On Hawick and its Neighbourhood. 81 



lairds of Cavers upwards of five hundred years. In Cavers 

 House can yet be seen the Douglas banner which waved at 

 Otterburn, and the trophy of gauntlets gained from Percy 

 under the walls of Newcastle. Cavers Kirk is also an 

 ancient building, and has many associations, both classic 

 and clerical. 



Stirches House has been for centuries the residence of 

 the Chisholms — a family who can trace their ancestry back 

 to the Norman conquest. 



A thorn tree at Wilton Lodge has retained to our day the 

 tradition of Wallace having tied his horse to it when on a 

 visit to Langlands of Langlands. 



Trade and Manufactures of Hawick. By Mr. David 



Watson*. 



Despite their predatory habits and traditions, the inhabit- 

 ants of Hawick seem to have engaged in mercantile pursuits 

 at a pretty early period. In 1362, William de Hawyk, 

 merchant, having two companions and three horses, received 

 safe conduct to go to England for trading purposes : and 

 again in 1386 and 1369. Our local records previous to 1640 

 have unfortunately been destroyed, but the earliest entries 

 shew that at this date the weavers of Hawick were a 

 numerous and influential corporate body. The hosiery trade 

 with which the name of the town has become intimately 

 associated, was commenced here in 1771 by Mr. John 

 Hardie. Incle, or tape weaving, and the manufacture of 

 carpets nourished for a short time, but ultimately dwindled 

 away, leaving the hosiery branch still vigorous and prosper- 

 ing; and it remained without a rival till 1817, when 

 blankets, and ultimately tweels, or tweeds, as they were 

 subsequently named, gradually became the staple manu- 

 facture, and that in which the advance has been most 

 marked. 



* For an interesting an<l exhaustive article by Mr. Watson on this subject 

 see "Transactions of Hawick Archaeological Society." 



