J is for Jedbugth, Jethart Justice & Jethart Snails

Welcome to a Look Around 

"My Scottish Borders"

J is for:

Jedburgh, Jethart Justice  

and Jethart Snails  

 JEDBURGH  - The small historic burgh   (known locally as Jethart)  lies on the banks of the Jed Water, 10 miles north of the English-Scottish Borders.  It is most famous for its ruined 12th century Augustinian  Abbey, founded by King  David in 1138.  

 

 Jedburgh Abbey from the river 1798-99" by Thomas Girtin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedburgh_Abbey

I worked for five years in the local tourist information centre, where we got used to such quirky queries as " Was the Abbey bombed during the war?" and "When are they going to rebuild the Abbey."   A straight face was called for on occasions! 

The truth was the abbey was repeatedly attacked by English armies throughout the middle ages.  In the 1540's it suffered particularly at the hands of the Earl of Hertford's military campaign known as the "Rough Wooing" when Henry VIIII sought  to enforce a marriage between his son Edward and the young Mary,  Queen of Scots.   Mary was, instead, sent to France into the care of her mother's relations.  Scotland turned to    Presbyterianism with the Reformation, and the abbey, almost intact except for its roof, was used for services until the building of a new parish church in 1875.  

To read more about Mary Queen of Scots in the Borders,  follow this A-Z Journey to "Q". 

The Jubilee Fountain in the Market Square, erected to mark 

Queen Victoria's 1887 Jubilee.  
The colourfully painted houses are a feature of  Jedburgh architecture

The spire of the Newgate,  built in the 18th century. 

 The Jail is  actually two tiny windowless cells on either side of this arch.  

Jethart Justice - was the term given to the medieval practice of "hang first and try later" i.e. summary execution. 

Jethart Snails are a delicacy of the town that can still be enjoyed.  During the Napoleonic Wars, Jedburgh housed French prisoners of war  who were said to have left a legacy in the form of their recipe for this  brown mint-flavoured boiled sweet.   

Follow the next stage of this A-Z Journey 

through the Scottish Borders

K is for 
Kelso, Kaleidoscope & Kinmont Willie

The Scottish Borders 
The old counties of Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire & Selkirkshire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Borders

Do take a look at earlier  posts in "My Scottish Borders

A-Z Challenge Preview
A-Z Challenge A - Abbeys,Abbotsford and Armstrongs
A-Z Challenge B - Border Reivers, Border Ballads and Blackmail

A-Z Challenge C - Common Ridings and Carter Bar 

A-Z Challenge D - Dryburgh Abbey,  Duns Scotus and The Douglas Tragedy 

A-Z Challenge E - Elliots, Earlston, Enigma Hero and Eyemouth Tart 
A-Z Challenge F - Flodden, Fletcher and Flowers of the Forest  
A-Z Challenge G - A Green & Pleasant Land and Galashiels  
A-Z Challenge H - Hermitage Castle and Hawick 
A-Z Challenge I - Inspirational Land of Poets James Hogg and Will Ogilvie