It is a secret which only i seem to have discoveredthat of the miniature folk of smailholm. Smailholm tower the castles of scotland, coventry goblinshead. While i use it a bit less than i used to, my card gets dirty a few times a year. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. The tower passed, in 1745, to the scotts of harden, but they left the structure in 1800. In the local village smailholm pottery and all its wares, smailholm tower with its beautiful views andor mellerstain house and gardens to name but a few. In 1994, the borders family history society produced a book in which the inscriptions on the gravestones in smailholm churchyard are reproduced. Adventurous and independent, she discovers a miniature village hidden in the brambles and bracken away from the tower, descendants of a forgotten curse against the clans of smailholm. The pringles, who built this border stronghold in the first half of the 1400s, were a prominent local family. The beautiful little settlement of smailholm can be found on the b6397 from kelso to earlston. Sir walter scott came here as a youngster his grandfather held nearby sandyknowe farmhouse and the stories of smailholm and many other border locations became the inspiration for many of his stories and ballads. Its dramatic situation, atop a crag of lady hill, commands wide. They say they were once the same size as i, but they were shrunk by some otherworldly. She probably needs to consider botox in the near future.
In the 18th century the tower decayed, following the familys move into nearby sandyknowe. In this souvenir guide, chris tabraham takes you through the history of the fourstorey tower, which acted as a home, protecting its inhabitants from english raiders and the elements. There were two protagonists in this story, a year old girl called wynn who was noblewomentobe living in smailholm tower and then short chapter interludes from deablin. Smailholm village website contains a number of articles on the history of the parish and its peoples. Smailholm tower, one in a string of borders keeps guarding the tweed valley, was built not later than the early 15th century, when it was held by the powerful pringle family, four of whom were killed at the battle of flodden in 15. The pringles, who built this border stronghold in the first half of the. When border raiders discover the existence of the tiny folk, a small band of heroes must brave the wider world to revoke the curse and save their people.
Get up close to the substantial enclosure wall a mighty defence with its walls 2m deep. Smailholm tower is thought to date back to the 15th century, it is a peel tower common in these parts during that time. It was acquired early in the 17th century by the scotts of harden. The tower was locked but still very impressive and the views were fabulous. Photos, history, and visitor information, part of the historic scotland guide to the scottish borders. It sucked me in fairly quickly as i am a big fan of historical fiction and fantasy. This page was last edited on 8 december 2014, at 10. Smailholm tower is now used to display an extensive array of model people illustrating the history of smailholm and the stories of walter scott, a display created by two local artists and employing highquality embroidery and modelling techniques. Take in the completeness of the 15thcentury lairds residence the fourstorey tower house remains roofed and floored. Smailholm was sold to the scotts of harden in 1645 the scotts ancestors of sir walter rebuilt parts of the tower and barmkin walled courtyard. Walter scott came here as a boy as his grandfather held sandyknowe and scott suffered from ill health. Smailholm tower martin coventry the property was sold to the scotts of harden in 1645, and the tower was abandoned about 1700 for nearby sandyknowe.
Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. See the foundations of the outer hall and kitchen next to the tower. Who or what deablin is, is revealed during the story but it was a clever connection, even though her short interjections were sometimes a little confusing. Jan 28, 2020 the book revolves around wynn, about this, all the sisters were named anne, anne june, anne wynn, and eldest was just anne. Situated on sandyknowe farm, it is visible for miles around. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Sited high on a rocky outcrop, smailholm is a small rectangular tower set within a stone barmkin wall. The village of smailholm resides out on the moors of smailholm tower, but it is not a normal village. It has 5 star visitscotland status, one of only 8 sites in scotland to be awarded this. Smailholm church feature page on undiscovered scotland. Smailholm tower was originally built in the 15th century or early 16th century by the pringle family. Information about and images of smailholm tower in the scottish borders on. In wild, medieval britain, yearold wynn hoppringle has a big secret of the smallest kind.
When tales of merciless border raiders reach the small folk, they realize they are in danger and must seek a cure to their strange predicament. The book revolves around wynn, about this, all the sisters were named anne, anne june, anne wynn, and eldest was just anne. Im uploading pictures first to give you an overview of the incredible variety of scottish castles and then catching up with the histories as soon as i can. For a detailed account of the history of the smailholm branch of the pringle clan, see the smailholm chapter in alex pringles book the records of the pringles of the scottish border. Anyway, so anne wynn, or wynn as ill refer to her, findsstumbles upon this little town under tbr smailholm tower, where because of some curse from an evil witch, the people of the town shrunk. Sited high on a rocky outcrop, smailholm is a well preserved 15th century rectangular tower set within a stone barmkin wall.
