Hawick

Scotland

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Appearance

City Device

Climate

Economy

Companies such as Hawick Cashmere, Hawick Knitwear, Johnstons of Elgin, Lyle & Scott, Peter Scott, Pringle of Scotland, and Scott and Charters, all have had and in many cases still have manufacturing plants in Hawick, producing some of the most luxurious cashmere and merino wool knitwear in the world today. The first knitting machine was brought to Hawick in 1771 by John Hardie, building on an existing carpet manufacturing trade. Originally based on linen, this quickly moved to wool and factories multiplied, driving the growth of the town. Engineering firm Turnbull and Scott previously had their headquarters in an Elizabethan-style listed building on Commercial Road before moving to Burnfoot.

Geography

Location: Hawick is a town in the Scottish Borders council area and historic county of Roxburghshire in the east Southern Uplands of Scotland. It is ten miles, or sixteen kilometers south-west of Jedburgh and 8.9 miles (14.3 km) south-southeast of Selkirk. It is one of the farthest towns from the sea in Scotland, in the heart of Teviotdale, and the biggest town in the former county of Roxburghshire. Hawick's architecture is distinctive in that it has many sandstone buildings with slate roofs. The town is at the confluence of the Slitrig Water with the River Teviot. Hawick is known for its yearly Common Riding, for its rugby team Hawick Rugby Football Club and for its knitwear industry.

History

Population

-- Town (14,801) - 2001 census

Arenas

Attractions

Bars and Clubs

Cemeteries

City Government

Crime

Citizens of the City

Current Events

Fortifications

Galleries

Holy Ground

Hospitals

Hotels & Hostels

-- The Seven Kingdoms Inn -- A faux medieval inn -- primarily a tourist attraction and gathering place for Scottish folk performers interested in medieval and renaissance recreation.

Landmarks

Maps

Market Places

Monasteries

Monuments

The west end of the town contains "the Mote", the remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey. In the centre of the High Street is the Scots baronial style Town Hall, built in 1886, and the east end has an equestrian statue, known as "the Horse", erected in 1914. Drumlanrig's Tower, now a museum, dates largely from the mid-16th century.

Museums

-- Drumlanrig's Tower

Neighborhoods

Parks

Private Residences

-- The Mill Port

Restaurants

Ruins

Schools

Shops

Theaters

Transportation

Hawick lies in the center of the valley of the Teviot. The A7 Edinburgh to Carlisle road passes through the town, with main roads also leading to Berwick upon Tweed (the A698) and Newcastle upon Tyne (the A6088), which joins the A68 at the Carter Bar, 16 miles (26 km) south-east of Hawick.

Despite a great deal of local opposition the town lost its rail service in 1969, when as part of the controversial Beeching Axe the 'Waverley Line' from Carlisle to Edinburgh via Hawick was closed. It is now said to be the farthest large town from a railway station in the United Kingdom. Regular buses serve the railway station at Carlisle, 42 miles (68 km) away. Part of the former Waverley line is currently being rebuilt from Edinburgh to Tweedbank and is due to open in the summer of 2015. Campaigners are lobbying for the line to be extended to Hawick and then on to Carlisle.

The nearest major airports are at Edinburgh, 57 miles (92 km) away, and Newcastle, 55 miles (89 km) away.