royal burgh (town), Scottish Borders council area, historic county of Selkirkshire, Scotland, lying on a hillside overlooking the river known as Ettrick Water. A Benedictine abbey founded in the early 12th century was later removed to Kelso. Selkirk's 12th-century castle was captured by the English under Edward I (reigned 1272–1307). It was retaken by the Scottish national leader William Wallace but lost again to the English for a time in 1333. Today Selkirk is a centre for the manufacture of tweeds and woolens and for the accommodation of tourists drawn by its scenic setting. Pop. (2001) 5,742.