- Conservation Area
- Kelso
- Conservation Area Statement
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The Conservation Area of Kelso includes the historic core of the town, including the ruins of the 12th century Abbey, the 18th century Market Square and the Kelso Bridge, as well as the surrounding 19th century buildings and the main approaches into the town.
Built in 1800, Kelso Bridge was the first bridge in the world to have elliptical arches. It was built to replace its predecessor that had been previously swept away in a flood.
Kelso is situated in the wide meander of the River Tweed in the old county of Roxburghshire.
The Kelso Conservation Area retains many of the distinctive townscape characteristics that can only be found in this Roxburghshire market town.
Main streets within the Town run in a radial pattern and centre on the Market Square. This Square is the largest formal square in Scotland and is still complete with setts.
Around Market Square, buildings are made-up of a rich assortment of commercial properties while a large part of Roxburgh Street is residential.
A variety of different building styles and types are present throughout the Conservation Area and these all add to the uniqueness of the place. Both Shedden Park and the Abbey provide a significant contribution not only to the amenity of the Town but also to its attractiveness.
Many of the properties are built hard to the footpath but on the whole they tend to follow the streetscape.
While all of the features highlighted are important and contribute greatly to the character of Kelso they do not do so in isolation.
The use of building materials and architectural details are just as important. Sandstone, render and slate all help to form the character. Architectural details such as the traditional shop fronts, the classical proportions and details like the frieze, cornices and other highly ornamental carved stonework, sash and case windows, panel doors, and brick chimney stacks all add greatly to the Conservation Area.
Any new development must therefore aim to contribute to the existing character of the Conservation Area.
There are currently 267 listed properties within the amended Kelso Conservation Area of which 10 are category “A”. The ruins of the Kelso Abbey are also a Scheduled Ancient Monument. - Designation, adoption and boundary information
- Alterations to the Kelso Conservation Area boundary from that shown in the Roxburgh Local Plan 1995 consist of the two significant inclusions, the first being the area to the north-west where Roxburgh Street stretches to meet Bowmont Street, and the second area is to the west stretching from Edenside Road, along Dryinghouse Lane to along the A698 where it meets the south embankment of the River Tweed. The exclusions from the Conservation Area boundary consist of the land at Lodge Park and part of Springwood Park. The boundary has also generally been tidied so that it follows elements on the ground.
- Download boundary map
- Kelso Conservation Area
- Contact
- Heritage and Design Officer
- Online Form
- Contact heritage and design officer
