homeProjects >> Tweed rivers interpretation project
This scheme, part of the Heritage Lottery funded Tweed Heritage project, developed interpretation at more than a dozen sites. They included a reconstructed Iron Age hut, a monument from the Scottish Enlightenment, the site of a local folk tale, and one of the Borders’ most famous viewpoints. I worked closely with Debbie Playfair, Project Manager, reporting to a diverse and enthusiastic steering group.
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Leaderfoot
An eighteenth-century railway viaduct soars over the Tweed at a crossing point used since before Roman times. The aim of interpretation here was to provide a focus for the site, and to bring alive the significance of river crossings without using conventional media. 
Sandstone seats celebrate the shape of the viaduct. Each is carved with a verse of a specially commissioned poem.
Sculpture – Garry Fay
Poem – Valerie Gillies
Landscape architect – Peter Daniel
Landscape Architect Peter Daniel with the completed project, including some rather annoying bollards that were essential to stop cars reversing into the seats!
Sculptor Garry Fay selects the stone for his work.
Scott's View
An iconic viewpoint in the Scottish Borders, this site has a poignant story to tell about its association with Sir Walter Scott. It’s also a place to appreciate the dramatic volcanic landscape and its wildlife.
Any interpretation here must complement its grand setting. Using sand-blasted stone slabs, we presented three short pieces of text with simple graphics.
The Sir Walter Scott connection.
Graphic design and illustration – Ross Associates
Henderson Park
We completely remodelled this small park in Coldstream, where the Tweed marks the border between Scotland and England.
A bow-fronted viewing platform opens up the view across the river. The project needed close liason with the local community, and it has revived the Park for them.
Railings by artist blacksmith Denys Mitchell evoke the national flower of Scotland.
Seven couplets by poet Valerie Gillies are ecthed into the handrail. Each couplet is inspired by one the many stories in the landscape beyond.
Dryhope Tower
The best preserved example of a reiver’s strongholds from the Borders’ lawless past. The project stabilised the building, installed a spiral staircase to reach the roof, and interpretation to tell its stories.
Reconstruction drawings by David Simon help to place the building in the context of the landscape.
Hawick Mote
The site of a twelfth century stronghold, this popular landmark is now surrounded by a housing estate and a primary school. Denys Mitchell created this ‘siege engine’ as a reminder of the mound’s stormy past.
Pupils from the school worked with local artist Irene Beston to produce artwork inspired by the Mote’s history. Some of their designs were used on an interpretation plaque attached to the siege engine.
The scheme included new decorations for the railings between the school and the Mote.
St Mary’s Loch
Artist Matt Baker worked on one of the most ambitious projects in the programme, a sculpture entitled ‘Shinglehook’.
Bronze floats suggest a path of stepping stones across the loch.
The sculpture creates somewhere to sit and contemplate timelessness and change in this remote place.
Shinglehook photos – Alan Devlin
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