Wrae Tower facts for kids
Wrae Tower is an old stone building from the 1500s. It is now mostly a ruin. You can find it in the beautiful Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It's also south of a village called Broughton.
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Wrae Tower: A Glimpse into History
Wrae Tower is a special kind of old building called a tower house. These were strong, tall homes built a long time ago. They were used for living in and for protection. Wrae Tower was built in the 16th century, which means the 1500s.
What Remains of Wrae Tower?
Today, not much of Wrae Tower is left standing. You can see only a small part of what used to be the north-east corner. This piece is about 9 meters (30 feet) tall and 4 meters (13 feet) wide. It was once part of a stair tower.
There's also a single stone piece called a "jamb." This jamb shows where the main entrance to the tower used to be on the ground floor. At the top of the north-east wall, you can see rough stones sticking out. These are called "corbelling." They once held up a walkway or wall at the very top, known as a "parapet."
Where is Wrae Tower Located?
Wrae Tower is in a scenic part of Scotland. It's in the upper Tweed Valley, which is known for its beautiful landscapes. The ruin is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south-west of a place called Drumelzier. It's a quiet spot, perfect for imagining what life was like centuries ago.
Who Built Wrae Tower?
The tower was most likely built by a powerful family known as the Tweedies of Drumelzier. This family owned the land around Wrae Tower for a very long time, starting way back in the year 1320. Building a tower like this showed their importance and strength in the area.