Explore The Borders

Your gateway to the brilliant borderlands

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Right at the heart of things

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The oldest part of town is aptly home to the flagship Heart of Hawick development.

It comprises the Heritage Hub, repository of ancient documents and records from the Borders, and a superb visitor centre that incorporates a bistro cafe, tourist information desk, a cinema and theatre.

It is also a popular choice for travelling exhibitions, as is the square outside for concerts, street theatre and local gatherings.

Formerly Elliott’s textile mill, the cafe features a glass floor through which visitors can view the original water wheel that once powered the machinery.

In these environmentally conscious times the wheel has been the subject of a study to see if it could be brought back to life provide power for the building.

Beautifully restored, many of the original mill features have been designed into the new facilities – but one aspect of its industrial past was not planned for.

Several people have reported seeing and sensing something paranormal on the top floor of the old mill – a presence confirmed by a local psychic and backed up by research that found that a local girl had died in an industrial accident there in the 1800’s.

At the neighbouring Heritage Hub, delving into the past attracts enquiries and visitors from all over the world. The electronic highway is particularly hot these days as more and more people piece together their family tree.

Travelling back in time has become something of a global obsession in recent years.

We are referring, of course, to the tens of thousands of people who have become descendant detectives hot on the trail for clues to piece together a family tree.

It’s a journey made easier of late thanks to the internet which has flung open doors to vast stores of information. And the electronic highway is particularly hot these days at the Heritage Hub in Hawick, a centre that acts as the guardian for Borders’ archives on just about everything you would want to know about the region’s past.

It holds all census records from 1841 (the first for which records survive) to 1901 for the four Border counties and, going further back, old parish records of christenings, marriages and burials.

The building is part of the admirable Heart of Hawick site, an award winning development built with the help of Heritage Lottery and European funding, and, appropriately, based in the oldest part of the town.

The Hub’s archive paints a fascinating and historical picture of life as it was in the Borders. Records of businesses and merchants, legal records, maps, school records, poor laws and police records sit alongside more ancient collections, much of which is stored in temperature controlled chambers.

Conservative estimates say that for every Scot resident in Scotland there are five more living abroad, an indication of the mass emigration that took place over the past 200 years or so.

Many booked a one-way passage to the brave new world that was the USA; young men like John ‘Black Jack’ Elliot, the son of William and Barbara (nee Scott) Elliot. Among the possessions he packed and took with him was a photograph album containing images of his family and cherished memories of the Border country he would never see again.

Some time ago the album came home.

It was in the possession of John’s great grandson, Bob Harris, a retired English and drama teacher now living in Rochester, New York State who was at the first stage of researching his family’s history.

He was directed to the Heritage Hub, that, wouldn’t you just know it, now occupies the site where Aitken’s photographic studio once stood. “When I inherited the photographic album I wanted to know more about the family and my Scottish roots and the Hub was a terrific source of help,” said Bob.

Stobs POW Camp

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Due to its extraordinary level of preservation Stobs Camp, approximately four miles south of Hawick in the Scottish Borders, is an internationally important First World War site.

It was an arena for Scotland’s preparation for war and the subsequent handling of First World War prisoners, both civilian and military.

Although Stobs’ military connections continued up until the early 1960s the focus of the Stobs Camp Project is the period prior to, and during, the First World War.

The ongoing community-focused project aims to better understand Stobs Camp and the role it played and to protect the camp for future generations.

Led by Archaeology Scotland the team works with many organisations, groups and individuals including Historic Environment Scotland, Hawick Archaeological Society, Hawick Callants Club, Borders Family History Society, and Scottish Borders Council Archaeological Services.

The project has surveyed the physical remains at Stobs and exploring the human stories of the soldiers who trained at the camp and the civilian and German prisoners who were interned there.

Volunteers from across the Scottish Borders, the UK, and Europe are helping to build a picture of what life was like at the camp by researching the archives, newspapers, regimental records and family histories.

Hawick the perfect choice to revive Borders whisky tradition

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In a town built on solid and stirring traditions, the Hawick community jumped at the chance to stick a new feather in its Scottish Borders bonnet.

Internationally renowned for the manufacture of high quality textiles, Hawick is now at the heart of restoring a Borders tradition that turns the clock back over 180 years.

It was in 1837 – ​the same year that Victoria was crowned queen and young Oliver Twist made his literary debut -​ that the region’s only distillery at Kelso closed down.

Now, we are delighted to say, whisky manufacturing is back – courtesy of The Three Stills Company – and the Borders Distillery is proving to be a class act.

Locals and visitors alike were able to follow the old Turnbull and Scott factory in Commercial Road into a superb distillery and visitor centre that quickly received the highest 5* accreditation from VisitScotland.

The building’s modern open plan aspects and all the trappings of a modern distillery have been sympathetically incorporated with original industrial features – a blend that has been very well received and matches anticipation of the distillery’s single malt whisky.

