Robgill Tower facts for kids
Robgill Tower is an old tower house located near Ecclefechan in Scotland. It stands right by the Kirtle River. This tower was one of many built along the border between Scotland and England. Their purpose was to protect against attacks from the English side.
For hundreds of years, the Clan Irvine family owned Robgill Tower. This family was also known as Irving. However, records from 1834 show that a man named James Smail owned it then. He had bought it from Sir Emelius Irving.
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What's in a Name? Robgill's Meaning
The name "Robgill" comes from very old languages. "Rob" comes from an Old English name, Hreodbeorht, which is like the modern name Robert. "Gill" comes from Old Norse and means "ravine" or a narrow valley.
The name was first written down as Redbeilgill way back in 1125. So, the name tells us about a "Robert's Ravine."
Robgill Tower: A Look at Its History
Robgill Tower was likely built around 1540 by the Irvine family. They also owned another important building called Bonshaw Tower. Some old papers, though, suggest Robgill Tower might be even older, built in 1430. It was even described as the "blue-print" for Bonshaw Tower, which was built around the same time, less than a mile away.
Changes Over Time: Robgill's Updates
Robgill Tower was changed a lot in the 1800s. Since 1971, it has been listed as a "B-listed" building. This means it's an important historical structure. The listing describes it as a "medium scale mansion" with a "crenellated retaining wall." This wall has battlements, like a castle. Even though it was changed, the main part of the building is still the 16th-century tower.
Later reports talked about other parts of the property. There was a "fine stable block" built in the late 1800s. This is where horses would have been kept. There was also a large walled garden with a big greenhouse. The stable block now has a swimming pool. There is also a large indoor arena for horse riding. The stable block, Gate Lodge, and Gate Peers are also B-listed. The Walled Garden has a "Category-C" rating.
An 1889 book about Scottish buildings mentioned a big change about ten years before. Part of the tower was "pulled down" to the level of the main hall floor. This was done to connect it to a new house being built next to it.
In 1973, a summary of the property showed that a Mr. Shaw owned it.
Robgill Tower Today: Modern Features
A detailed description from 2013 showed many pictures and details of the property. A 2019 summary said the tower had "six reception rooms." These are like living rooms or gathering spaces. It also had an indoor swimming pool, a games room, and a gym. There was an indoor riding arena and a garage big enough for six cars. A separate two-bedroom gate lodge was also part of the property.
The main house was recently fixed up and restored. It is known for its excellent facilities for horses and riding.
