Lockhart Place was built in 1879 by the Hawick Working Mens’ Building & Investment Company, who also erected most of the terraced housing at the Wellogate. It is named after William Elliot-Lockhart II (1833-1907) of Borthwickbrae, who was Chamberlain to the Duke of Buccleuch at Branxholme between 1876 and 1892. Number 9 is a […]
The Black Quarries lie behind the Target Hills and can be reached by foot from the Braid Road. By 1926, there were a remarkable 29 quarries in and around Hawick, employing 33 men at their peak. The Black Quarries were used to gather slate. Though over 90% of Europe’s natural roofing slate originates from Spain, most […]
‘Mayfield’ refers to the hawthorn (or May) trees that once grew on the sloping hillside. This area of Hawick was in use as allotments as far back as the mid-1700s. During the 18th century, a large wall was built alongside the Selkirk road, replacing a long beech hedge known as Lockieshedge (named after early resident, John Lockie, who […]
The Anvil in Staney Brae commemorates William Telfer the blacksmith, whose business was based adjacent in Crown Lane. It has since passed through five generations of the Telfer family. The firm moved to Mansfield in 1991 and continues to this day.
Tannage Close is named after the tanning pools once located at the foot of the vennel. Situated between 61 and 63 High Street, it was first developed around 1800 by John and Walter Wilson, who operated the tannage business. A sketch of the close, commissioned in 1812 for Walter Scott’s ‘Border Antiquities’, is among the […]
Carnarvon Street was built in 1879 as two rows of cottages and a two-storey house. For three years until 1882, it was known as Maxwell Street. It is named after Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, the Earl of Carnarvon, who served as Colonial Secretary of Canada, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and wrote a number of prominent […]
12 High Street is an elegant, palazzo-style building designed by prominent Edinburgh architect John Dick Peddie (1824-91). It was built for the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1857, as part of a programme to establish a nationwide branch network between 1854 and 1857. Peddie was responsible for the design of almost every new branch during this […]
Northcote Street is named after Sir Stafford Northcote (1818-1887), a prominent Conservative Statesman. During his lengthy political career, he served as Secretary to the Treasury, President of the Board of Trade, Secretary of State for India, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, and Leader of the House of Commons. The street was built in 1884, […]
Heronhill Close is one of Hawick’s newest housing developments, on the site of Heronhill House. JT Rochead was commissioned by George Wilson to build this mansion to an Italianate design. During and after WWII it was used as a private girls school (which had moved from its previous base at St. Helen’s in Bridge of […]
Hardie’s Hill is named after a local family, who farmed here for generations. The hollow south-west of the summit is said to be where townspeople would hide when the English attacked Hawick during the 16th century. In March 1860, the Hawick Advertiser reported that navvies were injured by rock blasted from the side of […]
Contrary to popular belief, Waverley Terrace is not named after the nearby railway line, but instead directly after Sir Walter Scott’s novel. This street was built as the first phase of housing funded by the Hawick Working Men’s Building & Investment Co. Ltd. in 1866, and was originally called Queensberry Place. This name came from one of […]
Twirlees Road (1908) and Twirlees Terrace (1915) are named after a turnstile that stood near the Braid Road, at the boundary where the steps are now. It was made from two cross sections of wood, fixed across a large post, which could be twirled or ‘twirleed’ to gain access to the Wellogate. This was erected to […]
The remains of Sooden Kirk (Southdean Church). This 11th-century church lies in the upper Jed Water valley and was one of the earliest parishes established by King David I. It was where a 30,000-strong Scottish army gathered to strategise their victory over the English at the Battle of Otterburn in 1338. The church closed its […]
An early 20th century view of the interior of Hobkirk church, near Hawick. A christian site for over 900 years, the present Gothic-style church with its prominent tower was designed by David Rhind and built in 1863. Stones from the earlier churches are incorporated in its font walls. The bell is inscribed ‘I was made […]
In 1899, Gaylor and local manufacturer James Boyd Sime founded the Border Kinematograph Company. They were early pioneers of cinematography in Scotland, recording the earliest known moving images of Hawick Common Riding and other Border events. The company was wound up in 1906 due to lack of financing, although at one point they considered buying […]
It is speculated that Galalaw was named after gallows that once stood on the hill. Another suggestion is that the name derives from the Old Norse ‘Gol’ meaning to chant away and the Scots ‘Law’ meaning a conical shaped hill. The area around here has been farmed since at least the 15th century, the lands […]