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Hawick probably first came into the possession of the Douglases in
the 14th century when granted to Sir James Douglas, 'the hero of
Roxburgh' He certainly held
Cavers and Liddesdale at that time.
In 1452, the grant of the Barony of Hawick to William Douglas of
Drumlanrig was reconfirmed, and sixty years later his successor and
descendnat began to develop his inheritance. Sir William Douglas
enacted two legal documents which may be said to be the outset of the
town's modern history. After a dispute with the royal court over
the extent of his rights, he made Hawick into a free burgh of barony in
1511. Two years later, Sir William was dead - killed on the field
of Flodden.
The Town Charter of 1537, signed and sealed by
Sir James Douglas, the
seventh Baron of Hawick (c1498-1578) is the oldest document in Hawick.
It is stored in the controlled environment of the Heritage Hub vaults.
The fragile document states that this is a re-affirmation of the earlier
Charter, probably given by Sir William Douglas, Sir James' father, which
has been lost in times past "through hostile invasions of Englishmen and
robbers". This Charter was confirmed in 1545 by the two year old Mary
Queen of Scots (1542-87) and this document is also carefully preserved
with the town's precious papers.
This Charter granted "particates" or small pieces of land to a large
number of people who are mentioned by name It also granted the Common
Moor of Hawick and the Common Haugh for the benefit and use of the town.
There was rough ground for grazing, good land for pasture and peat for
fuel.
"'Twas then Drumlanrig, generous donor,
Gave (immortal be his honour)
What might soothe Hawick's dire disaster,
Land for tillage, peats and pasture"
It is thought that Sir William is the "generous donor" mentioned in "Teribus"
and Sir James Douglas may have granted his charter of 1537 to honour the
memory of his father. He also wanted to relieve the poverty of the
people of Hawick by confirming their ownership of the land. A toast to
"The Memory of Drumlanrig" is made to this day.
The Charter of 1537 confirmed Hawick as a burgh of barony, and at this
time the town appears to have consisted of 110 houses including the
manor house, church and mill. To run the burgh were two bailies and
thirty-one councillors.
By 1669 the superiority had passed from the Douglas family to the Scotts
of Buccleuch.
Until 1747 a burgh of barony was presided over by a feudal superior who
had authority from the Crown to administer justice and to hold barony
courts dealing with crimes and matters of good neighbourhood and
thereafter solely matters of good neighbourhood.
Hawick became a police burgh in 1845 leaving the existing, self-electing
baronial town council in place but placed some powers in the hands of a
body of thirteen commissioners of police, ten of whom were to be voted
in place by the electorate.
In 1861, a new municipal constitution was introduced consisting of a
provost, the town's civic head, four bailies an twelve councillors. (In
Scotland a bailie was the title of a magistrate who sits in a court). He
is elected by the council from among the councillors. To become a
councillor one had first to be a burgess, a leading citizen of the town.
At the time of the 1537 Charter a burgess was from the merchant and
tradesmen classes who paid a fee for admission to graze their cattle and
cut peats on the Common.
In January 1901 the police commissioners were replaced by Hawick Town
Council.
From 1930 Hawick was classed as a small burgh and remained so until
1975, when the Town Council was abolished. Its powers were assumed by
Borders Regional Council and Roxburgh District Council. A Hawick
Community Council was set up at the same time to keep an eye on local
affairs and make recommendations and observations to the District and
Regional Councils. In 1996 they were replaced by Scottish Borders
Council. At this time the water and sewerage functions were taken over
by the East of Scotland Water Authority and then by Scottish Water in
2002. Hawick Community Council continued as before. (Since 1975 provost,
bailies and magistrates are honorary posts).
In the 21st century, the Common is owned by the Common Good. (Common
Good is the property owned by a town in Scotland). This is run for the
people of Hawick by the Scottish Borders Council which has its
Headquarters in Newtown St Boswells. By agreement with this Council the
Common Good Fund is used for the good of Hawick and isn't used outside
Hawick's boundaries. In 2011, Scottish Borders Council sought to
amalgamate all of the eight Common Good Funds under its control into
one. The Hawick Fund, which was very healthy at this time, was already
linked with the Jedburgh and Kelso Funds, but reaction from the
townsfolk of Hawick and its Councillors resulted in the Hawick Fund
being retained under the control of the six Hawick Councillors for the
benefit of Hawick.
Six elected Councillors today represent Hawick (pop 14,500 in 2011) and
the surrounding area in two wards on Scottish Borders Council. This
Council has 34 Councillors in total for 11 multi member wards and a
population of about 114,000 at the census in 2011.
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