About the tower
Kirkhope Tower is a Scottish Peel (or Pele) tower that was built in 1540. It’s location in the Ettrick Valley, north west of Ettrickbridge, and is ideal for the perfect getaway in the Scottish Lowlands.
History: Modern
The Tower was bought by Peter Clarke in 1987 from the Buccleuch Estate, restored from a roofless ruin by Peter and his wife Gillian and occupied by the family in 1996.
It is currently owned by Robert Miller, a retired financial journalist, who bought the Tower in June 2019 who is currently refurbishing it with plans to let it to holidaymakers and small shooting parties in 2022.
Refurbishing the tower
The refurbishment of the tower has been a labour of love to bring all 5 floors, outside stonework, and surround grounds back to it’s majestic best.
Over five floors the Tower comprises of:
- Garden Level – Barrel-vaulted basement utility room
- First Floor – Kitchen/Breakfast room
- Second Floor – Master bedroom, bathroom
- Third Floor – Sitting room, shower room/WC
- Fourth Floor – Two further bedrooms, access to attic space, parapet and two cap houses.
The Tower has a basement entrance and an entrance to the kitchen from an external staircase and platform.
History: Ancient
Kirkhope Tower was built around 1540 as a result of the Act of the Scottish Parliament of 1535 to requite landowners in the borders to build ‘barmkins’ for the protection of their tenants and their property. The Tower was then burnt down by the Duke of Suffolk during the ‘rough wooing’ of Mary, Queen of Scots, by Henry VIII. The ‘rough wooing’ (1543-1551) was the war also known as the ‘Eight (or Nine) Years War’ which was the attempt by the English to force a marriage between the infant Mary and Edward the child of Henry VIII. The aim was to compel an alliance with Scotland thus preventing its use as the base for a French attack on England.
The Tower was used as the home of the elder sons of the Scotts of Harden Castle. Wat Scott (1550-1629) married his beautiful cousin, Mary Scott of Dryhope, the ‘Flower of Yarrow’. When the cupboard was bare she would present her husband with spurs on a platter – a hint for him to go cattle raiding. The importance of such raiding is given by the motto of the Tower: ‘There will be moon light again.’
In the early 18th century the Tower was owned by Anne Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch, and remained in the possession of the Buccleuch family until it was sold to Peter Clarke in 1987. The Tower had fallen into ruin in the 19th century and was restored by Peter Clarke and his wife Gillian between 1987 and 1996. Following the death of Peter Clarke in 2017 the Tower was sold to Robert CB Miller, the current owner, in June 2019.
‘There will be moonlight again.’
This seems a harmless romantic sentiment, but it actually states the fact cattle thieving will be possible when there is moonlight.
Poetry
Ettrick
By Lady John Scott (1810-1900)
When we first rade down Ettrick,
Our bridles were ringing, our hearts were dancing,
The waters were singing, the sun was glancing,
An’ blithely our hearts rang out thegither,
As we brushed the dew frae the blooming heather,
When we first rade down Ettrick.
When we next rade down Ettrick,
The day was dying, the wild birds calling,
The wind was sighing, the leaves were falling,
An’ silent an’ weary, but closer thegither,
We urged our steeds thro’ the faded heather,
When we next rade down Ettrick.
When I last rade down Ettrick,
The winds were shifting, the storm was waking,
The snow was drifting, my heart was breaking,
For we never again were to ride thegither,
In sun or storm on the mountain heather,
When I last rade down Ettrick.
Excerpt from a Poem about Kirkhope Tower
By Will H. Ogilvie (1869–1963)
I climb by the broken stairway; the great grey wall
Runs fair and free to the roof, uncrossed of beam;
And that that was lady’s bower, and this that was hall
Where the strong men feasted, are one; and again I dream,
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