Walter scott was inspired here on visits to his grandfather. Smailholm tower resides atop a rocky outcrop along the scottish borders. Ive been a member of historic scotland for just shy of eleven years now. Check back soon for a condensed history of smailholm tower.
See the foundations of the outer hall and kitchen next to the tower. She has discovered a miniature village hidden close to her family home of smailholm tower. The history of the tower of london is the history of england and this is brought to life in this compelling volume. Smailholm tower feature page on undiscovered scotland.
Claire williams lives in cheshire with her husband and children ava and henry. The tower that inspired the fantasy book smailholm. The tower passed, in 1745, to the scotts of harden, but they left the structure in 1800. Anyway, so anne wynn, or wynn as ill refer to her, findsstumbles upon this little town under tbr smailholm tower, where because of some curse from an evil witch, the people of the town shrunk. He also visited just before his death in 1832 and is buried in dryburgh abbey. Smailholm tower is a peel tower at smailholm, around five miles 8 km west of kelso in the scottish. In the keep of time is the story of four siblings who spend the summer with their aunt in the scottish countryside and discover an old castle keep that is a portal through time. Smailholm was sold to the scotts of harden in 1645 the scotts ancestors of sir walter rebuilt parts of the tower and barmkin walled courtyard. The terrain consists of farm tracks and short sections of b class roads, and is suitable for walking, cycling or riding.
Smailholm tower is thought to date back to the 15th century, it is a peel tower common in these parts during that time. Historic scotland smailholm tower undiscovered scotland smailholm tower wikipedia smailholm clan pringle in addition, the heritage hub in hawick, scottish borders archive and local history centre, is a mine of information for those who. Visit smailholm tower on your trip to kelso or united kingdom. This place, of which the name is variously written smalham, smalholm, and smailholm, is chiefly distinguished for its tower, a spacious square building supposed to have been a border fortress, and the remains of which still exist. Smailholm tower lead public body for scotlands historic. Smailholm tower is a peel tower 5 miles west of kelso scottish borders.
Smailholm tower was originally built in the 15th century or early 16th century by the pringle family. Smailholm was probably built at the start of the 15th century by a branch of the pringle family. Smailholm tower was the centerpiece of the childrens adventure novel in the keep of time by margaret j. Formerly the home of the pringles of smailholm and later that of the scotts of harden, it was well known to sir walter scott who came to sandyknowe regularly to visit his grandfather. Situated on sandyknowe farm, it is visible for miles around. She is proud to be called a clayhead a person born in the potteries stoke on trent and will always turn over a china cup to see where it is made. Smailholm tower is a peel tower that stands around five miles west of kelso in the scottish borders. On a more meta level, smailholm tower itself seems symbolic of this, since it remains even centuries in the future and, in the belief of the author, will still stand when our knowledge and skills are but a chapter in the course of the history of mani. A turn in the road means its all too easy to overlook a building in the heart of the village whose origins are considerably older, smailholm church. The young sir walter scott spent much of his childhood at sandyknowe, a nearby farm which belonged to his grandfather. It was the sight of smailholm that fired walter scotts imagination when, as a young boy, he was brought up by his grandparents at the nearby farm of sandyknowe.
Walter scott came here as a boy as his grandfather held sandyknowe and scott suffered from ill health. They say they were once the same size as i, but they were shrunk by some otherworldly. Smailhome tower has stood on top of a crag for five centuries, with a looming, dramatic look that has won over visitors for many years. This one by nigel jones is certainly the most comprehensive work i have read on the subject. Photos, history, and visitor information, part of the historic scotland guide to the scottish borders. Smailholm tower is an atmospheric and stark old tower house in a windswept rocky position, long held by the pringles and near kelso in the borders.
Im uploading pictures first to give you an overview of the incredible variety of scottish castles and then catching up with the histories as soon as i can. This 65 ft towerhouse was built by a wellknown scottish borders family in the first half of the 15th century, and today you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside from smailholm tower. Smailholm tower, one in a string of borders keeps guarding the tweed valley, was built not later than the early 15th century, when it was held by the powerful pringle family, four of whom were killed at the battle of flodden in 15. The path up to the tower can be very muddy in wet weather. I have been to most of the staffed properties by now and a few of the nonstaffed ones so a new property is a rare pleasure indeed. The interactive map above shows the peel towers of the tweed click on the red icons for more information. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page.