And the work caught the attention of judges in the Scottish Borders in the Borders Building Design Awards for 2018, where it was listed among the best.

The distillery building’s eye catching restoration, led by architects Gray Macpherson of Edinburgh, won the award in the Existing Buildings Commercial category.

Special importance was placed on incorporating original industrial features all the trappings of a modern distillery.

Celebrating success: John Fordyce and Annie Macpherson from Gray Macpherson with the Hawick distillery’s building design commendation

The firm worked closely with the team at The Three Stills Company to develop a modern open plan building.

Distilling started in March 2018, five years after the original idea first started to take shape with John Fordyce, George Tait, Tim Carton and Tony Roberts – a quartet with plenty of experience in the drinks, spirits, and manufacturing sectors.

They all shared a vision to bring distilling back to the Scottish Borders. At Hawick, they agreed, the chemistry was just right.

The Borders Distillery has access to water from the River Teviot for cooling purposes and from an on-site borehole that goes into the spirit. There’s also a ready supply of local barley, essential ingredients for future success.

Distillery tours have become very popular and they take place Monday to Saturday, every hour, on the hour from 10am to 4pm. They are organised for groups of up to 12 people and bespoke tours are available for whisky enthusiasts

The Borders Distillery set up with a core team with huge experience in producing whisky and they are now passing those skills down to a local workforce. The present one-shift operation will eventually graduate to 24-hour production with a workforce of around 18 people.

William Kerr’s Borders Gin is also available from the distillery shop. It is produced from scratch onsite using a small amount of the same new make spirit which is distilled for single malt whisky, making it stand out in an increasingly crowded gin market.

The malty, fruity new make spirit goes through further distillation in a specially commissioned Carter Head still where eleven botanicals combine with the redistilled new make to create a gin of remarkable flavour and quality.

For now, the stills are quietly and efficiently getting on with the main job in hand, working towards the next manufacturing milestone of May 2021 when the Borders Distillery will be able to call its maturing spirit Scotch Whisky for the first time.

The first casks were laid down on May 10, 2018 and the distillery is building six warehouses in Hawick where wood and spirit can slowly interact over time.

To celebrate the return of whisky distilling to the Borders for the first time since 1837, The Borders Distillery is making 1,837 casks containing 200 litres of spirit – potentially 300 bottles of whisky – available to the public for purchase.

And plenty have been taking up the offer, stamping their names on specially imported oak casks that will deliver an exclusive single cask whisky. The cost comes in at £1995.00 and includes storage and insurance for up to ten years. Duty and VAT will have to be paid upon bottling.

The Borders Distillery is a standout award winning visitor attraction and not to be missed. To find out more and book tours … ​www.thebordersdistillery.com

Hawick’s sons of speed

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Bikers from all over the UK make a beeline for Hawick’s Wilton Park museum, to pay homage to two of the town’s sporting superstars.

A decision by Scottish Borders Council to bring together permanent exhibitions, paying tribute to motorcyclists Jimmie Guthrie and Steve Hislop, proved to be inspired.

The displays chart success at the highest levels for Guthrie and Hislop who were among the greatest motorcyclist riders of their generations and whose stories both ended in tragedy.

Jimmie Guthrie died aged 40, riding his beloved Norton motorcycle and, as usual, leading the field and thrilling a crowd of 250,000 people packed into the Sachsenring circuit in Germany.

The year was 1937 and Jimmy, who had sharpened his talent for riding motorcycles in the most dangerous circumstances, as a despatch rider on the battlefields of France during the First World War, was at the pinnacle of a glittering career.

Over the previous 10 years he had raced and beaten the best collecting 32 major titles along the way.

The Hawick flying machine won grand prix year after year in Europe and a clutch of Isle of Man TT titles. Along the way he broke six world speed records between 1934 and 1936.

He was adored by motorcycling fans, even in a Germany gripped by Nazism. The inscription on his 1936 European Grand Prix trophy carries an endorsement from the highest level – the leader and Chancellor of the German Third Reich, Adolph Hitler.

At home Jimmie ran a garage business in Hawick High Street with his brother Archie. He is said to have regularly rode to Keswick and back before starting work – the distance being almost exactly that of the Isle of Man TT course.

At the Sachsenring he was on the final lap when he came off his bike on the notorious Noetzhold corner, suffered terrible injuries and died soon afterwards. The Germans laid on a special train and a military escort as Jimmie’s body made the solemn journey home to Hawick where his funeral attracted huge crowds.

Steve ‘Hizzy’ Hislop (above left) was another “quiet lad” who let his skills on the track do the talking. He got his big break when Denholm garage owner Jim Oliver got him a ride with Honda and he didn’t disappoint.

Best remembered as a double British Superbike champion, winning the title in 1995 and 2002, Steve also recorded 11 wins at the Isle of Man TT races between 1987 and 1994.

