Borders Bletherings
By: Borders Bletherings
Language: en
Categories: History
Everyone knows the history of Scotland: the romance of the highlands with Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Northern Isles with their Pictish and Viking heritage, Dundee with Jute and Jam, Glasgow and its shipyards and Edinburgh and the New Town Enlightenment. But what of the Borders? A published historian and archivist, Mary, and her friend, Doug, explore the less well-trodden paths of Scottish history and folklore as they shine a light on some of the best kept secrets of times past and present in the Scottish Borders. Join them as they chat and natter about the chequered history of the Borders...
Episodes
Mary Somerville
Dec 15, 2025Mary and Doug blether about the amazing life of Mary Somerville the scientist, mathematician, polymath and the Rose of Jedburgh.
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Duration: 00:39:02Gladstone
Dec 02, 2025Doug and Mary discuss the first modern political campaign and why it took place in Stow.
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Duration: 00:43:40Manderston
Nov 01, 2025Mary and Doug blether about the case of Lady Manderston of Duns - a witch? or a wicked wife?
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Duration: 00:40:14Jim Clark
Oct 26, 2025Mary and Doug blether about Jim Clark the racing driver champion from Duns.
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Duration: 00:34:13Nicknames
Oct 13, 2025Join Mary and Doug as they blether about some of the nicknames that Border towns have
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Duration: 00:36:04Duns Scotus
Sep 06, 2025Johannes Duns - the subtle doctor. Join Mary and Doug as they discuss the genius of Johannes Duns Scotus the Fransiscan Friar from Berwickshire.
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Duration: 00:39:36Oliver cromwell
Aug 17, 2025Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of Scotland. Benevolent ruler or tyrannical despot.
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Duration: 00:38:08St Ronan
Jul 20, 2025Join Mary and Doug as they discover what St Ronan was up to when he cleiked the Devil in Innerleithen.
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Duration: 00:32:31The Scottish folk scene
Jun 24, 2025Join Mary and Doug along with Tom Bonnar the folk singer as they blether about the revival of the Scottish folk scene.
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Duration: 00:45:10Coulter's Candy
Jun 01, 2025Ally bally bee - Mary and Doug blether about Coulter's Candy assisted by folk singer Tom Bonnar.
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Duration: 00:34:17Vikings part 2
May 12, 2025Doug and Mary go on another journey following the Vikings as they travelled from Norway to the Black Sea.
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Duration: 00:40:10Vikings part 1
Apr 21, 2025The men from the North - a blether about the Vikings and their effect on the Scottish Borders.
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Duration: 00:41:20St Suthbert
Mar 28, 2025Join Mary and Doug as they discover the life of the Celtic saint. of old Melrose.
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Duration: 00:33:11Border Fields
Mar 04, 2025Mary and Doug blether about the names of fields of the Scottish Borders.
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Duration: 00:34:48Two Charlies
Feb 17, 2025class='odd'Mary and Doug finish their Stewart odyssey with Charles I and Bonnie Prince Charlie
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Duration: 01:05:22Great Storm of 1953
Feb 08, 2025Mary and Doug blether about the Great Storm of 1953 and its devastating effects on the Borders.
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Duration: 00:42:12Mary and James
Jan 19, 2025Mary and Doug take another look at the Stewarts blethering about Mary, Queen of Scots and her son James.
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Duration: 00:47:14Bite-sized
Jan 05, 2025A borders Bletherings bitesized ‘Beware the redcaps, shellycoats and shellybacks.'
Mary and Doub blether about some mythical creatures of the Borders
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Duration: 00:21:30Winter 1947
Dec 15, 2024Mary and Doug blether about the weather and what it meant for the people of the Borders in 1947.
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Duration: 00:34:06James I & IV
Dec 01, 2024James I and IV, too stupid to rule or just unlucky? Mary and Doug delve into the Stewart Dynasty with a discussion about the lives of James I and James IV.
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Duration: 00:35:31The Trail of Blood
Nov 10, 2024Mary and Doug blether with author Andy Nairn about his Border based murder mystery set just after the battle of Flodden.
Murder, politics, intrigue and lots of historical goodies a real slice of the shadowy Border history.
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Duration: 00:45:37The Stewarts
Oct 27, 2024Mary and Doug investigate the Stewart Dynasty - were they fit to rule?
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Duration: 00:39:32What If - part 2
Oct 13, 2024Join Mary and Doug as they continue to wonder what if?
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Duration: 00:54:32What If - part 1
Sep 29, 2024What if? Mary and Doug discuss what would have happened if history had changed slightly and how would that have affected the Borders.
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Duration: 00:45:30World War 2 and the Home Front - part 3
Sep 15, 2024Mary and Doug are still blethering about the second world war.
How did war-time propaganda go down in the Borders?
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Duration: 00:48:00World War 2 and the Home Front - part 2
Sep 05, 2024Join Mary and Doug as they explore the Borders during the Second World War - Dad's Army, illegal pigs and what did Land Jill's have to do?
