Goldielands Tower

**cessna152towser** · 17th December 06, 07:11 AM

Taking the road to Carlisle south from Hawick much evidence remains of the Border Reivers, and one of the first tower houses which the sharp eyed passenger in a car or bus will spot from the road is Goldielands Tower, (centre of picture) which stands on a hillside overlooking the River Teviot just a mile and a half south of Hawick.

A perfect destination for a Sunday morning walk with low winter sunshine and a light frost.

Once the track had risen above the tree line I encountered this heilan' coo who seemed fascinated by my kilt.

The tower was a 16th century stronghold of the Scotts of Buccleuch, and even today is still owned by the present Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, head of the name and arms of Scott, though the tower now forms part of a more modern farm.

The tower has lost its roof and parapet. Its last inhabitant, Wattie Scott, is said to have been hanged over its gate for the marauding and treasons of a reiver's career. Note traces of a gable of a low building which was once attached to the north face of the tower.

**cessna152towser** · 17th December 06, 07:18 AM

I went to the front door but it was locked

And then round the back but it was locked too.

And then back round the front again - I was wearing a cheap polycotton kilt because the ground was muddy after all the rain and I didn't want to get an expensive wool kilt dirty.

I took another photo of the tower

And then another; and then the tenant farmer came out of his house to see what I was about

**cessna152towser** · 17th December 06, 07:22 AM

And the farmer was friendly and had the key for the tower and showed me inside.

From the cellar floor it was possible to take flashlight photos of the domed roof, above which would have been the laird's hall with its characteristic stone floor and grand fireplace.

North-west corner of the domed cellar roof.

**cessna152towser** · 17th December 06, 07:28 AM

This tower contained two storeys of cellarage below the laird's hall, which explains why all the windows seen from the outside are so high up; there would have been a wooden ceiling separating the two levels; here we see the aperture from the turreted staircase into the upper cellar level.

The turreted staircase is still there.

The farmer showed me this print of a sketch dated 1706, which shows the tower when it still had its roof and parapet, and also shows a low building attached to the north face and a second tower to the north which no longer exists. There are however traces on the north face of the tower of the gable of an earlier, lower rise building which was once attached there, (see the fifth photo in the first posting), though this appears to have been of a larger size in proportion to the tower, when compared with the sketch.

The 1706 illustration shows a low building attached to the north face of Goldielands Tower, though the building shown here is joined to the south face.
Well that's it folks, time to go home for lunch.

**turpin** · 17th December 06, 07:34 AM

These are really enjoyable pics C152T. I just love the effect of the morning light.

**starbkjrus** · 17th December 06, 08:22 AM

Very nice piccies Alex. Thank you again.

**mbhandy** · 17th December 06, 08:29 AM

Very nice pics and very nice of the farmer to let you in for photos.

MrBill

**Deil the Yin** · 17th December 06, 10:05 AM

MAN! I love those old castles... Great pics, too! Thanks for sharing your outing.

I stayed at a place in Ireland for a while that had a Norman tower keep in their "back yard" that was super cool, and in about the same shape as Goldieland's tower. That was my first experience (barring the baby years) with a true medieval structure/castle. I was so overwhelmed!

For any other castle buffs, I highly recommend a visit to the Monimail Tower in Fife. It's a pretty easy drive from Edinburgh and there's even a relatively close bus stop (2-3 miles maybe). The tower is now part of a commune, but the tower is open for visitation, and all they ask is a donation. It has been renovated/refurbished with roof and all! If you stay at the commune you can actually have a bedroom in the Tower!!! It is so sweet! Dont miss going up to the roof and having a look about. There's a relatively interesting history there, too, if you can imagine a castle NOT having an interesting history. It used to be part of the Archbishop of St Andrew's country house/castle back before the Scottish Reformation.

If you go, tell 'em Wesley sent you. They may still remember me... I was a WWOOFer there for about six weeks in 2003. I'll see if I can post some pics, too.