It was the sight of smailholm that fired walter scotts imagination when, as a young boy, he was brought up by his grandparents at the nearby farm of sandyknowe. Although displays inside are sparse, the panoramic view from the top is worth the climb. This official guide uncovers the rich history behind balvenie castle. View all restaurants near smailholm tower on tripadvisor. Check back soon for a condensed history of smailholm tower.
Smailholm tower is a peel tower that stands around five miles west of kelso in the scottish borders. Smailholm tells the story of year old wynn hoppringle. Smailholm was sold to the scotts of harden in 1645 but that family moved to sandyknowe in 1700 and the tower became derelict. There are so many excellent sources on the history of smailholm that we wont try to reproduce them here, but you may find the following links helpful. He also visited just before his death in 1832 and is buried in dryburgh abbey. Smailholm tower martin coventry smelumcraig is marked on blaeus map of the merse, and is depicted as a tower on a hill. The tower that inspired the fantasy book smailholm.
In the keep of time is the story of four siblings who spend the summer with their aunt in the scottish countryside and discover an old castle keep that is a portal through time. Smailholm tower scottish borders and lothians castles. In the eighteenth century it would become home to the famous novelist and poet, sir walter scott. Smailholm tower kelso 2020 all you need to know before. The interactive map above shows the peel towers of the tweed click on the red icons for more information. Smailholm tower castle in smailholm, roxburghshire. Smailholm tower resides atop a rocky outcrop along the scottish borders. Smailholm, a parish, in the county of roxburgh, 6 miles w. Apart from their primary purpose as a warning system, these towers were the homes of the lairds and landlords of the area, who dwelt in them with their families and retainers, while their followers lived in simple huts outside the walls. I have been to most of the staffed properties by now and a few of the nonstaffed ones so a new property is a rare pleasure indeed. This useful booklet, indexed by family name, also contains a list of smailholm ministers and names from the war memorial and is isbn 1 874232 00 0. On a more meta level, smailholm tower itself seems symbolic of this, since it remains even centuries in the future and, in the belief of the author, will still stand when our knowledge and skills are but a chapter in the course of the history of mani.
Smailholm tower is a 15th century fortified tower associated with sir walter scott. Inside the tower is a model of this pringle residence and a charming collection of costume figures and tapestries relating to sir walter scotts minstrelsy of the scottish borders. Walter scott was inspired here on visits to his grandfather. This one by nigel jones is certainly the most comprehensive work i have read on the subject. Smailholm tower is a peel tower at smailholm, around five miles 8 km west of kelso in the scottish. When tales of merciless border raiders reach the small folk, they realise they are in danger and must seek a cure to their strange predicament. It was first built by the powerful comyn family in the 12th century, but fell out of use after robert the bruce reduced the comyns influence and drove them out of balvenie. It took a while to get into parts of the language, but i soon felt that i knew the characters, and now i want to know what happens next. Smailholm tower is a peel tower at smailholm, around five miles 8 km west of kelso in the. Ancestors of the great romantic novelist had called the tower home, and scott learned the power of border ballads as a young infant living on the estate.
Guide to scotland with a blog, photos, and extensive information on castles, pictish history, ancient sites, accommodation, food and drink, car hire, travel, and things to see and do in scotland. These days the villages name is perhaps best know for its association with smailholm tower, a mile and a half to the south west. Smailholm was a relatively small tower house, offering around 200 m 2 of floorspace, later extended by construction of a hall house and second kitchen within the barmkin, or courtyard the rectangular tower is of four storeys, situated on top of a rocky outcrop. Formerly the home of the pringles of smailholm and later that of the scotts of harden, it was well known to sir walter scott who came to sandyknowe regularly to visit his grandfather. Smailholm is a peel tower, built by the pringle family around 1450 for defence against cattle raiders or reivers. In 1994, the borders family history society produced a book in which the inscriptions on the gravestones in. Upon reading this again as an adult, id i recently rediscovered this book, having read it as a child. Anderson, in which four english children staying with their aged aunt grace travel through time by means of a magical key, first to the time of james ii, then to a future after the fall of civilization. Visit smailholm tower on your trip to kelso or united kingdom. Smailholm tower kelso, scotland attractions lonely planet.
Scottish castles photo library smailhom tower, borders. Visited smailholm tower near kelso on a bright and sunny day. Clan pringle website contains information on the pringles and their smailholm connection. Smailholm tower feature page on undiscovered scotland. An enchanting middle grade fantasy book that combines some of the best bits of other fantasy books such as the borrowers and the hobbit whilst still adding a delicious, unique core of good characters and fantastic settings. This 65 ft towerhouse was built by a wellknown scottish borders family in the first half of the 15th century, and today you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside from smailholm tower s battlements. She has discovered a miniature village hidden close to her family home of smailholm tower. Smailholm tower is in a superb setting on top of a rocky outcrop with views across to the eildon hills and the cheviot. The history of the tower of london is the history of england and this is brought to life in this compelling volume. Smailholm tower lead public body for scotlands historic. Perched on a rocky knoll above a small lake, this narrow stone tower provides one of the most evocative sights in the borders and keeps its bloody history alive. Smailholm tower occupies a volcanic knoll just ten miles from the border with england. Smailholm was probably built at the start of the 15th century by a branch of the pringle family. The upper three floors of smailholm tower are today used as a permanent exhibition of costumed figures and beautiful tapestries that recall scotts collections of ballards and the turbulent past of the area.