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Duration: 00:45:05World War 2 and the Home Front - part 1
Aug 18, 2024Join Mary and Doug as they start to explore the Borders during the Second World War.
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Duration: 00:47:09Bite-sized
Jul 07, 2024A bite sized podcast where Mary and Doug discuss packing their buckets and spades and heading off on their holidays.
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Duration: 00:14:22The Lowlands of Holland
Jun 25, 2024Mary and Doug discuss the Anglo-Dutch wars of the 17th century, the Naval press-gangs and how they impacted the Scottish Borders.
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Duration: 00:45:18James Hogg
Jun 09, 2024Join Doug and Mary as they explore the life of the autodidact James Hogg: genius, poet, ballad gatherer, song creator and writer of articles and novels.
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Duration: 00:37:50The Bondagers
May 26, 2024The Bondagers - Mary and Doug explore the world of the bondagers: female rural workers in the Borders.
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Duration: 00:38:53The Battle of Philiphaugh
May 12, 2024Join Mary and Doug as they discuss the battle of Philiphaugh, its causes and its aftermath.
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Duration: 00:49:04The Burgundians
Apr 28, 2024Listen in as Mary and Doug discuss Burgundy wine, Borders wool and the Order of the Golden Fleece.
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Duration: 00:41:41Burke and Hare
Apr 15, 2024Join Mary and Doug as they talk about all things macabre, graverobbing and the surgeons of Edinburgh University.
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Duration: 00:47:25Gypsies' Field of Blood
Mar 31, 2024Join Mary and Doug as they discuss a gypsy battle, murder most foul and even a missing body in the late 17th century.
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Duration: 00:39:17John Buchan
Mar 17, 2024John Buchan - Novelist, historian, journalist, intelligence officer, politician and Borderer.
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Duration: 00:39:53The Rough Wooing
Mar 03, 2024Mary and Doug discuss the reality of the rough wooing and how the Borders bore the brunt of a marriage proposal gone wrong.
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Duration: 00:50:12The Great War part 2
Feb 18, 2024What were the consequences of the aftermath of the Great War in the Scottish Borders?
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Duration: 00:46:24The Great War part 1
Feb 05, 2024How the Great War affected the Scottish Borders.
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Duration: 00:38:51Luddites
Feb 05, 2024Doug and Mary discuss the artisan croppers who fought for their way of life.
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Duration: 00:45:58Where to Santa?
Dec 31, 2023Join Mary and Doug as they look for Santa whoever and wherever he may be.
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Duration: 00:46:12Murder in Stow revisited
Dec 17, 2023Doug and Mary revisit the case of the Murder in Stow with new evidence of the aftermath.
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Duration: 00:36:12The Dowie Dens 'o Yarrow
Nov 26, 2023Join Mary, Doug and Tom as they discuss the Borders Ballad 'the Dowie Dens 'o Yarrow'
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Duration: 00:29:56Travels with a Donkey
Nov 17, 2023Mary and Doug blether about Guy Touzeau and his travels, with his donkey Rosie, through the Scottish Borders.
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Duration: 00:36:03Border Tales
Oct 29, 2023Join Mary and Doug as they tell some Border tales.
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Duration: 00:36:42Black Friday
Oct 15, 2023Mary and Doug discuss the tragedy of the Eyemouth fishing disaster of 1881.
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Duration: 00:38:48Lady Florence Dixie
Oct 01, 2023Doug tells Mary all about Florence Dixie the great pioneer of women's football.
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Duration: 00:35:21Arthur and Merlin part 2
Sep 20, 2023Doug and Mary Merlin and Lailoken- were they one and the same?
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Duration: 00:33:51Arthur and Merlin part 1
Sep 03, 2023Doug and Mary discuss the Arthurian legend. Who were Arthur and Merlin and what were their Scottish Borders connections?
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Duration: 00:37:47Summer Wanderings
Aug 20, 2023Mary and Doug blether about holidays, past and present.
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Duration: 00:49:37Beechings
Jul 23, 2023Mary and Doug discuss the closure of the railway line and the protests that arose.
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Duration: 00:40:55Q&A
Jul 09, 2023Join Doug and Mary as they try to answer listeners questions about Borders Bletherings.
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Duration: 00:39:12Why myths and legends
Jun 25, 2023Why do Doug and Mary blether about Myths and Legends when they say Borders Bletherings is a history podcast?
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Duration: 00:40:28History part 2
Jun 11, 2023What is history? What is the role of politics in history?
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Duration: 00:35:15History part 1
May 28, 2023What is history? What is it for?
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Duration: 00:36:43Stones and stone circles part 2
May 14, 2023Join Mary as she tells Doug the folk tales that have entranced generations.
Hares, faeries and boiling cauldrons!
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Duration: 00:37:37Stones and stone circles part 1
Apr 30, 2023Join Doug and Mary as they discuss the standing stones and stones circle in the Borders.
When were they built, why were they built and what were they for?