Smailholm was sold to the scotts of harden in 1645 but that family moved to sandyknowe in 1700 and the tower became derelict. Its dramatic situation, atop a crag of lady hill, commands wide views over the surrounding countryside. Smailholm, roxburghshire, scotland genealogy genealogy. Smailholm tower occupies a volcanic knoll just ten miles from the border with england. This 65 ft towerhouse was built by a wellknown scottish borders family in the first half of the 15th century, and today you can enjoy stunning views of the. The pringles, who built this border stronghold in the first half of the 1400s, were a prominent local family. Get up close to the substantial enclosure wall a mighty defence with its walls 2m deep.
Who or what deablin is, is revealed during the story but it was a clever connection, even though her short interjections were sometimes a little confusing. This 65 ft towerhouse was built by a wellknown scottish borders family in the first half of the 15th century, and today you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside from smailholm tower s battlements. According to discover the borders, this is a well preserved and well restored border tower house dating from the 15th century. There are so many excellent sources on the history of smailholm that we wont try to reproduce them here, but you may find the following links helpful. Smailholm tower kelso 2020 all you need to know before. Smailholm mains holiday cottages, kelso, scottish borders. The upper three floors of smailholm tower are today used as a permanent exhibition of costumed figures and beautiful tapestries that recall scotts collections of ballards and the turbulent past of the area. Smailholm tower martin coventry the property was sold to the scotts of harden in 1645, and the tower was abandoned about 1700 for nearby sandyknowe. Its dramatic situation, atop a crag of lady hill, commands wide. Its history involves two notable scottish families, namely the pringles, originally known as the hoppringills, and scotts of harden who were ancestors of sir walter scott. We hope this website will contain something of interest for residents and local visitors, for tourists and holiday makers, and for people with family or friends in the area. A minor road leads you through the farmstead of sandyknowe and. A little further afield approximately 6miles is the market town of kelso with more history, architecture and independent shops covering all tastes.
It was first built by the powerful comyn family in the 12th century, but fell out of use after robert the bruce reduced the comyns influence and drove them out of balvenie. When tales of merciless border raiders reach the small folk, they realise they are in danger and must seek a cure to their strange predicament. Smailholm tower is a peel tower at smailholm, around five miles 8 km west of kelso in the. Smailholm church feature page on undiscovered scotland. For a detailed account of the history of the smailholm branch of the pringle clan, see the smailholm chapter in alex pringles book the records of the pringles of the scottish border.
Upon reading this again as an adult, id i recently rediscovered this book, having read it as a child. Smailholm tower castle in smailholm, roxburghshire. Smailholm village website contains a number of articles on the history of the parish and its peoples. Jan 28, 2020 the book revolves around wynn, about this, all the sisters were named anne, anne june, anne wynn, and eldest was just anne.
It was acquired early in the 17th century by the scotts of harden. Sited high on a rocky outcrop, smailholm is a well preserved 15th century rectangular tower set within a stone barmkin wall. Apart from their primary purpose as a warning system, these towers were the homes of the lairds and landlords of the area, who dwelt in them with their families and retainers, while their followers lived in simple huts outside the walls. Scottish castles photo library smailhom tower, borders. View all restaurants near smailholm tower on tripadvisor. Ancestors of the great romantic novelist had called the tower home, and scott learned the power of border ballads as a young infant living on the estate. Visited smailholm tower near kelso on a bright and sunny day. Smailholm you see for many years a secret has been kept beneath my family home smailholm tower, the wild brambles hiding a big secret of the smallest kind. Access is either from the village of smailholm, whose fine norman church is worth a visit, or from the b6404, four miles north east of st boswells.
This page was last edited on 8 december 2014, at 10. It sucked me in fairly quickly as i am a big fan of historical fiction and fantasy. Smailholm tower is a peel tower at smailholm, around five miles 8 km west of kelso in the scottish borders. The tower was locked but still very impressive and the views were fabulous.
