History
For a small village, Eddleston has quite an interesting history.
One Celtic definition of Eddleston is “the site of Mary’s lad”.
The particular arrangement of flowing water around the village is considered to have spiritual and healing properties. There used to be a Druid altar within the gardens of the old manse, demolished in the 1970s. From Celtic perspectives, Eddleston has good energy and is a healing place.
Records dating back to between 600 – 1100AD, identify that the parish was known as Gilliemoriston, meaning “the Servant of St. Mary”. Bought by Edulf the Saxon, the village became known as Edulf’s toun, or as it is known now, Eddleston.
The railway line, closed in the mid 1900s ran through the village where the Station Lye Cul-de Sac now stands. The original station platform remains, and the waiting room and ticket office have been converted into a house. However, many of the original features remain, including the platform clock, which can be seen from the road.
Currently there are approximately 270 residences in and around Eddleston Village.
The Horseshoe Inn
The old smiddy, medieval workshops and cottages became the Horseshoe Inn, as it is known today. Around the Inn, relics from the smiddy are hanging on the wall.
As early as the 1900’s, the present-day restaurant was still the garden for one of the old cottages. The stained-glass window in the restaurant, the impressive frontage to the bar area and many of the doors were saved from the local church before it was demolished.
The Horseshoe Lodge, in the corner of the car park to the Inn was originally the old Primary School. The building dates back 100 years and was converted in 1998 to ensuite. The old graveyard around the Church has headstones dating back to the 18th Century, identifying the local farm owners and other tradesmen such as candle makers and shoemakers. Although the Church was extensively rebuilt around 200 years ago, there has been a church in Eddleston since the 12th Century
Church and Graveyard
The old graveyard around the Church has headstones dating back to the 18th Century, identifying the local farm owners and other tradesmen such as candle makers and shoemakers. Although the Church was extensively rebuilt around 200 years ago, there has been a church in Eddleston since the 12th Century.
The current church has none of the original fabric, but within it there are relics from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries including an 18th century sundial and 17th and 18th century armorial panels and funerary monuments. More information about this is available from the Peeblesshire Archaeological Society.
The bell, which hangs in the belfry, was cast in 1507. It was thought to have been donated by the Murrays of Blackbarony to celebrate their arrival in the village
From Poorhouse to Park
When the Peeblesshire Poorhouse was sold, the Parish Council came into £120. The money was to be used to provide a park for the youth of the community.
However, when Lord Elibank was approached to ask his permission to purchase the ground he said his father, the Viscount, would donate the ground to commemorate the 50th year of his accession to the Estate.
The village knew the Murrays of Blackbarony for their generosity. In 1923 Elibank Park was opened in the most appalling weather conditions.
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