Sorbie Tower facts for kids
Sorbie Tower is an old, strong building called a tower house. It stands about one mile east of the village of Sorbie in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Contents
Sorbie Tower: A Historic Scottish Building
Sorbie Tower is a special kind of old building known as a tower house. These towers were built to be homes but also strongholds, meaning they could be defended if attacked. Sorbie Tower is found in a beautiful part of Scotland, close to the coast.
What is Sorbie Tower?
Sorbie Tower was built in the late 1500s. It has a unique "L-shaped" design, which means it looks like the letter L from above. The tower was built using stones and rubble, which are rough pieces of rock. Even though it's very old, parts of it still stand as high as the second floor.
One interesting thing about Sorbie Tower is that it doesn't have a "wall-walk" or "parapet." These are usually walkways at the top of old castles or towers that people would use to look out or defend the building. Sorbie Tower is different because it doesn't have these features.
Who Lived Here?
Sorbie Tower was once the main home for an old Scottish family called the Clan Hannay. A famous person from this family was Patrick Hannay. He was a poet and worked for King James VI of Scotland (who later became King James I of England). It's thought that Patrick Hannay might have even helped build the tower.
The Tower's History
Over the years, Sorbie Tower changed owners. In 1677, the tower was sold to the Earl of Galloway. The Earls of Galloway were powerful landowners in the area.
After the last person in that family line passed away in 1748, Sorbie Tower became a ruin. This means it slowly fell apart and was not looked after for a long time.
However, in 1965, something special happened. The owner of the tower gave it back to the Clan Hannay. Since then, there have been plans to fix up and restore the tower so it can be enjoyed for many more years.
Visiting Sorbie Tower
Sorbie Tower is a scheduled monument. This means it's a very important historical site protected by law.
You can visit Sorbie Tower and see it from the outside without paying anything. If you want to go inside the tower, you can ask at the village shop in Garlieston. It's a great way to imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago in a Scottish tower house!
