Galashiels and the Great Tapestry of Scotland

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Great Tapestry of Scotland building in Galashiels

When we spent a week in the Scottish Borders over Christmas 2022 there was only one thing on my must-do list: visit the Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels. We originally saw this representation of Scottish history in 2014, the year after it was completed, when it came on tour to Paisley. Since 2021 it has been on display in its own purpose-built gallery which I was excited to see for the first time. It is a beautiful space.

Interior view
Advertising hoarding
Entrance

On the stairwell is Threads, a sculpture by Andrew Crummy, who also designed the tapestry. The names of all the stitchers who contributed are laser cut into the threads.

Threads by Andrew Crummy

Some statistics:

  • 420 million years of Scottish history
  • 143 metres of art work
  • 165 panels
  • 1000 stitchers
  • 50,000 sewing hours
  • 300 miles of yarn

Phew! What an achievement!

I had been happily snapping away for some time before John pointed out the No photography signs. Oops! However, my previous post on the tapestry’s visit to Paisley has a large selection of pictures should anyone wish to see more. I will, however, include one panel because I can’t resist it. It will surprise no-one, I’m sure, that this is the Suffragette panel which features my very own favourite, Jessie Stephen, who took part in acid attacks on post boxes in 1913.

Suffragette panel
Suffragette panel (detail naming Jessie Stephen)

I was happy that this panel also featured on a variety of souvenirs so I came away with a print and a fridge magnet. But who knew embroiderers (because, strictly speaking, the tapestry is an embroidery) had their own gin? I came away with a bottle of that too!

Suffragette souvenirs
Stitcher’s Gin

We spent a large chunk of the day in the museum (it has a very good café where we had lunch) so, given the early sunsets of a Scottish winter, it was almost dark when we came out. However, we still enjoyed a wander around Galashiels in the dusk. We saw two tributes to Sir Walter Scott.

Walter Scott mural
Walter Scott statue

A post box with a beautifully carved surround stands in front of a similarly ornate lamp-post showing the town’s coat of arms: two foxes reaching to eat plums from a tree. This apparently refers to an incident in 1337 when a raiding party of English soldiers were picking wild plums close to the town and were caught by Scots who came across them by chance and slaughtered them all.

George V post box
Lamp post with coat of arms

Opposite the old Burgh Halls is a fountain standing in part of the old mill lade, a remnant of the town’s history in the textile trade.

Burgh Chambers
Mill lade and fountain
Fountain

I remember my mum singing Coulter’s Candy to me when I was wee, but I didn’t know the song was based on a real person, Robert Coltart, who sold boiled sweets around Galashiels in the 19th century. He now has his own sculpture.

Coulter’s Candy information board
Coulter’s Candy sculpture
Coulter’s Candy sculpture
Coulter’s Candy sculpture

And finally, here is a rather alarming sculpture of a man with a sheep, and a plaque commemorating the Hungarian patriot Lajos Kossuth who visited town twice in the 1850s.

Man With a Sheep
Plaque to Kossuth, Hungarian patriot

This was a really good day out, befitting a town which has recently been named the 15th happiest place to live in Britain – by a property website, but even so that’s a nice accolade to have. I’d like to go back to Galashiels and explore its history a bit more – but this time in daylight!

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53 Comments »

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  3. I have only got round to reading this now but I am thrilled that along with Jessie Stephen, Dr Grace Cadell features on the same panel! Am I right in thinking that one of the panels got stolen, and if so, did they ever get it back? I have never actually seen it, so I must visit Galashiels one day. Thanks for this.

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  7. I’d like to see the tapestry, what a beautiful and ambitious project. I think Galashiels was known for it’s wool industry once upon a time, so neat that the visitor centre is here. The Stitchers Gin sounds fabulous, I like a gin myself – cheers!

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  9. I must be going nuts, I thought I’d commented on this yesterday – obviously not 😦 I like the ornate lamp post and the fancy post box surround but I’m not too keen on the man with a sheep, he looks quite scary.

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  10. That tapestry is a work of beauty and of love. And Galashiels has now got a place on my Realistic Must Visit list, much more satisfactory than the Unrealistic Wish List.

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  11. If you looked very carefully, you might have seen some of Mrs T’s work in the tapestry. We mean to go and see it in Galashiels but never go, so your post might inspire us to actually go soon.

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  14. I would love to spend some time seeing the tapestry. Am I right in thinking
    Alexander McCall Smith had a hand in bringing it to fruition? Not in stitching, but in promotion and getting the project to completion. I’m sure I remember reading in his newletter about it.

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  16. The tapestry’s a remarkable achievement – even more so when you consider how many hours it took to sew and how much yarn went into making it. 300 miles is mind boggling! It’s wonderful it has its own gallery. I’m also very taken by the incredible mural of Sir Walter Scott.

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  17. That must be a fabulous tapestry to see. And I love the threads! I made a donation to the RNLI for my son Alex’s name to be added to the letters and numbers on the side of a Shannon class lifeboat. A name among many.

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  19. It’s amazing how much varied information you’ve discovered! Really interesting to see the photos around the town and read all about the Great Tapestry and view the link…wish they’d included more photos!

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  21. It has got to be 30+ years (gulp!) since I last visited Galashiels so I was very happy to have an online poke around courtesy of your blog. I would very much like to see that epic embroidery piece for myself.

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  22. Thank you for all your fantastic gallivanting posts this year. As I haven’t got out much, I’ve been touring vicariously with you! Happy Christmas and happy Hogmanay if i don’t ‘see’ you before :).

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  23. It’s an interesting town. Wonder if anyone sings that type of period song to their children anymore or if that’s all died out now?
    Bob. BSS.

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