Saturday 3 July 2010

Duns, the Small Town in the Scottish Borders By Simon Haughtone Platinum Quality Author

Duns is a small town in the Scottish Borders, created back in 1490 by James the Fifth. Upon its creation it was a Burgh of Barony and now is the county town of Berwickshire. The first reference of Duns dates back to 1214 when an individual called Hugo de Duns signed his name as a witness to a charter.

Duns is a very well appointed - although small town- in the borders, featuring numerous buildings of historical significance. The Duns Castle is the major attraction in the town; it is sided to the Duns Law and was originally built by Randolph Earl of Moray back in 1320. Randolph was the nephew of Robert the Bruce. Prior to 1690 Alexander Hay of Duns acquired the castle and was responsible for the preservation; the structure that we see today is the result of his efforts.

The Duns Mercat Cross is also among the important monuments of the town. It is the symbol of the commercial standing of Duns; the original cross was removed in 1816 and rebuilt a few years later in the main park of Duns, so as to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Duns features large shopping facilities and is still considered to be the one of the most important market towns in Scotland. Both Duns and the vicinity boast a substantial residential development, even in places that was not originally permitted. Especially some settlements close to the golf club have raised controversy in the region.

Duns is known for a type of football that dates back to the medieval era. The game is called Ba and requires three balls: a golden, a silver and a coloured one. The Ba tournament was revived in 1949 and still attracts many locals and visitors from Scotland and the rest of the Kingdom.

Find your next Duns hotel - here.

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