Early Cable TV in Earlston

Does anyone have memories of  the early cable (relay) TV in Earlston?

In the late 1950’s and early 60’s, television was in its infancy, at least for Earlston. Nestling in the valleys of the Leader and Turfford rivers, reception was very poor and with limited channels.

A local entrepreneur called Clinkscale, came up with a plan to solve Earlston’s TV viewing publics’ woes.

He erected a domestic TV aerial on the summit of the Black Hill. Then he led a buried co-axial aerial cable down to the village and then to the houses of all his subscribers.

Everyone called it “the relay” but it was in effect very early cable television.

It had its problems of course. Ploughing time usually saw the cable cut in two and we had to wait for repairs.

Clinkscale had a shop where the Chinese Take-Away is now. In addition to paying your subscription, you could buy there TV’s, records and musical instruments.

In 1963 the BBC started transmitting via the Ashkirk transmitter tower near Selkirk and so “the relay” became redundant. 


Eventually the Clinkscale shop in Earlston  closed and moved to Melrose into the shop in the square, now occupied by  Abbey Fine Wines.  By this time, it sold exclusively musical instruments.  The business now is an Internet one only, with no retail premises, but still run by a family member – Steve Clinkscale.

The only reminder of the original cable TV in Earlston is the presence of the steel posts on the Black Hill.

 The Black Hill, Earlston

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With thanks to Jeff Price of the Auld Earlston Group , 

for researching and writing this article. 

We welcome more contributions from our readers.  

Please e-mail auldearlston@aol.com