[4] The town is a major commercial centre for the Borders region with extensive history in the textile industry.

[6] This is a reference to an incident in 1337 when a raiding party of English soldiers were picking wild plums close to the town and were caught by Scots who came across them by chance and slaughtered them all.

In 1599, Galashiels received its Burgh Charter, an event celebrated every summer since the 1930s, by the "Braw Lads’ Gathering", with riders on horseback parading through the town.

[9] The textile trade caused Galashiels' population to increase dramatically from 800 residents at the start of the nineteenth century to 19,553 by 1890.

Despite the town's relatively low population, the early 2000s saw many new developments, including Asda, Boots pharmacy, Halfords, Marks & Spencer, Matalan, McDonald's, Next, Subway fast-food outlet and Tesco Extra.

The burghs and counties were abolished as administrative areas and replaced with a two-tier system of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts.

[17] Further local government reform in 1996 abolished the regions and districts, since when Galashiels has been administered by Scottish Borders Council.

[18] Robert Burns wrote two poems about Galashiels, "Sae Fair Her Hair" and "Braw Lads".

The 1985 Marillion hit single "Kayleigh" was partially inspired by events that took place in Galashiels as the band's lead singer, Fish, spent some time in the town in his earlier years.

In 2012, the Scottish Borders Council undertook work to revamp the Market Square with lyrics of the song inscribed into the paving slabs.

The new purpose-built gallery, visitor centre, café and workshop space has been created and, on the opening day, saw the 160th and final tapestry panel revealed by chief stitcher Dorie Wilkie, accompanied by McCall Smith himself.

The football club's main stand was built in 1963 to designs by Peter Womersley, based in nearby Gattonside.

[27][28] In 1969, the historic Waverley Line, which connected the Scottish Borders to the national rail network, was closed as part of a wider series of cuts to British Railways.

Following years of campaigning, in 2006, the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act was passed by the Scottish Parliament, which authorised a partial restoration of the service.

However, due to its elevated position and distance from the sea, it has colder winters and slightly warmer summers than coastal places such as Edinburgh, Dunbar and Eyemouth.