A taster from our Quick Quiz #2:
Question 1: After entering Hawick from Edinburgh, what was the original planned route of the A7 road on exiting the town? What number was this route assigned by the Ministry of Transport?When the Edinburgh centred Zone 7 roads were numbered in 1922 by the Ministry of Transport, a document was drafted which suggested a different route for the A7 than it takes today. The road would have diverged from Hawick eastwards along the current A698 via Denholm, Kelso and Coldstream to Tweedmouth (where it would meet the A1167). This version of the draft appeared on early Bartholomew Maps. According to S.A.B.R.E. the plan only existed to contrive a change of Zone 7 so that it would finish neatly along the Scotland/England border. The Edinburgh to Hawick section was to be assigned the number 'A7a' but it was ultimately never adopted.
The A7 on a Bartholomew Map at the proposed Tweedmouth terminus
The A7 on the same map, near to Jedburgh
Question 2: When did the last train leave Hawick on the Waverley Line? What was its purpose?Locomotive number D3880 (08713) left the town on the 18th April 1971, on the down line out of Hawick. Its purpose was to lift the remaining track from the Waverley Line on the Hawick to Langholm section. The up line had already been lifted in February 1970.
Uplifting tracks at Hawick Station in February 1970 by Dave Liddle
Uplifting tracks at Hawick Station in the early 1970s by Bruce McCartney
Looking to the embankment and the final train out of Hawick in April 1971 by Bruce McCartney
Question 3: When did the first car come to Hawick? Who owned it?According to local opinion, the first automobile owner in Hawick was Mr James Oliver of Thornwood Mansion (now the Mansfield House Hotel). It is purported that he bought a car in 1901, whilst he was certainly one of the wealthiest and more prominent townspeople of the era. There is considerable evidence though that it was Mr James Pearson Alison, a local architect of great reputation, who was the first to do so. It can be verified that he owned a vehicle before 1914.
Mr James Oliver (right) and his car (date unknown), courtesy of Ettrick Graphics
Question 4: What links Adolf Hitler to a Hawick Motorcyling legend?Teri Andrew James "Jimmie" Guthrie can be linked to Adolf Hitler through the sport of Motorcycling. He won the 1936 500cc European Grand Prix at the Sachsenring Circuit in Nazi Germany, and was presented with a trophy containing the inscription:
The Grand Prix of Europe. The Leader and Chancellor of the Third Reich. Adolf Hitler. 1936.
Hitler was known to have been fond of Guthrie's relentless racing ability and was among the estimated 250,000 spectators present at the 1937 European Grand Prix the following year. Jimmie Guthrie crashed in controversial circumstances and died of his injuries during the race. Nazi Stormtroopers in full military uniform guarded his body whilst it was later moved from Germany by train. It is known that Hitler also presented Guthrie's team mechanic with a brass trophy of Mercury.
The 1936 European Grand Prix trophy is currently in the custody of Kirkcaldy Motor Club and is presented to its best rider each year. The trophy of Mercury is presented to the winners of 600cc class races at Knockhill Racing Circuit. Both have been on display in recent years at Hawick Museum in Wilton Lodge Park.
Jimmie Guthrie as presented in a grief issue photograph by his Norton company
In the pits at the 1937 European Grand Prix prior to his death later that day. Mildred Woods (left) - Jimmie Guthrie (centre) - Freddie Firth (right)
Question 5: What record does Steve 'Hizzy' Hislop still hold for the International Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (Manx TT) F1 race?Robert Steven Hislop holds the record of being the
first rider to average over 120 m.p.h. per lap on the famous hilly island course. His fastest record of 122.63 m.p.h. was recorded in the 1989 Formula 1 race and stood until Carl Fogarty broke it again in 1992.
Steve 'Hizzy' Hislop
"Aut disce aut discede" Anon.
Project Hawick: http://projecthawick.forumatic.com/index.php