He was as good as they come on his day when everything was running right. In 2002 he rode a faultless season and when qualifying for a championship round at Donnington Park he broke Valentino Rossi’s Grand Prix lap record – on a bike 25% less powerful.

Steve died at the age 41, when the helicopter he was piloting crashed in murky weather conditions over Teviotdale in 2003.

On show at Wilton Park are the bikes they rode, trophies and the stories of the skills and courage that took both men to the top in their sport.

Both are commemorated, too, with statues in the park next to the museum and – pandemics permitting – popular memorial annual rallies.

Admission to Hawick Museum is free. For information about opening times
please ring 01450 373457.

Jim Clark Museum in the Scottish Borders

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It’s fifty years and more since his tragic death and Jim Clark’s charismatic reputation still reigns supreme in the racing world. 

Born into a Scottish Borders farming family, Jim is widely regarded as one of the greatest and naturally gifted motor racing drivers of all time, a national hero for Scotland and international sporting icon of the 1960’s.

Jim Clark’s tragic death at Hockenheim in 1968, at the age of 32, stunned the world and in terrible circumstances helped redefine the future of Formula 1. Thereafter there was a much greater emphasis on safety led by his close friend Sir Jackie Stewart, now Honorary President of the Jim Clark Trust.

And it was Sir Jackie who was the guest of honour at the re-opening of a £1.6m project to redevelop and expand the Jim Clark Room at Duns in the Scottish Borders.

The new museum allowed an expansion of exhibition space showcasing memorabilia and the trophy collection, two of Jim Clark’s race cars, new image galleries, film footage, interactive displays, technology and an education zone.

The new look facility, highlighting the remarkable achievements of Jim Clark, is expected to draw visitors from across the world. He is credited with being one of the greatest racing drivers of all time – a double Formula One World Champion (in 1963 and 1965), 25 grand prix races, the Indianapolis 500 and a host of other races in a variety of cars. 

The Jim Clark museum offers a fascinating look at his many achievements. He was the first driver to do the double of winning the famous American race and also the Formula One World Championship.

In 1960 he also came third in the Le Mans 24 Hour Race. He was regarded as a totally natural driver, which is what made him so outstanding.

Jim Clark driving his Lotus-Cosworth 49 on his way to winning the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July 1967.

Shona Sinclair, Curator at Live Borders, said: “Jim’s replica Indianapolis 500 trophy will be on display in the new museum alongside new items, film footage and photographs to showcase his inspirational racing career.

“A huge amount of work has gone in to researching and preparing the collection for display and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers who have assisted the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum team with this task. We can’t wait to start welcoming visitors.”

In conjunction with the opening of the new museum, The Jim Clark Trust is working on the development of a tourist trail around the area, taking in locations associated with Jim Clark, such as historic racing venues and his grave at Chirnside Church.

For more information www.jimclarktrust.com

For opening times www.liveborders.org.uk

Pictures: Top – Jim’s great, great nephew Callum, recreating the famous image of Jim in front of the Lotus Elan he used as his every day car locally.

Centre – Andrew Tulloch, Assistant Curator of the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum, shows Sir Jackie Stewart around the new museum and above in action on the Forumla 1 circuit.

Museum opening pictures – Tony Marsh/Live Borders.

                          

Reivers rule in the Border badlands

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Blood feuds, ruthless vendettas, protection rackets, cattle rustling…and no we are not talking about the mafia or the Wild West.

Welcome to the badlands of the Northumberland and Scottish Borders where the legendary Border Reivers brand of lawlessness held sway for almost 300 years.

These were the men who bequeathed bereavement and blackmail to the English language, whose power was built around family allegiances and whose brand of doing business asked for no quarter – and rarely received it.

Reiving – or stealing – was pursued enthusiastically as a means of stocking up the larder for the winter months and raids south to England or north into Scotland followed old drover trails and ancient tracks that criss-cross the wild border uplands.

Mounted on sure-footed horses bred for stamina, they perfected smash and grab tactics perfected during Scotland’s wars of independence in the 1200 and 1300s.

Famous Scottish reiver family names include Maxwell, Johnstone, Scott, Kerr, Hume, Pringle, Douglas, Armstrong, Turnbull, Elliot…and on the English side Musgrave, Charlton and Dodd.

They were resident in Marches (West, East and Middle) on either side of the border, not surprisingly dubbed the Debateable Lands.

The power of the reivers reached its peak in 1580 and over the next 20 years until the death of Elizabeth 1, recorded its most savage period.

James Vl of Scotland united the two kingdoms on the death of Elizabeth and vowed to break the power of the reivers. Soon after taking the throne in London he mounted a concerted campaign to destroy the reivers and stamp his own authority across the borderlands.

What he failed to do was eradicate the tales that became folklore and gave the Border Reivers legendary status that survives to this day.

The reivers legacy and their strongholds are still very much alive in the Borders and their descendants, now happily engaged in more peaceful pursuits, are still very much part of Borders life.