The lost city of Roxburgh

The foundation charter of Selkirk Abbey first mentions the existence of the Scottish Borders town of Roxburgh in the year 1113. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Roxburgh became a thriving centre of trade with a similar status to Edinburgh. (See Ancient Roxburgh.)

The town was ravaged by fire on three separate occasions and occupied a vital position during the Scottish wars of independence. It was delivered to Edward III in 1334 and remained under English control until 1460. It had lost most of its population even before the siege that ended with the Scots recapturing the town and historical records from 1501 suggest that the settlement had been abandoned by then.

The area of the deserted medieval town is just fields today, and the landowner, the Duke of Roxburgh, had never permitted them to be excavated before. Time Team had a marvellous opportunity to reveal the layout and archaeology of a place that had been unoccupied for 500 years.

Trenches and street plans
After a massive geophysics survey covering some four hectares, a street plan for the town started to appear. Ploughing over many years meant that the survey did not reveal as much as had been hoped. But investigative trenches did identify various dwellings and thoroughfares, including Market Street, the main north-south road through the town.

Different types of 12th- to 14th-century pottery were discovered in archaeological features ranging from building beam slots to rubbish pits and human remains. Evidence was also discovered for defence works of the town in trenches near the outskirts of the settlement. A clay bank and outer ditch contained associated postholes, some of which had carbon deposits indicating burning.

Finally, a stone tomb-like structure was discovered in the south, which was thought to have been associated with the church of St James – one of four that are known to have existed in Roxburgh.

Time Team would like to thank Historic Scotland, without whose help and expertise the excavation at Roxburgh could not have happened.

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