Sauchie Tower facts for kids
Sauchie Tower, also known as Devon Tower, is a strong old building from the 1400s. It's a type of fortified home called a tower house. You can find it in Clackmannanshire, Scotland.
The tower stands near the village of Fishcross. It's about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) north of Sauchie. It's also 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) north of Alloa, right by the River Devon. Today, Sauchie Tower is a special place. It is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it's an important historical site.
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History of Sauchie Tower
Early Owners and Builders
The land where Sauchie Tower stands was given by King Robert the Bruce in 1321. He gave it to Henri de Annand, who was the Sheriff of Clackmannan. Later, in 1431, Sir James Schaw of Greenock took over the land. He was an important person who managed money for the King. Sir James got the land when he married Mary de Annand, who was the heiress.
Sir James Schaw built Sauchie Tower soon after this. His son became the Governor of Stirling Castle in 1460. The Schaw family owned the land for a long time, until the 1600s. Many members of the Schaw family worked for the Scottish royal family.
Royal Visits and Changes
On September 5, 1503, the gardener from Sauchie brought a gift of pears to King James IV. Later, in May 1565, Mary, Queen of Scots visited Sauchie. She also visited nearby Alloa Tower.
Around 1631, Alexander Schaw built a house in the courtyard next to the tower. King Charles I made him a knight in 1633. Another house on the estate, called Schawpark, was built around 1700. In 1752, Sauchie Tower became part of the Cathcart family through marriage. Around this time, the tower might have been badly damaged by fire. After that, no one lived in it anymore. Its roof and small towers on the corners were destroyed later in the 1800s.
Later Years and Restoration Efforts
Old Sauchie House, which was in the courtyard, was pulled down. This happened after the land was bought for coal mining in the 1930s. The tower was empty but still in good shape in 1950. Schawpark was sold in 1826 to the Earl of Mansfield. He was a local leader at the time. Schawpark was then pulled down in 1961.
People first suggested fixing up the tower in the 1980s. They even did some digging to learn more about it. However, the repair work was never finished. Now, the Clackmannanshire Heritage Trust owns the building. They have put a temporary roof on it to protect it.
In 2002, a group called the Friends of Sauchie Tower was formed. They wanted to help restore the building. They received money from the Heritage Lottery Fund. With this money, they cleaned up the site and did more digging. They also made a DVD to help more people learn about Sauchie Tower.
What Sauchie Tower Looks Like
Sauchie Tower is a tall, strong building. It measures about 11.5 meters (37.7 feet) by 10.3 meters (33.8 feet). It has four main floors. At the top, there's a walkway with small, round towers called bartizans at the corners. These towers stick out from the walls.
At the northwest corner, there's a special hexagonal (six-sided) room. It's called a cap-house and has a pointy roof. The basement of the tower has a vaulted ceiling and a well. The main hall, where people would gather, is on the first floor. The tower is 79 feet (24 meters) tall. It used to have a moat (a ditch filled with water) around it and a drawbridge.
