DISCOVEREDINBURGH
Scottish Borders16th-Century Bastel Keep & Scottish Cashmere Textile Museum4.7 / 5.0

Borders Textile Towerhouse Hawick

Hawick's oldest surviving building—a 16th-century fortified tower house—celebrating the Borders' world-leading knitwear and cashmere heritage.

Borders Textile Towerhouse Hawick

About Borders Textile Towerhouse Hawick

Heritage background, architectural provenance & visitor guide

The Ancient Tower of Drumlanrig

Dating to the 1500s, this fortified stone bastel keep was the town residence of the Douglas family of Drumlanrig and the only building in Hawick to survive burning by English forces in 1570.

Scotland's Textile Capital

Across four storeys of thick stone masonry, the tower presents the story of Hawick's rise to international fame as the home of luxury cashmere, tweed, and knitwear, featuring historic wooden knitting frames and designer collections.

Key Highlights & Facilities

Verified visitor amenities, accessibility, and distinctive features

Hawick's Oldest Building (16th-Century Stone Keep)
Authentic 18th-Century Stocking Knitting Frames
Luxury Scottish Cashmere & Tweed Design Displays
Temporary Contemporary Textile Exhibitions
Tower Gift Shop with Border Craft Woollens
Central Hawick Heritage Trailhead Location

Visitor Perspectives

Verified authentic traveler observations

4.7 / 5.0
Knitwear & Fashion Historian

“A brilliant museum inside a genuine 16th-century tower house. The craftsmanship in the vintage cashmere garments on display is awe-inspiring.”

Neighborhood Guide

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