IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Bank Close, GALASHIELS, TD1 1DS

Situated in Bank Close, this popular ironmongery store specialises in animal feed supplies.

Two pigeons are tucking into bird food on display outside the store at Bank Close. Three more pigeons joined in before the owner covered up the bird food with some wire mesh. For a wider view of Kennedy’s Country Store, see Image

These opportunistic pigeons are helping themselves to bird seed and peanuts on display outside Kennedy’s Country Store in Bank Close, Galashiels. For a full view of the display unit, see Image] and for a wider view of the store, see Image

This impressive bird of prey was in a small collection of raptors on display at Bank Court, Galashiels. The handler moved the bird so that I could isolate the head against the dark interior of an open store door using a telephoto lens. The owl has striking orange eyes and ear tufts which are really just feathers that the bird can control, perhaps to make it appear more menacing or help with camouflage. For a wider view of the display, see Image

This small collection of raptors at Bank Court proved to be popular with youngsters and the handler allowed people to hold a bird on a gloved hand. The birds on display were Eagle Owls, a Harris Hawk and a Gyrfalcon.

These piercing orange eyes belong to Holly the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo). This impressive bird of prey was in a small collection of raptors on display at Bank Court, Galashiels. For a wider view of the display, see Image

Connecting Bank Street and Overhaugh Street.

On the outside of the Royal Bank of Scotland building and in honour of Sir Walter Scott who was entertained in a building on this site by the Galashiels Manufacturers Corporation, after receiving his Baronetcy from George IV in 1821.

This plaque, relating to Sir Walter Scott, is on the Bank Close frontage of the bank. The text reads:- "In a building on this site Sir Walter Scott, Bt. was entertained by the Galashiels Manufacturers Corporation after receiving his Baronetcy at the hands of his Sovereign George IV. 1821 Robert Walker, Deacon." The Manufacturers Corporation was established in 1777 and was involved in the textile industry and a few years later established a cloth hall and warehouse in the town. Maybe the building they entertained Sir Walter in was owned by them or was a hotel or similar. But in 1825 a bank was built on this site, later replaced by the present building. Image Image

This two and a half storey high mural on a gable wall at the junction of Bank Street and Bank Close was commissioned by the Galashiels Enterprise Trust. Planning approval has been granted for one year.