WELCOME to the website for Peebles Gutterbluids Society, which is based at Peebles, in Scotland.  Peebles is the county town for Peeblesshire, (also known as Tweeddale), and is located some 25 miles south of Edinburgh. 

The word 'gutterblood' (Scot.) means 'a low born person', while the term 'gutterbluid', regarded by some as unique to Peebles, is used to describe one who was born in Peebles, often from a family whose forebears were in Peebles for several generations.

According to J. L. Brown and I. C. Lawson in their book, 'History of Peebles 1850 ~ 1990', it had been said that the nineteenth century was the century of the 'Gentlemen's Club' and certainly this could be true of Peebles.  "In addition to the Gutterbluid Club formed in 1823, the following were active during the period: the Incomers Club, the Peeblesshire Society, the Edinburgh Peeblean Club and so on."  The Gutterbluid Club survived until the outbreak of the First World War.  It was resurrected in 1974 as the Peebles Gutterbluids Society. 

The objects of the Society are to maintain and improve amenities within and around the Royal Burgh of Peebles by active participation and to undertake similar activities deemed appropriate by the Committee.

Peebles Gutterbluids Society was formed in 1974 by five like-minded individuals who considered that there was a need for a local action group to improve local amenities in and around the Royal Burgh of Peebles by carrying out the work themselves.  During the years that the group has been in existence, thousands of voluntary hours by members and others giving assistance have been spent on a diverse range of projects, all aimed at maintaining or improving local amenities.  This labour of love for their town and fellow townspeople has been carried out on an entirely voluntary basis right from the start of the Society’s activities and still remains so today, thirty-three years on.  Membership has fluctuated, achieving a peak of around 22 members, but now reduced to nine, although other former members and volunteers turn out to assist with projects.

Members undertake practical work in support of Peebles March Riding and Beltane Queen Festival.  They annually set up a Nativity Scene outside Peebles Old Parish Church and have done so for some 23 years or more.  The life-size figures were constructed and painted by members.  The Society began the town’s Christmas Lights display, constructing, maintaining and expanding it over 15 years, before various restrictions, costs and manpower caused the project to be discontinued, but handed over to another organisation to pursue.  Other practical projects over the years have included repair and maintenance of pathways, public benches, litter collection, provision and maintenance of two very detailed, wall-mounted metal sculptures, repair and regular maintenance of nine unique milestones, manufactured locally in 1929 and sited on the main Peebles-Edinburgh A703 road between Peebles and the county boundary at Leadburn.  Members have undertaken the planting of daffodil and snowdrop bulbs in various locations including the Common Good area of Venlaw, and more recently over 5000 daffodil bulbs were planted on a stretch of roadside verge on the Edinburgh road entrance to Peebles.  The daffodil area at Venlaw is also maintained to ensure that the annual display is enhanced by its setting.