Christine Henderson talk

Friends of Kelso Library
Christine Henderson visit

A group of Friends of Kelso Library were given an insight in to Sir Walter Scott and the impact of Kelso on many of his formative years.

Christine, as a member of Kelso and District Amenity Society was part of the committee who successfully applied for funding to establish the Sir Walter Scott Heritage Walk in Kelso. This walk around the town features plaques on many of the buildings with Scott connections. From Beardies (Scott’s great grandfather) House to Rosebank where his uncle Robert resided and which Scott inherited upon the death of his uncle in June 1804 which he promptly sold, reputedly to further his stake in the Ballantyne printing business, there is a lot of Scott’s heritage in Kelso.

Christine demonstrated this heritage with an illustrated talk detailing the many visits that Scott made to Kelso in his formative years and the great friendship he maintained with the Ballantyne’s throughout his life.

Scotts first major success was The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border of which the first two volumes were printed in Kelso - “The imprint Kelso was read with wonder and connoisseurs were astonished at the handsome printing which so obscure a town has produce”

Sir Walter Scott on the first two volumes of The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
printed in Kelso by Ballantyne.

Scott visited Kelso many times and described it as the most beautiful if not the most romantic village in Scotland.

Friends of Kelso Library are very grateful to Christine for taking the time to talk on one of Kelso’s very famous connections.