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Clovenfords is an expanding village in the central Scottish Borders with a population nearing 1,000 and around 350 households. A further 50 households lie in the surrounding hamlets of Caddonfoot, Peel, Yair, and Torwoodlee.
Clovenfords was home to the long-closed Tweed Vineries, which produced 15,000 pounds of grapes at its peak and the village hotel saw Sir Walter Scott and William Wordsworth as guests.
This temporary site has been set up to share local information while a new Clovenfords village website is developed.
History
Clovenfords, the village of the split fords nestling in the valley at the crossroads between the “Kings Ford” over the River Tweed and the “Old Ford” at Caddon Mill, was originally called Whytbanklee.
The Clovenfords Inn, built circa 1750, was situated on a stagecoach route between Carlisle and Edinburgh. The village boasted a smithy, a post office and a handful of cottages when Galashiels was only a hamlet dependent on Clovenfords for its mail deliveries and news from the outside world.
On being appointed Sheriff of Selkirkshire, Sir Walter Scott stayed at the inn in 1799, before living at Ashiestiel House. At the inn Sir Walter met William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy during their tour of the Scottish Borders which produced a wealth of poetry and prose including those lines, ‘Yarrow Unvisited’:
And when we came to Clovenford,
Then said my "winsome Marrow,"
"Whate'er betide, we'll turn aside,
And see the Braes of Yarrow."
Today Sir Walter Scott’s statue stands in the forecourt of the Clovenfords Hotel watching over the village with a tolerant, benign and compassionate smile at the corner of his mouth, irrespective of the many changes taking place around him, symbolising the greatness and the spirit that makes similar villages to Clovenfords, so important to the integral life of the Scottish Borders.
John Leyden, a bosom friend of Sir Walter Scott, was a contemporary poet, minister in the Church of Scotland, historian, philosopher, and surgeon. In 1792, when only 17 years of age, Dr Leyden taught in the village school, in Millbank Road. A stone dyke, part of a gable end, is all that remains of the school which was fondly known as ‘The Luggie’. The site of the school is marked by a granite slab which was erected in his memory in 1911.
Tweed Vineyards was created by William Thomson in 1869, choosing Clovenfords, Vine Street, because it had its own railway station, essential for delivering the many tons of coke required to heat the large complex of hothouses and because his brother-in-law was a builder and contractor living in Galashiels. The Tweed Vineyards of Scotland became the crème de la crème of the grapevine producing six tons of Muscat and Gros Colman grapes per year, then delivered by rail as far south as Covent Garden and Harrods of London. For 90 years the Tweed Vineyards flourished under four generations of the Thomson family until the price of grapes fell dramatically. They sold the business in 1959, to Robert Affleck, a market gardener. Time took its toll and the once famous vineries fell into a state beyond repair. Only the name remains the same, Tweed Vineyards.
Caddonfoot Parish Church was begun in March 1860, and was opened for worship 3rd February 1861. It was built as a memorial to Alex Pringle of Whytbank by his friends and relatives. In 1875 the church was enlarged and the seating increased to accommodate 360 worshippers. In 1933 Hon. Alex Shaw of Fairnilee, later the 2nd Lord Craigmyle, had the church remodelled to form a chancel. He and his wife Lady Craigmyle also gifted two stained glass windows, one believed to be the only stained glass window in the country in the memory of Sir Walter Scott.
Tom Quayle, 2013
History of Clovenfords & Sir Walter Scott
The following chapters of the History of Clovenfords & Sir Walter Scott by local writer Tom Quayle are available to read online:
Other articles on local history
Clovenfords Historical Trail, a leaflet produced in January 2016
The history of the statue of Sir Walter Scott, an article by Joan Mundell which tells the story of the statue that now stands outside the Clovenfords Country Inn
The history of the Braw Lads’ Gathering
Clovenfords’ Royal Visit July 1923
History of the Clovenfords Hotel
Historical photos
Explore our archive of the history of Clovenfords and surrounding area.
Directory of local activities, groups and services
Clovenfords Primary School
Clovenfords Primary School moved to its current site in April 2012, replacing the 172-year-old Caddonfoot Primary School.
Muscat Brae, Clovenfords, Galashiels, TD1 3LQ.
Telephone: 01896 662755
Email: clovenfordsps@scotborders.gov.uk
School Twitter: @Clovenfordsps_
School Facebook: Clovenfords Primary School
The school has an active parent council which holds an annual May fair.
Email: clovenfords.parent.council@gmail.com
Facebook: Clovenfords Parent Council
Mobile Library
The mobile library van visits the village every three weeks. Please see Live Borders’ website for changes to how this service operates.
Mobile Post Office
The mobile Post Office visits Clovenfords weekly. Please see Post Office website for changes to how this service operates.
Newspapers
As Clovenfords Village Shop is currently closed, Bill Birch (01896 850249) is co-ordinating the ordering of newspapers, which you can collect at his house at Caddonlands, Millbank Road.
Transport
The X62 bus passes through the village, connecting to Galashiels, Peebles and Edinburgh.
