Mansefield Road, Efield Mills Hawick, Scotland

Text courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland. © Crown Copyright, reprinted under the Open Government License.

The administration block at Eastfield Mills has the grandest façade of any of the textile buildings in Hawick and it makes a major contribution to the streetscape. Its French Renaissance chateau style is highly distinctive and the building is both imposing and impressively detailed.. The mill was built by the firm of Blenkhorn, Richardson and Co Ltd. and remained in their hands until their closure in the 1970s. Johnstons of Elgin then took on the buildings, and they continue to use them for knitting and weaving to this day. Although the sheds to the rear were demolished in the 1990s and replaced with modern industrial units, the building is still an impressive reminder of the importance of the textile industry to the burgh. Inscriptions read: EASTFIELD MILLS, 1882, and B R & CO. Hawick is famous for its high-quality textiles. Historically the town was responsible for the production of high-quality garments, woollen knitwear, hosiery and, above all, cashmere. The burgh is located at the meeting of the River Teviot and the Slitrig water, which provided the essential element for the success of the mills, an abundance of fast flowing water to power the mills. The burgh had many small cottage mills in 1800 but gradually, as mechanisation took over more and more of the processes, larger mills were constructed. During the 19th century, water power was superseded by steam power, and many of the mills were converted to steam with the introduction of engine and boiler houses (although water continued to be used as source well into the 20th century). The industry led to Hawick at one time being one of the richest burghs in Scotland per capita. List description revised and category changed from C(S) to B following resurvey (2008).