Borders Textile Towerhouse
A free museum in a restored 16th-century tower house in Hawick, telling the story of Border knitwear and tweed over more than 200 years.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum is housed in a restored towerhouse in the centre of Hawick that dates from the 16th century, the time of the Border Reivers. The building itself is part of the display: an original barrel-vaulted room looks at its turbulent past, and a lift serves all of the upper floors.
The main displays follow the knitwear and tweed industries of the Scottish Borders. Garments, tools, photographs and other objects show more than two centuries of tradition and innovation in local woollen manufacturing, and how Border cloth and knitwear came to be worn far beyond the region.
Changing exhibitions of contemporary fashion, design, art and craft run alongside the permanent displays. A room dedicated to the Borders watercolour painter Tom Scott (1854-1927) shows a selection of his paintings. The museum is run by the Scottish Borders cultural charity Live Borders and has free entry.
Highlights
- Story of Border knitwear and tweed over 200 years
- Restored 16th-century towerhouse
- Original barrel-vaulted room
- Tom Scott Room with Borders watercolours
- Museum shop with textiles and crafts
- Free entry
Permanent exhibitions
- Border knitwear and tweed – Garments, objects and photographs follow more than 200 years of the knitwear and tweed industries of the Scottish Borders.
- The barrel-vaulted room – An original vaulted room that explains the turbulent history of the towerhouse since the days of the Border Reivers.
- The Tom Scott Room – Paintings by the Borders watercolourist Tom Scott (1854-1927).
- Founded
- 2009
- Operated by
- Live Borders
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission is free; donations are welcome to help keep the museum free for everyone.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The rear entrance has a shallow ramp and is opened by staff on request using a call button; the front entrance has four steps. A lift serves all floors (lift doors 790 mm wide). There is an induction loop at the welcome desk, and an accessible toilet with baby changing on the ground floor. Registered assistance dogs only are admitted. Blue Badge holders can use reserved spaces at the Hawick Heritage Hub across the road. The ground outside is a mix of paving and cobbles.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Baby changing facilities
A programme of craft workshops runs through the year, and museum activity trails are offered. There are baby changing facilities in the accessible toilet.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Hawick High Street · 1-min walk
Town bus services H1 and H2 run in Hawick; the nearest stop is on the High Street. Journeys can be planned with Traveline Scotland.
By car
Free parking · 5-min walk to the entrance
A large free car park on Victoria Road (TD9 7AH) is within a five-minute walk. Blue Badge holders can park at the Hawick Heritage Hub across the road.
- Accessible parking
The museum stands at the east end of Hawick High Street. Taxis can drop visitors at the rear entrance.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum shop sells textiles, crafts, gifts and books. There is no café in the building; the nearby TLC café is another Live Borders venue.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Group visits, guided tours and education visits can be arranged on request, and coach parties are welcome. Touch-screen and interactive displays are on the two upper floors and a short film is shown on the ground floor. |
