James Thomson Bridge, Hawick

Backblipped for Tuesday.

The James Thomson Bridge, opened in 2005, commemorates a Hawick woodturner, poet and songwriter who was born in Bowden in 1827. (Another view here).

His songs 'The Border Queen' and 'Up wi' the banner' are still sung on the occasion of the Common Ridings, he is also well known for his song 'The Star O' Robbie Burns', written for the 120th anniversary of Burn's birth. James Thomson died in 1888.

A statue of James Thomson close by the bridge was sculpted by William Landles. The poet is depicted at his writing desk in the process of composing the first lines of The Border Queen:

Where Slitrig dances doon the glen
To join the Teviot waters,
There dwells auld Hawick's honest men
And Hawick's bright-eyed daughters.
And weel we lo'e the guid auld toon
Ilk nuik frae end to end ont
She aye has kept the causa croon
And ever independent
What tho' her lads are...

(Seen in large the statue is at the left end of the bridge)