2 Tower Dykeside, Hawick

1 Tower Dykeside in Hawick is a former hotel that originated as a 16th century tower house, with alterations made in 1702, a large wing added around 1810, and extensive refurbishment completed in 1995. The building is three stories tall with an attic and features an eight-bay principal elevation facing Tower Knowe. The southeast corner has a harled and crowstep-gabled tower house, while a 1995 addition is located in the re-entrant angle at the rear. The structure is primarily built of whinstone rubble with sandstone ashlar dressings, many of which have been renewed. The southern side has tabbed margined quoins, with larger stones in the penultimate bay to the right indicating the original 16th century tower.

The principal (west) elevation showcases a central, pilastered, shallow-arched doorpiece flanked by sidelights, with plain pilaster strips extending to the eaves. Similar detailing is present on the broad pend to the far left. The left side features three Baronial-style gabled dormers that break the eaves, while the outer right corner has a corbelled canted design. The tower house includes a parapet walkway, water spouts, a gunloop on the ground floor, and larger mid-19th century openings with reconstructed crowsteps at the garret level. A three-storey glazed section at the rear connects the tower house to a new curved, rendered stair tower.

The windows are timber sash and case with a 12-pane glazing pattern. The roof is covered in grey slate, with ashlar-coped skews, a corniced ridge, gable stacks, and small rooflights. The building also features cast-iron rainwater goods.

Inside, the Great Hall retains some original beams and has a reconstructed painted ceiling from 1995, along with a roll-moulded stone fireplace. There is a vaulted cellar on the ground floor. The first floor contains three commercial meeting rooms dating from the early 19th century, featuring decorative plaster cornices and chimneypieces with cast-iron grates. The extensive renovations in 1995 included a concrete stair with a metal handrail.