The Callant statue

The Callant statue stands in the Scottish Borders town of Hawick, a small market town known for its strong traditions. It commemorates a victory in 1514 when local men captured an English flag near Hornshole, two kilometres away. The statue was designed by William Francis Beattie, who began work before the First World War but was killed in 1918. His father Thomas completed the monument by 1921 and it was unveiled by Lady Sybil Scott. In 2003 the statue was moved a few metres during roadworks, which caused local protests. The bronze figure shows a rider holding a banner in one hand, while his horse raises a foreleg and lowers its head. The pedestal bears an inscription in Latin and English, recording the event and the town’s motto. The Latin phrase reads “Teribus ye teriodin,” a traditional Hawick cry. The front of the base also displays the town’s coat of arms and the date 1514. Visitors find the statue on High Street, near the heart of Hawick’s old centre. The surrounding streets are lined with stone buildings that reflect the town’s long history. The Common Riding festival each summer re-enacts the ride that once brought the captured flag home. The statue itself remains a quiet reminder of local pride and resilience.