Hawick heritage sacrificed but Borders bright spots too

THIRD AND FINAL PART OF OUR 'CHRIS BOWLES HERITAGE TRILOGY'

The loss of listed buildings including iconic textile mills from Hawick's Commercial Road to make way for large food retail outlets illustrates a failing in Scotland's planning system, according to the former archaeology officer at Scottish Borders Council who objected in vain to the demolition of a collection of historic edifices.

However, Dr Chris Bowles who now oversees History Colorado's preservation fund - the largest and best resourced in the USA with $8 million likely to be distributed this year - says for every disappearance of heritage like the losses in Commercial Road  "there was the discovery of a bishop's palace in Ancrum, the exploration of German internment at Stobs [Hawick] or the re-interpretation of the Renaissance fort in Eyemouth."

In a wide ranging interview with Not Just Sheep & Rugby Dr Bowles, who was involved in countless heritage projects during his eleven year stint in the Borders commented: "I was deeply moved by the loss of industrial heritage along Commercial Road in Hawick and the efforts of the Hawick Archaeological Society to retain as much of this as possible.

"I wonder how the connection to Hawick's rich industrial past will continue in a generation when people are shopping at Sainsbury's or Aldi? I feel it's a failing of Scotland's planning system that these structures - even those that are A Listed - are so easily demolished without mitigating the loss in the community in meaningful ways."

A so-called development framework for Commercial Road drawn up by the Borders council in 2009 pointed out the northern part of the area was part of Hawick's conservation area and included listed buildings at Wilton Mill, Shorts of Hawick and Turnbull & Scott Engineers.

The framework included a SWOT [strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats] analysis which made the point that "existing listed buildings can be retained and enhanced" and there were opportunities to "redevelop existing listed buildings".

Wilton Mills - complete with clocktower - would, according to the report, "most likely be developed for residential use". This would require high attention to detail and design to redevelop the existing listed buildings to the satisfaction of the council and Historic Scotland.

But by 2015 the planning authority was sanctioning the demolition of Wilton Mills to make way for a retail food store despite widespread opposition.

In a submission to SBC Duncan Taylor, vice president of Hawick Archaeological Society, wrote at the time: "Our society is committed to preserving the built heritage of Hawick and district. Given that this is a listed building which highlights the glory days of the textile town, if the building has been allowed to be neglected to the stage it now needs repair to make it safe then the owner should be required to do this rather than use it as an excuse for demolition".

So far as the heritage projects at Ancrum, Stobs Camp and Eyemouth were concerned, Dr Bowles said: "Each community had their own issues before these projects - and of course the issues discovery and motivation of communities to continue exploring their past.

"I put this to the test when I developed a project delving into the heritage of the upper Whiteadder Water using contributions from wind farm developers. While the project continued without me, and in the face of a pandemic, our project partners delivered a moving series of archaeological investigations and events including new artworks, stories and ballads that connected people to the valley. I'm taking these experiences into my new role here in Colorado".

And Dr Bowles paid tribute to the stalwarts who have contributed so much to the preservation of Borders heritage.

He told us: "The Borders is an incredibly special place, and is very close to my heart. I learned a great deal about the power of heritage by just be being around the passionate people across the region who want to steward it into the future - people like Walter Elliott, Donald Gordon, and Richard Strathie to name just a few. But I also learned more about human resilience from Borderers than I ever thought possible. I'm taking these lessons, and the Borders, with me wherever I go from here on out."