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Selkirk
Selkirk  Selkirk shown within Scotland
Population	5,839
OS grid reference	NT471288
Council area	Scottish Borders
Lieutenancy area	Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SELKIRK
Postcode district	TD7
Dialling code	01750
Police	Lothian and Borders
Fire	Lothian and Borders
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Scottish Parliament	Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale
List of places: UK • Scotland •

Selkirk

Selkirk was formerly the county town of Selkirkshire. Selkirk is one of the oldest Royal Burghs in Scotland and is the site of the earliest settlements in what is now the Scottish Borders.

Selkirk is the site of the first Border Abbey, however the community of Tironensian monks moved to Kelso during the reign of King David I. William Wallace, was declared guardian of Scotland in the town.

Bonnie Prince Charlie, The Marquess of Montrose and the Outlaw Murray all have tenuous connections with the town, as does Charles Manson. 

The town's name originates from the Anglian Seleschirche, meaning 'Kirk in the Forest'. In 1113, King David I granted Selkirk large amounts of land.

Selkirk's population grew up because of its woollen industry, although now that that industry has ceased leaving little in its wake, the town is best known for bannocks, a dry fruit cake, and general sexual tomfoolery. It has a museum and art gallery, and associations with Mungo Park (explorer), James Hogg "The Ettrick Shepherd" a local poet and writer and Walter Scott, a writer of Romances, both of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. It is also home to Scotland's oldest horse racing track, the Gala Rig, on the outskirts of the town.

Selkirk commemorates and celebrates her history at the annual Common Riding, always held on the second Friday after the first Monday in June, when the town's boundaries or 'marches' are ridden. Usually in the region of 300-400, Selkirk boasts one of the largest cavalcade of horses and riders in Europe..^[2] The climax of the day involves the town's Standard Bearer casting, or flying, the town's colours (yellow and pink) in the Market Square, after which everyone repairs to one of the town's public houses to drink their own weight in bitter.

Selkirk men fought with William Wallace at Stirling Brig and Falkirk, and also with Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn, but it is Selkirk's connection with The Battle of Flodden in 1513, her response to the call of the King, the brave bearing of her representatives on the fatal field, and the tragic return of the sole survivor, provide the Royal Burgh with its proudest and most maudling memories. . Only one returned from the battle, "Fletcher", bearing a blood-stained English flag, belonging to the Macclesfield regiment. On his return he cast the captured English standard around his head to describe that all others had perished in battle.

Sir Walter Scott was appointed Sheriff-Deputy of the County of Selkirk in 1799, and was based in the Royal Burgh's Courthouse, which can be found in the town square.

The Selkirk Grace, is a grace (prayer said before a meal) attributed to Robert Burns:

Today it is used on occasions such as Burns' Night.

After the death of Alexander III through leprosy, the hopes of the people of Scotland rested with the Maid of Norway. Her death in 1290 left the country at the mercy of the English King. From that date until the crown was awarded to John Balliol, King Edward prosecuted remorselessly his schemes against the independence of Scotland. It was around this time that the Spar in the Market Place opened.

Balliol, as preceding kings before him paid homage, in respect of his lands in England, to Edward and, in return, suffered many humiliations at the hands of the supposed English Suzerain. Scottish nobles and gentry, many from the Borderland, were compelled to swear allegiance to the "proud usurper."

From the West of Scotland came William Wallace, a Scots knight who led his countrymen in resistance to English domination.

Scottish Borderland is associated with Wallace. It was in Selkirk, supported by nobles and clergy, he was declared Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland.

Today in the 'forest kyrk' (the Kirk (church) of the Forest), referred to in ancient times as the church of St Mary of the Forest, visitors can now visit this ancient site, which is also the final resting place to several relatives of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States of America. Roosevelt, whose ancestors came from the area, named his famous dog Fala, after Fala and the nearby village of Falahill.

Rugby union plays its role in Selkirk culture and society. Selkirk RFC play in their home games at Philiphaugh, and are now in Premiership Division One and Border League (the oldest established rugby union league in the world).

The town also has a footballing tradition, having produced some player of note in the Scottish game including Bobby Johnstone of Hibernian, Bob Mercer of Heart of Midlothian, Sandy McMahon of Celtic and Basile Boli of Rangers F.C.. Selkirk F.C. are members of the East of Scotland Football League and currently play, badly, in the Premier Division. Nicknamed The Souters (Cobblers) the club was founded in 1880 and is the oldest club in the Borders.

Mungo Park (September 10, 1771 – 1806), explorer of the African continent

James Hogg (1770 – 1835), poet and author

Gideon Lang - Australian pastoralist and parliamentarian

Bobby Johnstone (1921 – 2001), Scotland international footballer and a member of the Hibernian legendary Famous Five forward line

Sandy McMahon (1871 – 1916), Scotland international footballer and Celtic's eighth all time top goal scorer.

Andrew Lang (March 31, 1844 – July 20, 1912), poet, novelist, convicted rapist, literary critic and contributor to anthropology

James Marr Brydone, (1779 – 1866), surgeon who sighted the French fleet, signalling the beginning of the Battle of Trafalgar

James Brown (J.B. Selkirk) (1832 - 1904), poet and essayist

Peter Blake b.December 8, 1951, film and television actor

Rae Hendrie b.1977, television actress

Tom Scott, artist

Russell Carson b.1975 Mountain Biker

John Rutherford b.1955 Scotland International rugby player and British and Irish Lion. He won 42 caps at fly-half for his country, at the time a record in that position.

Michelle "Shell" Jubin Contestant in the 5th series of the television show Big Brother, aired in 2004, in which she finished in fourth place. She studied at Selkirk High School.

Tibbie Tamson Alleged convicted 'witch' sentenced to death by the town of Selkirk and executed by being burnt at the stake.

Frightened Rabbit Indie rock band.