Peebles, United Kingdom

The oldest building in Peebles is the tower of St Andrew's Church. The church was founded in 1195 by Jocelin of Glasgow. In 1543 it became a collegiate church. However, the church was largely destroyed (along with many other Borders abbeys and priories) by the soldiers of Henry VIII during the Rough Wooing in 1548. The stones of the ruins were pilfered for many other local buildings leaving only the tower standing amongst the gravestones of the churchyard. Another ancient church in the town is the Cross Kirk, founded in 1261. The ruins have been traditionally linked with relics of St Nicholas. Although now mainly ruins, the Cross Kirk plays a prominent part in the local festival.

There may have been a bridge over the River Tweed since the foundation of the town. The earliest records mention a stone bridge built by master mason John of Peebles between 1465 and 1470. In 1799 it was extended on the south side, with local mason John Hislop being killed by the collapse of an arch during construction. It was widened on both sides in 1834 by J & T Smith of Darnick. The current bridge was built between 1897 and 1900 by engineers McTaggart, Cowan and Barker, with the design incorporating street lighting.

The annual local festival in Peebles is called the Beltane, and involves (as with many Borders festivals) a Common Riding. The Beltane, proclaimed at the cross, culminates with the crowning of the Beltane Queen (a girl chosen from one of three local primary schools) along with her court, including the likes of the First and Second Courtiers, Sword Bearer and Standard Bearer; on the steps in front of the parish church. The adult principal of the festival is the Cornet, a local young man chosen by the organizing committee on a basis of being considered worthy of representing the town, who then carries the town standard for a year.

To the west of the town is Neidpath Castle, which can be reached on foot through Hay Lodge Park; the route has views of the castle. The castle is now closed to the public.

On the south side of the High Street are the old burgh offices. These incorporate the town's library, art gallery, and local museum. The building occupied by these is called the Chambers Institution, being deeded to the town by William Chambers, a member of the Chambers publishing family who originated in the town. Chambers' house can be found on the oldest street in Peebles – Biggiesknowe. Peebles tolbooth, the civic centre of the medieval burgh, is the only medieval tolbooth site in Scotland to have been excavated by archaeologists.

Peebles is no longer connected to the railway network. In years past, the Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway had lines that connected Peebles to Edinburgh and Galashiels, with a goods station and Peebles and Peebles West stations. A connection to Edinburgh is maintained by Borders Buses service X62.

Historically Peebles and the Scottish borders have been the location of many textile businesses. Still today, March Street Mills is the location of Robert Noble along with its sister company Replin Fabrics.

The arms of the Royal Burgh of Peebles feature three salmon on a red field. The heraldic blazon is: Gules, three salmons counter-naiant in pale proper. The motto is Contra Nando Incrementum, Latin for "There is growth by swimming against the stream", referring to the annual migration of salmon up the River Tweed in order to breed. The one salmon facing forwards and two facing backwards represent the fact that for every salmon that goes up the river, two come back to the sea.

The arms are very old, first appearing on the town's mercat cross, which was built sometime before 1320. Originally the colours were not standardised, the background variously appearing as blue, green or red. The last seems to have been most common, and it was red that was chosen when the arms were formally granted by Lord Lyon in 1894, following a petition from the town clerk, William Buchan, who had previously received a letter from A. C. Fox-Davies questioning the burgh's right to use the arms.

After the abolition of the old Scottish burghs in 1975, the arms became redundant. In 1988 they were regranted to the Royal Burgh of Peebles and District Community Council, who continue to use the arms today, with the addition of a community council's coronet. The traditional province of Ångermanland in Sweden also has a very similar coat of arms, but with a blue background.