I see Historic Scotland are opening Smailholm Tower again after a long break because of Covid. Smailholm is my favourite tower, and is situated in a commanding position about 5 miles northwest of Kelso in the Scottish Borders.
Smailholm was built by the Pringles, who were then squires of the Black Douglases, on land granted to them by the 4th Earl of Douglas. As a result the Douglas heart motif is carved into a column by the fireplace in the great hall. The tower would have been built in the first half of the 15th century, before the Black Douglas dynasty fell.
Smailholm had to fight off several English raids in the mid-16th century and was defended by the Covenanters against the Royalists in the 17th century. By the late 18th century it was a property of Sir Walter Scott’s family, and he spent some of his childhood in the farm near the tower. This period helped Scott develop his interest in Scottish history. Scott loved the tower and in later life arranged for it to be drawn by Turner.
A few photos of the tower.
theheritagephotographer 