Castlehill Tower facts for kids
Castlehill Tower, also known as Castle Hill of Manor, is a ruined building that was once a tower house. It was built around the end of the 1400s. You can find it in the area of Manor, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Kirkton Manor in the Scottish Borders, Scotland.
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History of Castlehill Tower
Who Owned Castlehill Tower?
The Lowis family of Manor built Castlehill Tower. It was first mentioned in records in 1555. Later, in 1637, the tower was sold to Alexander Veitch. He then passed it on to George Baillie of Jerviswood in 1672.
From 1703 to 1729, William, who was the first Earl of March, owned the tower. William Tweedie of Quarter seems to have owned it in 1838, but he left it just two years later.
What Castlehill Tower Looks Like
Location and Size
Castlehill Tower stands on a rocky hill next to the Manor Water river. It probably had three floors and an attic. Today, only parts of the ground and first floors are left.
The tower is about 37 feet (11.5 meters) long and 29 feet (9 meters) wide. The walls on the ground floor are very thick, about 6 or 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 meters) thick!
Inside the Tower
The main door was on the east side, leading to a small entrance area. From this area, stairs led up to the main hall on the first floor. These stairs also connected to a hallway that led to the main hall (which had a curved, 'barrel' ceiling) and another spiral staircase in the tower's northwest corner.
On the ground floor, there are signs of old toilet chutes from the upper floors. These were called garderobes.
Defenses Around the Tower
Around the tower, especially to the south, west, and northwest, there was a ditch. This ditch was about 11 feet (3.3 meters) wide at the bottom. There was also a raised bank on the other side of the ditch.
The sides of the rocky hill might have been made steeper to make it harder for attackers to climb. There are also signs of a stone wall on the north and east sides. It's possible that the entire top of the hill was once enclosed by a wall.
Purpose of the Tower
Castlehill Tower was important because it guarded a place where people could cross the Manor Water river. This made it a strategic spot.
In 1889, some work was done to make the tower stronger, but it wasn't completely successful. Today, Castlehill Tower is recognized as a category B listed building, which means it's an important historical site.
