A small 17th-century burial aisle that survives from Galashiels’ demolished early parish church and preserves the memorial landscape of the Scotts of Gala.
Quick facts
- Date
- Built in 1636 beside the parish church of 1617; restored and re-roofed in the late 20th century
- Architect / designer
- Early builder and designer not identified in the consulted records
- Type
- Family burial aisle and historic tombstones
- Designation
- Category B listed burial aisle and associated tombstones (LB31971)
- OS grid reference
- NT 49451 35708
A fragment of the earlier town
The rectangular rubble-built aisle is modest in scale, but its surviving gable and walling preserve part of the burial place created beside the 1617 parish church. The church was demolished in 1813, leaving the aisle and surrounding stones as evidence for an earlier centre of worship and commemoration.
Its story
The aisle was built in 1636 for the Scotts of Gala. Later repairs altered parts of the masonry, and the structure was restored and re-roofed in the late 20th century. Its significance lies not in monumentality but in the survival of a small family structure after the associated church disappeared.
Why it is included
It brings burial, family memory and fragmentary survival into a directory otherwise dominated by larger civic and institutional buildings.
What to notice from the cemetery
- The simple oblong form and the contrast between early masonry and later repairs.
- The relationship between the enclosed aisle, nearby tombstones and the footprint of the vanished parish church.
- How the small structure sits within a burial ground now surrounded by the later town.
Reading the surroundings
Old Town Cemetery preserves a quiet historic enclave near central Galashiels. Visitors should treat the aisle, graves and memorial inscriptions as a sensitive burial landscape.
Timeline
- 1617 A parish church was built on the site.
- 1636 The burial aisle was built for the Scotts of Gala.
- 1813 The associated parish church was demolished.
- Late 20th century The aisle was restored and re-roofed.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The listed designation includes associated tombstones as well as the aisle. The point marker identifies the structure but does not reproduce the legal designation boundary, and this draft does not assume routine interior access.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Gala Burial Aisle, LB31971 — Designation, date, architectural description, restoration and grid reference.
- Trove: Gala Burial Aisle — National catalogue cross-reference, measurements and precise location.
- Scottish Borders Council: Galashiels Old Town Cemetery — Current cemetery identity and council management context.
Location
OS grid reference NT 49451 35708 · Location confidence: High: the designation and national catalogue agree on the grid reference and coordinates. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
Suggest a marker correction
Suggest a more accurate position
The teal marker is the current published position. The orange marker starts slightly to its right so both remain visible; this is only a visual starting position. Tap the correct place on the map or drag the orange marker. Sending this form creates a private review entry only; it does not move the published marker.
Check this area in Google Maps Choose the Satellite layer there if useful.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. You can also enter checked coordinates below.