgh in
High Medieval to
early modern Scotland. In the
Middle Ages it had at least as much importance as
Edinburgh,
Stirling, or
Berwick-upon-Tweed, for a time acting as
de facto capital (as royal residence of
David I).
History
Its significance lay in its position in the centre of some of
Lowland Scotland's most agriculturally fertile areas, and its position upon the
River Tweed, which allowed river transport of goods via the main seaport of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Its position also acted as a barrier to
English invasion.
The town stood on a defensible peninsula between the rivers Tweed and
Teviot, with
Roxburgh Castle guarding the narrow neck of the peninsula. Nothing remains of the town except some ruined segments of castle ramparts. Its site lies to the south of modern
Kelso and
Floors Castle, which lie on the other side of the Tweed. The
Duke of Roxburghe owns the site.
English and Scots forces repeatedly captured and recaptured the town during the
Scottish Wars of Independence. Its final recapture in 1460 saw the town and castle destroyed. After this time the town never regained its importance because the final English capture of Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1482 left Roxburgh with little reason to exist.
Roxburgh was superseded as the
county town of the former
county of
Roxburghshire by
Jedburgh.
Etymology
Roxburgh probably comes from Old English
*hrÅcas burh, "
rook's borough". However, numerous other suggestions have been offered, including Middle English
rockes burh, "
burgh of rocks",
Rouges burh, after its ancient inhabitants, or
Rokes burh, "
St. Rok's borough", being dedicated to St. Rok.
Roxburgh District
Roxburgh District 1975–96
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In more recent times (1975–1996), "Roxburgh" referred to a local government district in the
Borders region of
Scotland. Its borders broadly resembled those of the traditional county of
Roxburghshire. In 1996 the district of Roxburgh became part of the Scottish Borders unitary area. (See also:
Subdivisions of Scotland)
Roxburgh (village)
Sunlaws Mill on the Tweed near Roxburgh
Nowadays the name Roxburgh belongs to a small village about one and a half miles southwest of the site of the historic Roxburgh.
See also
