Hawick Heritage Hub is now open.

There are regional archives and local and family history archives on three floors. All the Scottish Borders archives are held here and there are also many records from Dumfries & Galloway, Northumberland, and the debatable lands so if you have ancestry in the north of England or south of Scotland here is the place to do your research.

An interior view of the research facilities.

The Heritage Hub is situated opposite the medieval Drumlanrig's Tower, one time home of the Black Douglas, and the oldest building in town.

The campus also includes the restored Tower Mill, which bridges the Slitrig Water. This has been converted into an arts centre, cinema/theatre and cafe/bar, including a glass floor for viewing the old water wheel.

I have been asked before about the flags which often appear in my photothreads. Buccleuch Street, High Street, Bourtree Place and Oliver Place are garlanded with small flags throughout the tourist season, with larger flags hung on the buildings.

Traditionally the town's blue and yellow flags were hung. In the Scottish weather, flags don't last long and the flags were changed for a fresh set around mid June, after the Common Riding.

For the past few years, instead of hanging a replacement set of blue and yellow flags, international flags have been hung from mid June until late September to make the town's many visitors from throughout the world feel at home.