Preston Tower

Category

Library Item

Item no

29049

Title

Preston Tower

Description

The ruins of a tall stone tower stand in the centre of the photograph surrounded by trees and other planting. The tower itself is made up of two distinct parts. Its lower stories are made of rougher older stone and has many different shaped throughout the wall. On top of this section is a two story structure made of finer stone and has a more structured pattern of windows which each have an ornate decorative lintel above them. This finer portion of the building is in ruins and is missing its roof and large parts of the tops of its walls.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1879

Size

12.2 cm x 16.1 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Preston Tower near Prestonpans was built by the Hamiltons of Rossavon, Fingleton and Preston in the 1400s although there is some evidence to suggest that parts of the building had stood since 1365. It was one of ten strongholds dotted over the county by the Hamilton family ranging from Broderick Castle in the west and Innerwick castle to the east. One feature which makes it unique to Scotland however was the addition of two extra floors in the form of a relatively modern house on top of the original four story castle keep structure added by Sir John Hamilton in 1626. The tower has had a tumultuous history being attacked twice by invading forces, firstly during Henry VIII's 'Rough Wooing' in 1544 and then again by Cromwell's forces during his program of systematic destruction of Scottish castles after his victory at the battle of Dunbar in 1650.

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Related subjects

Homes > Derelict buildings and excavation sites > Ruins

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Homes > Residential buildings > Towers

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Walls

Landscape > Water > Reservoirs

Places > Scotland > East Lothian

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Places > Scotland > Prestonpans

Plants > Trees > Trees