Evelaw Tower is a ruined 16th century tower house, about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north west of Westruther, Scottish Borders, Scotland, and about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Wedderlie, south of Eve Law.[1]
History
editThe castle belonged to the abbey of Drylaw, but in 1576 it was purchased by the Douglases; subsequently to the Sinclairs of Longformacus acquired it by marriage. In 1731 it was sold to the Smiths.[1]
Structure
editEvelaw Tower is an L-plan castle, comprising a main block and a small stair-tower. It has three storeys and a garret. There are wide-splayed[2] gunloops and small windows with iron yetts. The basement of the main block, which contained the kitchens, and the upper floor of the stair-wing, are vaulted. The hall was accessed by a wide turnpike stair from the basement, while access to the private upper rooms was by the turret.[1] The angles are rounded, but corbelled out to square at the level of the eaves.[2] The towers is relatively complete, but there is a large breach in the re-entrant angle. The main block lies east to west; the north wing projects about 3 metres (9.8 ft) from the north west corner. There is a corbel table around the eaves of the main block and the north projecting wing. The construction is of red/purple rubble bonded with lime mortar, with red sandstone dressings.[3] The dimensions are 10.7 metres (35 ft) by 9.7 metres (32 ft). A later entrance has been cut in the wall to the west.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Coventry, Martin (1997) The Castles of Scotland. Goblinshead. ISBN 1-899874-10-0 p.173
- ^ a b c Historic Environment Scotland. "Evelaw Tower (57425)". Canmore. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Evelaw Tower". Ancient Monunents. Retrieved 12 February 2020.