A little further afield approximately 6miles is the market town of kelso with more history, architecture and independent shops covering all tastes. We are accredited information partners of visitscotland and can offer tailored advice to help you make the most of your visit. The lands were held by the smailholm family in the 12th century, but went to the kerrs in 1404 before they acquired ferniehirst. She is proud to be called a clayhead a person born in the potteries stoke on trent and will always turn over a china cup to see where it is made. Smailholm tower is a peel tower at smailholm, around five miles 8 km west of kelso in the scottish borders. The castle was successfully defended against the english in 1640, by sir andrew ker of greenhead. Claire williams lives in cheshire with her husband and children ava and henry. In wild medieval britain thirteenyearold wynn hoppringle has a big secret of the smallest kind. According to discover the borders, this is a well preserved and well restored border tower house dating from the 15th century. Smailholm tower is a peel tower 5 miles west of kelso scottish borders. We hope this website will contain something of interest for residents and local visitors, for tourists and holiday makers, and for people with family or friends in the area.
This 65 ft towerhouse was built by a wellknown scottish borders family in the first half of the 15th century, and today you can enjoy stunning views of the. Oct 15, 20 i have accumulated several books on the tower,each one a great read. Smailholm you see for many years a secret has been kept beneath my family home smailholm tower, the wild brambles hiding a big secret of the smallest kind. A superb tower house which makes much of its links to sir water scott at the expense of its history. Smailhome tower has stood on top of a crag for five centuries, with a looming, dramatic look that has won over visitors for many years. This 65 ft towerhouse was built by a wellknown scottish borders family in the first half of the 15th century, and today you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside from smailholm tower. A sturdy rectangular tower, built of rubble with sandstone dressings, it perches on a rock outcrop. Smailholm tower visit kelso, roxburghshire, scottish.
Smailholm tower is an atmospheric and stark old tower house in a windswept rocky position, long held by the pringles and near kelso in the borders. By an act of parliament in 1455 each of these towers was required to have an iron basket on its summit and a smoke or fire signal, for day or night use, ready at hand. Smailholm tower is an impressive structure famed in border ballad and associated with sir walter scott, who spent some of his childhood recuperating at sandyknowe farm in 1773. The young sir walter scott spent much of his childhood at sandyknowe, a nearby farm which belonged to his grandfather. Smailholm, roxburghshire, scotland genealogy genealogy. For the energetic, a longer circular walk of about 9 miles, going by smailholm tower and new smailholm farm, is shown on the map below. We aim to inform villagers and others of whats going on in smailholm. Its dramatic situation, atop a crag of lady hill, commands wide views over the surrounding countryside. Access is either from the village of smailholm, whose fine norman church is worth a visit, or from the b6404, four miles north east of st boswells. Ive been a member of historic scotland for just shy of eleven years now. The path up to the tower can be very muddy in wet weather. Built in the first half of the fifteenth century by the pringle family, the tower was intended to provide a secure residence from the lawlessness that plagued the area.
A minor road leads you through the farmstead of sandyknowe and. This place, of which the name is variously written smalham, smalholm, and smailholm, is chiefly distinguished for its tower, a spacious square building supposed to have been a border fortress, and the remains of which still exist. Smailholm tower a free history and description of this distinctive borders tower by historian the castle guy with full downloadable eguide available the smailholm tower is a prominent landmark in the scottish borders, mounted proudly on top of a volcanic plug of rock between melrose and kelso. The terrain consists of farm tracks and short sections of b class roads, and is suitable for walking, cycling or riding. Smailholm is a great book this book has a great storyline and is well narrated, a great first novel from c. Historic scotland smailholm tower undiscovered scotland smailholm tower wikipedia smailholm clan pringle in addition, the heritage hub in hawick, scottish borders archive and local history centre, is a mine of information for those who. Smailholm mains holiday cottages, kelso, scottish borders. As the crow flies, smailholm tower lies almost exactly mid way between melrose and kelso.
181 1179 1339 1177 1254 702 651 804 748 958 1119 566 920 906 1552 941 298 1504 1258 635 468 1037 620 284 62 865 1161 1358 1331 275 1358 718 1108 1196 595 960 636 1104 302 1294 1302 908 1496 585 259 35 474 924 641 55