Bowden is a village in the Roxburghshire area of the Scottish Borders, situated 3 miles (5 kilometres) south of Melrose, 2 miles (3 kilometres) west of Newtown St Boswells and tucked in the shadow of the Eildon Hills, Scotland.

The tower was rebuilt and extended by Isabel Ker of Cessford and renamed Castle Holydean.

The present Bowden Kirk was greatly enlarged in the 17th century, but parts of an older church are still evident.

Many artifacts from the Iron-Age have been found in and around Bowden, and there were even traces of an old military road from the Romans in Scotland period.

The Romans built a fort at nearby Newstead and named it Trimontium, meaning three hills.

After local government restructuring in the early 1970s, Bowden became part of the newly formed Scottish Borders Council.

This enabled the main hall to be extended by removing the stage and a stepped gallery to be converted into the existing Scott Room.

Further monies were used to fund extra cloakrooms and to install a hot water system in the village Hall.

There are many listed buildings, of various categories, in around the village of Bowden, including the kirk, schoolhouse, market cross and the well.