Gilnockie Tower
Canonbie,
Dumfries & Galloway
DG14 0XD
Gilnockie Tower dates from the 16th century. It is the ONLY habitable Armstrong tower house still in existence from the original 80 - 90 pele towers in the Eskdale & Liddesdale area. England can be seen from the top of the tower which is situated in a remarkably good defensive position.
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland has extensive archaeological notes on the tower. According to their notes:
The original name of the Tower was the Holehouse; the House by the Hole. The "Hole" was the quarry from which the stone for the building was extracted. This was abbreviated to Hollas by local usage, and modern maps still show the nearby hamlet as Hollows.
The tower is named as Gilnockie Tower, at Holehouse, on late 19th century maps, in 1937 in the Register of Sasines (the land registry) and in the Royal Commissions Survey of 1981 which states 'this oblong tower-house of 16th century date stands to a height of 4 storeys and a garret and bears a beacon-stance on the SSW gable. Attributed to the Armstrongs.'
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland has extensive archaeological notes on the tower. According to their notes:
- "The Armstrongs first appeared in the district early in the 16th century when the redoubtable Johnnie Armstrong or 'Gilnockie' settled on the church lands at Canonbie and erected this tower at the place called the Hollows."
- "It was a stronghold of the Armstrongs, and its predecessor, built in 1518, was burnt down by Lord Dacre in 1528."
The original name of the Tower was the Holehouse; the House by the Hole. The "Hole" was the quarry from which the stone for the building was extracted. This was abbreviated to Hollas by local usage, and modern maps still show the nearby hamlet as Hollows.
The tower is named as Gilnockie Tower, at Holehouse, on late 19th century maps, in 1937 in the Register of Sasines (the land registry) and in the Royal Commissions Survey of 1981 which states 'this oblong tower-house of 16th century date stands to a height of 4 storeys and a garret and bears a beacon-stance on the SSW gable. Attributed to the Armstrongs.'
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[email protected] The Tower can be found by taking the turning off the A7 at Canonbie when travelling north or south by following the brown tourist signs 'Clan Armstrong Centre'. For satnavs use the postcode DG14 0XD, or use our interactive satellite/map view and simply zoom out to find other nearby Armstrong reiver sites. Association Members have access to more comprehensive maps with more details on each site, and a suggested itinerary for a self-guided Armstrong Reiver Tour.
GILNOCKIE TOWER open 29th March to End October 2024 – 7 days – 10am till 4pm.
If further information is required email [email protected] Website: www.gilnockietower.co.uk Telephone: 013873 71373 or 07733 065587 |
Gilnockie Tower
Gilnockie Tower,
Canonbie,
Dumfries & Galloway
DG14 0XD
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