Smailholm Tower
Smailholm Tower is a small rectangular tower set within a stone barmkin wall, located in the Scottish Borders region of Scotland. The tower was built in the first half of the 1400s by the Pringle family as defense against the Border Reivers, a group of marauding raiders from the neighboring English county of Northumberland.
The towerhouse is 65 feet tall and features a corbelled parapet and crowstep gables. The interior of the tower is divided into two floors, each with a fireplace and a garderobe. The tower also includes a mural stair that provides access to the upper floors.
Smailholm Tower is a well-preserved example of a 15th-century towerhouse and is a popular tourist destination. The tower is open to the public and offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
History of Smailholm Tower
The Pringle family built Smailholm Tower in the first half of the 1400s as a defense against the Border Reivers. The tower was strategically located on a rocky outcrop close to the Scotland/England border, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and allowing the occupants to see approaching raiders from a long distance.
The Border Reivers were a group of marauding raiders who lived on the border between Scotland and England. They were notorious for their violence and their attacks on both Scottish and English settlements. The Pringle family built Smailholm Tower to protect themselves from these raiders and to safeguard their lands and property.
Smailholm Tower remained in the possession of the Pringle family for over 400 years. It was eventually sold to the Scottish National Trust in 1950 and is now open to the public.
Smailholm Tower in Popular Culture
Smailholm Tower has been featured in several works of popular culture. It is the setting for the 1957 novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark, and it has also appeared in the television series Outlander.
The tower is a popular tourist destination and is well worth a visit if you are ever in the Scottish Borders. With its stunning views and fascinating history, Smailholm Tower is a truly unique and memorable experience.
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