Stow of Wedale

Stow of Wedale, or simply Stow, /ˈstaʊ/ is a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, seven miles north of Galashiels. In the 2011 Census the population was 718. It is served by Stow railway station.

The name

The name Stow is an Old English word stōw meaning 'holy place' or 'meeting place', whilst Wedale is probably derived from the words wēoh (or wīg) meaning 'shrine' and dæl meaning 'valley'.

Pack horse bridge across the Gala Water, at the south end of Stow

The Church

There has been a church at Stow since the 7th century, but the earliest example still visible today was built in the late 15th century on the site of the Church of St Mary which was consecrated on 3 November 1242. The church used today, St Mary of Wedale, was built in 1876 and features a 140 foot high clock tower. Our Lady's Well is situated a mile south of the village and was rebuilt in 2000.

A rare example of a packhorse bridge, built in the 1650s, can be found in Stow. Stow was an important place in the woollen and agricultural industries in the 19th century.

In 1870, James Thin purchased a plot of land in the village and had a house built which was completed in 1873 and was named Ashlea. This house is still a private residence but is not owned by the Thin family.

Stow New Parish Church

Famous residents

• Sir John Rose Cormack (1815–1882) was born and raised in Stow.
• John Downie Falconer FRSE (1876-1947), geologist, was born in Stow

See also

• Addinston, Carcant
• List of places in the Scottish Borders
• List of places in Scotland
• Stow railway station

Sources

• E-book on "Celtic Saints and Ancient churches of Strathearn
• RCAHMS record of Stow, Wedale View, General
• RCAHMS/Canmore record of Old Stow Kirk and Churchyard
• Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage Trust, grants awarded
• PDF: An excavation at the Bishop's House, Stow, Scottish Borders

• Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (extracts).
• Killochyett: Stow of Wedale
• A History of Stow Church
• Pictures around Stow