Where Time Stands Still

Newstead village marks history in stone with a festival celebrating the area's stonemasons and the legacy of local craftsmanship

- RACHEL McCONACHIE

THIS autumn, the Borders village of Newstead celebrated its history in stone with the launch of the first Newstead Sundials Festival.

Held in September, the festival brought together heritage, community and creativity, with the unveiling of the brand-new Stonemasons Trail as its centrepiece.

Sitting at the foot of the Eildon Hills on the banks of the River Tweed, Newstead is one of the oldest continuously inhabited villages in Scotland. Over the centuries it has witnessed Roman occupation, medieval monastic splendour and the life of a working Borders community.

The festival shines a spotlight on these stories, celebrating the stonemasons whose artistry left a lasting legacy on both the village and region.

Newstead's reputation as a centre of stone carving stretches back generations. It was home to one of Scotland's earliest masonic lodges, and many of its masons worked on the construction of Melrose Abbey. Their craftsmanship remains visible in the abbey's intricate carvings.

Closer to home, these artisans left their signature in the form of sundials. Scattered across the village, the dials were both practical and symbolic: tools for marking the passage of time and enduring demonstrations of stonemasons' skill. By incorporating sundials into homes, the masons made their craft part of the village fabric.