Hawkshaw, Scottish Borders facts for kids
Hawkshaw is a small place in the Scottish Borders, known for its history. It is located near the River Tweed, about two miles southwest of a village called Tweedsmuir. Today, Hawkshaw is mainly a pair of houses.
Long ago, Hawkshaw was a village. However, this old village was covered by water when the Fruid Reservoir was built in 1963. Hawkshaw is especially important to the Porteous family, as it has been their family home since at least 1439.
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The Ancient Tower of Hawkshaw
For many hundreds of years, a strong tower stood on a hill above the old Hawkshaw village. Not much of this tower is left today. Its spot is now marked by a cairn, which is a pile of stones. These stones came from the original tower itself.
What Were Peel Towers?
The tower at Hawkshaw was likely one of many special buildings called Peel towers. These were small, strong forts built along the Scottish Borders. Their main job was to be watchtowers. People would light signal fires on top of them to warn everyone if danger was coming, like an invasion.
Why Towers Were Built
Many of these towers were built in the 1430s. They stretched across the Tweed valley, from Berwick all the way to the source of the river, which is close to Hawkshaw. These towers were a way to protect the area from attacks coming from the English Borders. Hawkshaw's tower was one of more than 24 such towers in Peeblesshire alone.
Old Discoveries at Hawkshaw
Even before the tower was built, people lived in the Hawkshaw area. Roman objects have been found nearby. These discoveries show that people have lived in this spot for many hundreds of years, long before the tower existed.
The Porteous Family Gathering
The cairn at Hawkshaw is a special place for the Porteous family. Every five years, family members travel from all over the world to gather there. In September 2005, about 70 family members came from five different continents. They held a short religious service and placed a wreath at the cairn. This was done to remember all Porteous family members who served in the military.