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Duration: 00:33:54Abbeys part 2
Apr 16, 2023The monastic life in an abbey and how that changed over the years
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Duration: 00:37:28Abbeys part 1
Apr 02, 2023Abbeys part 1 - The Border abbeys: how and why they were built
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Duration: 00:35:36Maharajah
Mar 19, 2023Maharajah - the elephant who walked to Manchester
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Duration: 00:32:32Murder in Stow - The denouement
Mar 05, 2023Murder in Stow, episode five - The denouement
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Duration: 01:22:29Murder in Stow - A different story
Feb 19, 2023Murder in Stow, episode four - A different story
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Duration: 00:46:22Murder in Stow - Victoriana
Feb 05, 2023Murder in Stow, episode three - Victoriana
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Duration: 00:45:42Murder in Stow - The unanswered questions
Jan 22, 2023Murder in Stow, episode two - The unanswered questions
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Duration: 01:07:45Murder in Stow - 1871
Jan 08, 2023Murder in Stow, episode one - 1871
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Duration: 00:32:30Frederick Douglass
Dec 22, 2022Frederick Douglass - send back the money! The great campaigner in the Scottish Borders.
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Duration: 00:35:29Goblin Ha'
Dec 04, 2022Sir Hugo de Gyffard and the goblins of Goblin Ha'
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Duration: 00:32:56Hob Grieve
Nov 20, 2022The trials of accused witch Robert (Hob) Grieve in the 17th century. Special thanks to Lauder Amateur Dramatics.
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Duration: 00:44:14Lowland Clearances
Nov 07, 2022The Lowland Clearances: the so-called agricultural improvement that changed the traditional system of farming in the Borders and forced thousands from the land.
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Duration: 00:34:10Bite-sized return
Oct 30, 2022A bite-sized blether after the holidays.
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Duration: 00:10:16Bite-sized
Jun 26, 2022A bite-sized blether before the holidays.
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Duration: 00:07:21Mungo Park
Jun 12, 2022Mungo Park - Influential African explorer?
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Duration: 00:39:50Gododdin
May 29, 2022The Goddodin - a dive into the deep history of the Borders and their ancient people.
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Duration: 00:36:56Darien (part 2)
May 15, 2022The Darien Venture: how the Scots set out to create an overland route to connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
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Duration: 00:34:25Darien (part 1)
May 01, 2022The Darien Venture: how the Scots set out to create an overland route to connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
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Duration: 00:33:44Crusades
Apr 17, 2022Christian knights, infidels, battles, Constantinople and an elephant - the story of the Crusades.
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Duration: 00:38:27Pilgrimage
Apr 04, 2022Pilgrimage in the Borders - listen as Mary and Doug wander the medieval pilgrim routes and discover the realities of pilgrimage.
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Duration: 00:41:05Two Tams
Mar 20, 2022The stories of Thomas the Rhymer and Tam Lin, come with Mary and Doug in this instalment as they explore the shadowy and definitely magical world of the Scottish Borders.
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Duration: 00:27:33Black Death
Mar 06, 2022The Great Pestilence in the Borders, how Bubonic Plague shaped social and economic life in the 14th century.
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Duration: 00:48:37How Scottish?
Feb 20, 2022How Scottish is the Scottish Borders Region? In this podcast, Mary and Doug debate this question and explore what it really means to be Scottish.
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Duration: 00:45:15Robert Burns
Feb 06, 2022The braw lads o' Galla Water - Robert Burns' great visit to the Borders
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Duration: 00:39:07Gypsy (part 2)
Jan 23, 2022Doug and Mary continue the story of Scotland's Gypsy Kings and Queens in part 2.
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Duration: 00:21:08Gypsy (part 1)
Jan 09, 2022The rich story of Scotland's Gypsy Kings and Queens.
(The word 'Gypsy' is used here in its historical sense and no disrespect is intended in its use)
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Duration: 00:31:41Midwinter Magic
Dec 26, 2021As the light fades outside, gather round for some tales of Midwinter Magic.
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Duration: 00:34:42Walter Scott
Dec 12, 2021Walter Scott, lawyer, poet, novelist and the inventor of Scottish History?
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Duration: 00:34:26Mills
Nov 28, 2021From sheep on the hills to looms in the Mills, how the Borders clothed the world.
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Duration: 00:31:07Navvy Riots
Nov 14, 20211848 saw the coming of the railway in the Scottish Borders. This opened up the region and helped the mills to flourish. The railway company shareholders made fortunes while the Irish Navvies faced prejudice with every mile of track they laid. This is their story.
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Duration: 00:28:56Halloween
Oct 31, 2021All about Halloween and 'Samhain' in Scotland, with special guest Rhiannon.
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Duration: 00:32:35Witches
Oct 17, 2021Tales of witches and witchcraft in the Scottish Borders.
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Duration: 00:28:20Common Ridings
Oct 03, 2021Doug and Mary discuss the Common Riding festivals of the Scottish Borders and their origins.
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Duration: 00:27:11Taster
Sep 29, 2021In this taster episode, get introduced to your hosts and with what's to come.
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Duration: 00:03:47