Preston Tower, East Lothian

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Not to be confused with Preston Tower, Northumberland.
Preston Tower

Preston Tower is a ruined L-plan keep in the ancient Scottish village of Prestonpans.[1] It is situated within a few metres of two other historic houses, Hamilton House and Northfield House.[2]

History[]

The original structure, some of which may date from the 14th century, has four storeys.[3] A further two storeys were added above the parapet in 1626,[4] with Renaissance windows[5] bearing the initials SIDKH (Sir John and Dame Katherine Hamilton).

The entrance to the Tower had a lean-to hoarding from which items could be dropped, for instance boulders, hot sand, or boiling oil.[6]

Preston passed by marriage to the "haughty Hamiltons" (also known as "Hameldone") at the close of the 14th century.[7] David Hamilton of Preston went France with James V in 1536. Preston Tower was burnt by the Earl of Hertford in May 1544 following the burning of Edinburgh during the war known as the Rough Wooing. David Hamilton was a Master Usher for Regent Arran,[8] and fought for Mary, Queen of Scots at the battle of Langside. His son George married Barbara Cockburn (died November 1610), a daughter of John Cockburn of Ormiston. His grandson John married Katherine Howison (died 1629) as his second wife, and their initials were carved on Preston Tower.[9] They employed a stone mason, William Pedden, who also worked at Winton Castle, and a glazier, James Wauche.[10] A family pew in the church also featured their carved initials and painted heraldry.[11]

The tower was burnt again in 1650 Oliver Cromwell with the loss of the family records.[12] After being restored it burnt again, accidentally, in 1663 and was abandoned for the nearby .[13] One of the Hamilton family was the noted covenanter Robert Hamilton, a commander in the battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Brig.[14] After this, the family were forfeited in 1684, but recovered the property in the 19th century.

Preston Tower was purchased by the National Trust for Scotland in 1969. It is currently under the guardianship of East Lothian Council.[15]

The site also has a laburnum arch, and a herb garden, and a lectern-style doocot[16] which dates from the mid-17th century, after Cromwell had sacked the Tower. Preston Tower has a pit-prison[17] but the Preston Merkat Cross was eventually used as the local prison instead.[18]

Photo gallery[]

  • PrestonTower1.jpg
  • PrestonTower03.jpg

  • Lectern doocot at Preston Tower

  • Preston Tower August 2018.jpg

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Preston Tower, Prestonpans, East Lothian | Castles Uncovered". www.castlesuncovered.com. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  2. ^ "Preston Tower | Prestonpans | The Castles of Scotland, Coventry | Goblinshead". www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  3. ^ info@undiscoveredscotland.co.uk, Undiscovered Scotland. "Preston Tower Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland". www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  4. ^ "Preston Tower | Prestonpans | The Castles of Scotland, Coventry | Goblinshead". www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  5. ^ "Preston Tower | Scottish Borders and Lothians | Castles, Forts and Battles". www.castlesfortsbattles.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  6. ^ "Preston Tower, Prestonpans, East Lothian | Castles Uncovered". www.castlesuncovered.com. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  7. ^ "Preston Tower | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  8. ^ James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 9 (Edinburgh, 1911), p. 402.
  9. ^ John Anderson, Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton (Edinburgh, 1825), pp. 346-51
  10. ^ HMC 2nd Report, Forbes-Whitehaugh (London, 1871), p. 199: National Records of Scotland, will of Catherein Howisoun, CC8/8/55 p. 345.
  11. ^ J. Fowler Hislop, 'Heraldic Panel found in the church of Prestonpans', PSAS, 26 (Edinburgh, 1892), p. 243.
  12. ^ "Preston Tower | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  13. ^ "Preston Tower | Prestonpans | The Castles of Scotland, Coventry | Goblinshead". www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  14. ^ "Preston Tower | Prestonpans | The Castles of Scotland, Coventry | Goblinshead". www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  15. ^ info@undiscoveredscotland.co.uk, Undiscovered Scotland. "Preston Tower Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland". www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  16. ^ "Preston Tower, Doocot | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  17. ^ "Preston Tower | Prestonpans | The Castles of Scotland, Coventry | Goblinshead". www.thecastlesofscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  18. ^ "Preston Tower | Scottish Borders and Lothians | Castles, Forts and Battles". www.castlesfortsbattles.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-21.

Further reading[]

  • Coventry, Martin (2005). Castles of Scotland. Goblinshead. pp. 93–94. ISBN 1-899874-24-0.
  • Salter, Mike (1985). Discovering Scottish Castles. Shire Publications Ltd. p. 109. ISBN 0-85263-749-7.

External links[]


Coordinates: 55°57′21″N 2°58′41″W / 55.9557°N 2.9781°W / 55.9557; -2.9781

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