Peeblesshire

Peeblesshire, or Tweeddale, a county in the south of Scotland, bounded N. and N.E. by Edinburghshire, E. and S.E. by Selkirkshire, S. by Dumfriesshire, and W. by Lanarkshire. The maximum length from N. to S. is 29 miles, the breadth 21 miles, and the area 356 square miles. The central part of the country is occupied by the narrow valley of the Tweed, on each side of which is an upland tract, consisting for the most part of massive grassy hills or mountains, generally rounded in form, such as Broad Law and Cramalt Craig, both over 2,700 feet, intersected by rich valleys and deep gorges. Much of the surface is occupied by large sheep-farms. Peeblesshire and Selkirkshire are together represented in Parliament by a single member. Peebles, the county town, is situated at the confluence of Eddlestone Water and the Tweed, 22 miles S. of Edinburgh. It has been a royal burgh since 1367. The Chambers Institution (1859) was the gift of the well-known publisher, William Chambers (1800-83), who was a native. A large hydropathic establishment was opened near the town in 1881. Woollen goods are manufactured here and in the neighbouring town of Innerleithen.