Milton Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Milton Tower |
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The tower viewed from the south, 2008
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| Type | Tower house |
| Location | Keith, Moray |
| Built | 1480 |
| Built for | George Ogilvie |
| Designated | 1993 |
| Reference no. | SM5533 |
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Milton Tower is a ruined castle located near Keith, Moray in Scotland. This old tower was built and changed over many years. It started around 1480 for a person named George Ogilvie. It was the main home for the Ogilvie family for a long time. They took over the land after the Scottish Reformation, which was a big change in religion in Scotland.
In 1601, Margaret Ogilvie updated the tower. Later, in 1707, the tower became part of the Oliphant family through marriage. However, after 1715, the tower was not looked after and slowly started to fall apart. It was completely left empty in 1829. Many of its stones were even taken away to be used for other buildings.
What Milton Tower Looks Like Now
Today, only the northern part of the castle is left. It stands as a two-story tower. There is a small room at the very top, called a garret. The ground floor has a strong, arched ceiling, known as a vault.
Inside the Ruins
You can still see the fireplace of what was once the great hall. This fireplace is on the south side of the tower, on the first floor. Next to it, there's a large storage cupboard called an aumbry.
Walls and Entrance
The west wall has an arched entrance. There is also a small window for the garret on the south side. The walls are made of rough stones with smooth, cut stones used for details. They are very thick, up to 0.9 meters (about 3 feet) in some places. The tower is about 7.2 meters (23.6 feet) from east to west. It is also about 6.4 meters (21 feet) from north to south. You can get to the tower from the west side through an iron gate.
Important History
Milton Tower is famous for being the birthplace of St John Ogilvie. He is Scotland's only Catholic saint from after the Scottish Reformation.
In 1993, Milton Tower was named a scheduled monument. This means it is a very important historical site. It is known as a great example of a defensive home from the 1400s.