Galashiels and District Food Bank
Galashiels Food Bank is a voluntary organisation run by the local churches. We would like to thank all the people who are helping the Food Bank as volunteers and as donors. If anyone would like to be involved, please contact John Tucker (tucker.john@btinternet.com). It is better, but not essential, to work in pairs.
Beauty salons
Simply Lashes: Classic lash extensions, lash lift and tint
Cleaning
Groups and activities
Badminton
A friendly club for experienced players and beginners alike. The group meets Wednesdays 7.30 pm in Caddonfoot Hall. Contact Alison Wilson (alywil@sky.com).
Scottish Country Dancing
An evening of jigs, reels and strathspeys with instruction from a qualified teacher. New members always welcome. We meet in Caddonfoot Hall on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm from September to April. A cup of tea and a chat rounds off the evening. Contact Joan Fotheringham.
New Age Kurling
The membership of the group has stayed constant and the camaraderie makes for a happy band. The tea and chat (cost £1) helps everyone engage with people they may only see once a week. Cost £4 per session. Meets every Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m in Caddonfoot Hall. Contact Roddy Beatson (01896 850603).
Bridge Club
We are a very friendly and welcoming club (sections of the U3A) that meet every Friday afternoon in Caddonfoot Hall to play Duplicate Bridge. Anyone who is familiar with the game is welcome to join us and we will always find you a partner. Play starts at 1.30 p.m. and usually finishes by 4.30 p.m. There is also a beginners’ class on Thursday afternoons introducing people to this fascinating game. Contact: Bill Birch (01896 850249).
Caddonfoot Parish Church
Sunday services commence at 9.45 am, other services are held to celebrate significant dates in the church year. Linked with Stow: St Mary of Wedale & Heriot. Session Clerk: Anne Grieve (07968 433547).
Clovenfords Coffee Mornings
The village coffee morning is held every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. The group is meeting at Caddonfoot Hall during the closure of the Clovenfords Hotel. New faces would be very welcome to join us and catch up with village news. The charge is £2.50. For anyone unable to drive/walk, a lift can easily be arranged.
Clovenfords Bookworms
The group usually meets on the second Monday of every month at 2pm. Sometimes we choose a book from a particular author – at other times we all read the same book. There is no charge, but we always buy a cup of coffee or tea or even a glass of wine. For anyone unable to drive/walk, a lift can easily be arranged. Due to the closure of the hotel please contact Dorothy Taylor (01896 850428) for information re meetings.
Caddon Crafters
Do you like any sort of craft, or would you like to learn a new skill (or even just meet up for a chat with like-minded people)? Bring along a project you are working on, or learn from other members of the group to try something different. We meet the first and third Fridays of the month from 2-4pm. Contact Isobel Burrell (01896 850558 / 07940 057310) for information.
Motivate 50+
Pilates based exercises. Tuesdays 9.30-10.30am in Caddonfoot Hall. Booking Required. Contact Janis Smith (07557 870201).
Keep Cloven Clean
A group of residents who keep our community tidy through regular litter picks. Contact Gordon Hume (01896 850765).
Before travelling a distance for one of these groups, it may be a good idea to contact the number given.
Children’s groups and activities
Caddonfoot Parent and Toddler Group
Caddonfoot Parent & Toddler Group runs every Monday during term time, 09:30 – 11:30, for parents/carers/grandparents and children aged 0-5. We have a fantastic range of toys and activities on rotation each week. £1.50 per family, with snack/tea/coffee provided. New families are especially welcome to come and join us!
Clovenfords Rainbows, Brownies and Guides
Register through girlguiding.org.uk for more information.
Leisure
Walking: Paths around Galashiels, Paths around Innerleithen and Walkerburn
Walking For Health (Walk-It), Walk-It on Facebook
Cycling and mountain biking: Yair Forest, Glentress Forest, Yair Bridge
Clovenfords and District Community Council
Clovenfords and District Community Council is the most local tier of elected representation, and acts on behalf of the community.
It is a voice for the local area, ascertains and expresses the views of the community to local authorities and other public bodies, and carries out activities for local residents.
We hold monthly meetings, where community councillors, Scottish Borders councillors, invited guests and members of the public discuss a range of local issues.
All are welcome.
Meetings are usually held at 7pm on the second Monday of each month, excluding the summer period. Please check the agenda for the meeting’s location, as this varies throughout the year.
Members
The current members of the community council are:
Steve Walker (Chair and Secretary)
Stuart Bell (Vice Chair)
Sandra Richardson (Treasurer)
Katie Finlay
Darren Cairney
Dave Forrester
Lena Hadwiger
Hilde Paxton
Ashley Sharp
Linda Veitch
Anne Wilson
Cathy Wilson
Robin Tatler (ex officio as councillor for Tweeddale East)
Marshall Douglas (ex officio as councillor for Tweeddale East)
Julie Pirone (ex officio as councillor for Tweeddale East)
Contact us
If you are interested in the work of the community council, please come along to one of our meetings, or contact us via
Email: clovenfordscommunitycouncil@gmail.com
2026 Meeting Papers (Agendas and Minutes)
Meeting papers from previous years
Other documents:
Government and politics
Clovenfords is also represented by:
Caddonfoot Parish Hall
Caddonfoot Hall is a great local asset available for hire for private functions by individuals, clubs and other interest groups. It is also home to regular activities including G.Ex, badminton, Fit Lates, Scottish country dancing, and Bridge.
