•  Selkirkshire, Scotland

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In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described Selkirkshire like this:

Selkirkshire, an inland co. in the SB. of Scotland; is bounded N. by Edinburghshire, E. by Roxburghshire, S. by Dumfriesshire, and W. by Peeblesshire; greatest length, NE. and SW., 28 miles; greatest breadth, NW. and SE., 17 miles; area, 164,545 ac., pop. 25,564. The surface, rising in a succession of verdant uplands or heath-clad hills, is from 300 to 2433 ft. ...

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above sea-level. The country in early times was covered with woods, and, known as Ettrick Forest, was long a royal hunting-ground. The river Tweed flows through the N. part of the co., and affords good salmon fishing. Ettrick Water and Yarrow Water flow from SW. to NE. in parallel courses, and unite before entering the Tweed. The vales of these streams are rich in beauty and historical associations. The lochs are numerous but small; the largest is St Mary's Loch, at the head of Yarrow Water. Selkirkshire is more pastoral than agricultural, and has a light soil on the arable land. (For agricultural statistics, see Appendix.) The woollen manufacture is the great industry of Selkirk and Galashiels. The co. comprises 2 pars, with parts of 9 others, the parl. and police burgh of Selkirk and the greater part of the parl. and police burgh of Galashiels (members of the Hawick District of Burghs). It unites with Peeblesshire in returning 1 member to Parliament.

Vision of Britain presents long-run change by redistricting historical statistics to modern units. However, none of our modern units covers an area close to that of Selkirkshire. If you want trends covering a particular location within the county, find it on our historical maps and then select "Tell me more".

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