World-class exhibitions in the Lands of the Border Reiver

Welcome to the Borderlands Museum webpage.

The Borderlands Museum hosts a unique collection of privately owned artefacts, and is a shrine to the Borderlands and its people. Arrangements can be made to visit the collection, which represents a frontier, a landscape and its people from the Iron Age through to the age of the Border Reivers and beyond...

An audio visual guide is now available, an allowance of an hour and a half is advised for a visit.

For a bespoke experience curator-led visits are also available to book by appointment.

Booking in advance is essential.

Entrance is £25 per person, with all contributions going to the running and further development of the Museum.

Please get in touch with any special requests.

The Museum receives no funding or official support. The generosity of friends and patrons have made this venture possible by allowing the custodianship of artefacts, many highly important, which have never been on display publicly before.

2024 sees a focus on Mary Queen of Scots.

With the short term loan of Mary's prayer chair and related artefacts secured, this is the first time this treasure has been on public display – and the first time it has returned to Scotland in over 400 years.

Tour times are available as below, Monday to Saturday (closed Sunday)

10am – 11am

11.30am – 12.30am

1.30pm – 2.30pm

3pm – 4pm

4.30pm – 5.30pm

Terms of entry are subject to the following, as the collection is subject to loan agreements.

Proof of identity is required, a passport or driving licence, prior to entry. This can be provided individually, or by a group leader, ideally in advance, or at point of entry.

24-hour recorded CCTV is in operation, including the recording of vehicle registration.

No photography is permitted of artefacts in the Museum.

All Information will be treated confidentially by us, with your rights protected under the Data Protection Act.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Borderlands Museum.

History of the Museum

From 1986 to 1998 Teviothead was home to The Museum of Border Arms and Armour, the iconic museum of the 16th century Border Reiver.

From 1998 to 2020 exhibitions of historic artefacts and folk-art have been displayed yearly, alongside our goldsmithing, changing annually.

Following refurbishment of the adjoining property, from 2020 to 2023, the new Borderlands Museum has been running by appointment for guided tours.

Burgonet and almain collar c.1560

The "Douglas" sword
Early 14th century

Mary Queen of Scots personal devotional chair