Sited high on a rocky outcrop, smailholm is a small rectangular tower set within a stone barmkin wall. Smailholm tower martin coventry smelumcraig is marked on blaeus map of the merse, and is depicted as a tower on a hill. Built in the first half of the fifteenth century by the pringle family, the tower was intended to provide a secure residence from the lawlessness that plagued the area. Guide to scotland with a blog, photos, and extensive information on castles, pictish history, ancient sites, accommodation, food and drink, car hire, travel, and things to see and do in scotland. Smailholm tower a free history and description of this distinctive borders tower by historian the castle guy with full downloadable eguide available the smailholm tower is a prominent landmark in the scottish borders, mounted proudly on top of a volcanic plug of rock between melrose and kelso. She probably needs to consider botox in the near future. A sturdy rectangular tower, built of rubble with sandstone dressings, it perches on a rock outcrop. There were two protagonists in this story, a year old girl called wynn who was noblewomentobe living in smailholm tower and then short chapter interludes from deablin. Smailholm is a great book this book has a great storyline and is well narrated, a great first novel from c. An enchanting middle grade fantasy book that combines some of the best bits of other fantasy books such as the borrowers and the hobbit whilst still adding a delicious, unique core of good characters and fantastic settings. These days the villages name is perhaps best know for its association with smailholm tower, a mile and a half to the south west. Smailholm is a peel tower, built by the pringle family around 1450 for defence against cattle raiders or reivers. Smailholm tower is an impressive structure famed in border ballad and associated with sir walter scott, who spent some of his childhood recuperating at sandyknowe farm in 1773.
For the energetic, a longer circular walk of about 9 miles, going by smailholm tower and new smailholm farm, is shown on the map below. The pringles, who built this border stronghold in the first half of the. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Information about and images of smailholm tower in the scottish borders on. Oct 15, 20 i have accumulated several books on the tower,each one a great read. Smailholm tower is a 15th century fortified tower associated with sir walter scott. Clan pringle website contains information on the pringles and their smailholm connection. Inside the tower is a model of this pringle residence and a charming collection of costume figures and tapestries relating to sir walter scotts minstrelsy of the scottish borders. Smailholm was built about the middle of the 15th century by the pringle family who were factors of the earl of douglas.
In 1994, the borders family history society produced a book in which the inscriptions on the gravestones in. In the local village smailholm pottery and all its wares, smailholm tower with its beautiful views andor mellerstain house and gardens to name but a few. It has 5 star visitscotland status, one of only 8 sites in scotland to be awarded this. We aim to inform villagers and others of whats going on in smailholm. The beautiful little settlement of smailholm can be found on the b6397 from kelso to earlston. By an act of parliament in 1455 each of these towers was required to have an iron basket on its summit and a smoke or fire signal, for day or night use, ready at hand. Smailholm tells the story of year old wynn hoppringle. Smailholm tower scottish borders and lothians castles.
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Adventurous and independent, she discovers a miniature village hidden in the brambles and bracken away from the tower, descendants of a forgotten curse against the clans of smailholm. A superb tower house which makes much of its links to sir water scott at the expense of its history. While i use it a bit less than i used to, my card gets dirty a few times a year. We are accredited information partners of visitscotland and can offer tailored advice to help you make the most of your visit. When tales of merciless border raiders reach the small folk, they realize they are in danger and must seek a cure to their strange predicament. The book revolves around wynn, about this, all the sisters were named anne, anne june, anne wynn, and eldest was just anne. Smailholm was a relatively small tower house, offering around 200 m 2 of floorspace, later extended by construction of a hall house and second kitchen within the barmkin, or courtyard the rectangular tower is of four storeys, situated on top of a rocky outcrop.
Smailholm tower the castles of scotland, coventry goblinshead. In the eighteenth century it would become home to the famous novelist and poet, sir walter scott. The lands were held by the smailholm family in the 12th century, but went to the kerrs in 1404 before they acquired ferniehirst. In wild medieval britain thirteenyearold wynn hoppringle has a big secret of the smallest kind. This official guide uncovers the rich history behind balvenie castle.
In this souvenir guide, chris tabraham takes you through the history of the fourstorey tower, which acted as a home, protecting its inhabitants from english raiders and the elements. As the crow flies, smailholm tower lies almost exactly mid way between melrose and kelso. Perched on a rocky knoll above a small lake, this narrow stone tower provides one of the most evocative sights in the borders and keeps its bloody history alive. Anderson, in which four english children staying with their aged aunt grace travel through time by means of a magical key, first to the time of james ii, then to a future after the fall of civilization. This useful booklet, indexed by family name, also contains a list of smailholm ministers and names from the war memorial and is isbn 1 874232 00 0. Take in the completeness of the 15thcentury lairds residence the fourstorey tower house remains roofed and floored. Sir walter scott came here as a youngster his grandfather held nearby sandyknowe farmhouse and the stories of smailholm and many other border locations became the inspiration for many of his stories and ballads. Although displays inside are sparse, the panoramic view from the top is worth the climb. The tower is 6 miles west of kelso, a mile south of smailholm village on the b6397. It is a secret which only i seem to have discoveredthat of the miniature folk of smailholm.
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