Standard Barer John Wilson
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In 1113 David the First granted Selkirk
it's Common Land, although it is not known why this should have been so. During the period
of 1315 - 1536 this Common Land was enlarged to some 11000 acres and in today's terms this
land would be worth some £300 million! Rare in Western Europe and uniquely in Scotland,
this land has been retained, although at the price of many a local feud and in some
circumstances loss of life. The Common Land was patrolled at least once a year to ensure
that the town’s boundary markers had not been moved or the land grazed upon by the
flocks of the adjoining private landowners. This forms the basis of the Selkirk Common
Riding. |
