Hall’s Spinning Mill – Langlands Place
In 1870 George Yellowlees of Galashiels bought part of land known as Langlands “near to
Newtown” to establish a sawmill with workshops and houses for his workers. It
was a suitable site due to its close proximity to the railway.
Mr Yellowlees was most knowledgeable about wood (which he imported from
around the world) but poor on Balance Sheets resulting in the loss of his
business.
In 1880 the Hall family bought the property and set up a Spinning Mill. By 1975 it
employed around 30 people, who on many occasions worked overtime to cope
with orders. At this time Halls Mill was probably the only one to house machinery
to make napps used in knobbled tweeds.
Mr Dickson drove a horse and lorry with the napps all tied up in bales to the station and
he also kept the grounds of the Mill tidy.
The Mill whistle went off at 7.30 am, 12 noon, 1.0pm and 5.30 pm. ‘We could set
our clocks by it as it was so accurate.’ (Fewer people had watches in those days).
The Halls also owned the three houses just at at the bottom of the Bogle road to
Melrose. ‘The Firs’, ‘Fairfield’ and ‘The Hawthorns’. At one time they were all
occupied by the Halls. The family took a keen interest in the community.
The Mill closed in January, 1982.
Napps were produced at the Mill for some years after. Later bought
over by Martin Frost, Edenside, Kelso but soon closed again.
A few more quotes
“I remember when the workers left the Mill their clothes were covered
in sheep’s wool and one worker’s hair used to be covered in shoddy
from one week’s end to the next”.
"Langlands Mill hooter went off at precisely the right time – Kenny Hall
used to work in the office where the big clock resided. Kenny tells us
that it had a big pendulum and fixed to the workings were silver pieces
of paper attached to string to balance the clock to give perfect timing."
Newtown - New Engine - 1888
Messrs James Melrose & Sons, Engineers, Hawick are constructing a
horizontal steam engine for Mr Hall of the Spinning Mills, Newtown.
The engine which is the largest ever made in Hawick works up to about 20 h.p.
It is of the girder type and the cylinder is 18 inches in diameter and
has a three foot stroke with automatic cut off.
Border Advertiser – 19/12)
1898 - Drought
Scarcity of water still continues in the village. The higher part of the village has
obtained water from springs and from Langlands Mill engine well.
The hotels have had to cart water from the river for cleaning purposes.
Ally Shiell’s father used to start up the boiler every morning before going to his engineering
job.
In 1870 George Yellowlees of Galashiels bought part of land known as Langlands “near to
Newtown” to establish a sawmill with workshops and houses for his workers. It
was a suitable site due to its close proximity to the railway.
Mr Yellowlees was most knowledgeable about wood (which he imported from
around the world) but poor on Balance Sheets resulting in the loss of his
business.
In 1880 the Hall family bought the property and set up a Spinning Mill. By 1975 it
employed around 30 people, who on many occasions worked overtime to cope
with orders. At this time Halls Mill was probably the only one to house machinery
to make napps used in knobbled tweeds.
Mr Dickson drove a horse and lorry with the napps all tied up in bales to the station and
he also kept the grounds of the Mill tidy.
The Mill whistle went off at 7.30 am, 12 noon, 1.0pm and 5.30 pm. ‘We could set
our clocks by it as it was so accurate.’ (Fewer people had watches in those days).
The Halls also owned the three houses just at at the bottom of the Bogle road to
Melrose. ‘The Firs’, ‘Fairfield’ and ‘The Hawthorns’. At one time they were all
occupied by the Halls. The family took a keen interest in the community.
The Mill closed in January, 1982.
Napps were produced at the Mill for some years after. Later bought
over by Martin Frost, Edenside, Kelso but soon closed again.
A few more quotes
“I remember when the workers left the Mill their clothes were covered
in sheep’s wool and one worker’s hair used to be covered in shoddy
from one week’s end to the next”.
"Langlands Mill hooter went off at precisely the right time – Kenny Hall
used to work in the office where the big clock resided. Kenny tells us
that it had a big pendulum and fixed to the workings were silver pieces
of paper attached to string to balance the clock to give perfect timing."
Newtown - New Engine - 1888
Messrs James Melrose & Sons, Engineers, Hawick are constructing a
horizontal steam engine for Mr Hall of the Spinning Mills, Newtown.
The engine which is the largest ever made in Hawick works up to about 20 h.p.
It is of the girder type and the cylinder is 18 inches in diameter and
has a three foot stroke with automatic cut off.
Border Advertiser – 19/12)
1898 - Drought
Scarcity of water still continues in the village. The higher part of the village has
obtained water from springs and from Langlands Mill engine well.
The hotels have had to cart water from the river for cleaning purposes.
Ally Shiell’s father used to start up the boiler every morning before going to his engineering
job.
See belowTour program giving some history - date yet to be ascertained ?