The hall was gifted to the people of Caddonfoot Parish in 1929 by Lady Louisa Mary Anderson of Yair House, and is managed by a committee of user group representatives.
Caddonfoot Hall letting
To book the hall, first check the calendar for availability, then contact the hall secretary by email: infocaddonfoot@btinternet.com.
Regular lets: £22 per session
Short let (up to 4 hours): £55
Long let (up to 8 hours): £130
Back room: £10
There is an extra £10 charge for electricity if a bouncy castle is used.
Caddonfoot 100 Club
The 100 Club has been running for over ten years and has raised £4000+ for the Hall. Twenty-four prizes are distributed during the year and you can enjoy the feel-good factor of supporting a valuable community asset. Tickets are £12 each and you can buy as many as you wish.
Neighbourhood Watch
Clovenfords Neighbourhood Watch street co-ordinators can be found here.
If anyone has any issues or concerns please contact your street co-ordinator, but remember, in an emergency always phone 999.
I would like to say a big thank you to those who have volunteered their services and together we can hopefully keep our village crime free.
Many thanks
Gordon Hume
01896 850765
Resilient Community
Clovenfords and District Community Council is taking part in the Resilient Communities initiative organised by Scottish Borders Council. This involves forming a group of volunteers who can help their neighbours in emergencies (e.g. heavy snow, flooding, missing people). Their work will be in addition to – not a replacement of – services provided by the council, police, utility companies, etc.
The group is usually involved in community preparedness for flooding, arranging litter picks, cutting back vegetation in communal areas, etc. In late March 2020 the coronavirus pandemic presented a huge and totally unexpected challenge. We stood up the Resilience Group, seeking volunteers for the specific purpose of providing support to our community during this national emergency and assist our more vulnerable residents. We had 35 volunteers sign up, and around 20 of these ‘Angels’ were regularly active. Over lockdown, and beyond, Angels have shopped regularly for many folk; picked up a lot of prescriptions; delivered countless newspapers; posted/collected many letters and parcels; mowed lawns; gathered and delivered food and monetary donations to Galashiels Food Bank; delivered over 100 plants to vulnerable residents around the village; collected and distributed eggs; made numerous courtesy calls to vulnerable residents, etc.
Contact
If you can help, or need support, contact ClovenfordsResilience@outlook.com.
Resilience plan
The Clovenfords Resilient Community Plan has now been completed and can be downloaded here. This covers Clovenfords, Caddonfoot, Yair, Peel and Craigmyle, and is intended to raise awareness and understanding of the local risks including severe weather, flooding and power cuts, as well as providing useful information to help manage those risks, e.g. likely flooding maps, gritting maps, contacts.
Volunteer
Your help and skills in supporting and assisting our community with a severe weather event or incident are vital, so we’re building a list of volunteers – that’s where you come in! Please let us know what support you can offer.
Get support
We also recognise that in times of severe weather or utility failure, some people in our community may need a bit of extra support from the resilient community volunteers, so we’d like to build a list of people we can offer assistance to in severe weather or during a power cut (e.g., if you have a disability, or need to look after young children so can’t clear your drive).
Utility companies have a duty of care towards their customers, and maintain registers of those they term vulnerable who are at greater risk during interruptions (power/water/gas cuts). During extended interruptions, they may offer free services (e.g. alternative heating and cooking facilities). If you are of pensionable age, have a disability, chronic illness or child under eight, we suggest you inform your supplier of this so they can put you on their register.
Equipment
As part of the initiative, we have obtained equipment for the community to use in times of severe weather or other emergencies. This includes high visibility jackets, gloves, torches, snow shovels, grit spreaders, hard hats, crampons, and first aid kits, and is currently stored in a locked shed behind the Clovenfords Hotel. We also have a large bin with a tonne of salt. This doesn’t replace the salt bins around the village, but is an extra supply for use in severe weather, and will be locked to ensure that it’s available in times of need. We have also obtained a store of sandbags, which are located in a self help sandbag store above the upper level of the hotel car park and have been provided for emergency use only.
Training
We are also providing free first aid training through the British Red Cross. This is a basic course which teaches you ‘what not to do’ in an emergency, rather than intensive lifesaving skills. If you’re interested in coming along, then please let me know. It will be a 2 hour session held at Wheatland’s Mill, Galashiels. Further details will be scheduled when we know how many wish to participate.
The Hutton & Paxton Community Resilience Group ran a joint exercise with Police Scotland, SBC and Mountain Rescue to test their emergency response and contacts/volunteer tree, harnessing the community’s resources to find two ‘missing’ walkers. This exercise was filmed and is worth watching to understand a bit more about the main principles of Resilient Communities.
For more information, contact clovenfordscommunitycouncil@gmail.com.
Last updated: 6 September 2026
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