Newtown St Boswells
| Newton St. Boswells | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Baile Ùr Chille Bhoisil | |
  Newton St. Boswells Newton St. Boswells shown within the Scottish Borders | |
| Population | 1,200 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | NT5756 |
| Council area | Scottish Borders |
| Lieutenancy area | Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MELROSE |
| Postcode district | TD6 |
| Dialling code | 01835 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk |
| Scottish Parliament | Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire |
Newtown St. Boswells (Scottish Gaelic: Baile Ùr Chille Bhoisil) is a village in the historic county of Roxburghshire which serves as the administrative centre of the Scottish Borders council area. Lying on the Bowden Burn, Newtown St Boswells is situated between the larger settlements of St Boswells to the south-east and Melrose to the north-west.
History
Newtown St. Boswells is an old settlement, well-established by the 16th century. The town has been known at various times as Newtoune, Newtown of Eildon, Neuton and Newtown of Dryburgh. It lies split between the civil parishes of Melrose and St Boswells.
Historically, Newtown St Boswells was a centre for milling grain, with watermills on its burns). It became a regional centre of communication and an exporter of livestock after the opening of its railway station. This importance has declined since the closure of the station in 1969.
From 1975 to 1996, the town served as the administrative centre for the Roxburgh District of the Borders region. Since the reform of local government in Scotland, it has been the centre of the Scottish Borders council area and the Headquarters of the local authority is within the village.[1]
Development proposals
A major housing development, which could double the population of the village, has been generally agreed. This will add 900 homes to the village.[2] The scheduled re-opening of the Waverley railway line, which will connect the nearby village of Tweedbank with Edinburgh, may provide opportunities for the village to become a commuter settlement.
Proposals to expand and move the town's livestock auction facilities to the other side of the A68 road were approved in 2007, freeing up space for residential building.[3]