The West March of England
Map of the West March of England, Boundaries and Generalities. The English West March was the counties of Cumberland and Westmorland though the latter was too far from the frontier to be important in border…
Yett Yatt, a Wrought-Iron Gate Door
Yett or Yatt, a Wrought-Iron Gate Door, Typical of Border Strongholds A “Yett” was a wrought-iron door made by riveting thick iron bars together to form a strong latticework. This structure was then reinforced by…
Shot-Holes, Gun-Loops or Gun-Holes in Border Towers
Shot-Holes, Gun-Loops or Gun-Holes in Border Towers In response to the introduction of firearms in the 16th century, gun-loops, gun-holes or shot-holes as they were called in contemporary parlance, began to be a feature of…
Newel Stair / Turnpike Stair / Spiral Stair
Newel Stair / Turnpike Stair / Spiral Stair Newel stairs are so-called from the central continuous post or newel around which they spiral upwards. The protruding stair towers in which they were often housed gave…
Bastle or Bastle House
Cut-away reconstruction drawings of the layout of typical Bastle-Houses The word Bastle was derived from the French term “Bastille” and denoted a stronghouse. They are to be found throughout the length of the Border. Bastles…
Tower House
Generalities and Cut-Away Drawing of Tower-Houses by Pete Armstrong. The terms “Tower-House” and “Pele Tower” are the cause of some confusion. Though the terminology differs, the function of these buildings is similar and their form…
Pele Tower
Generalities, description and cut-away drawing of a Pele, Peel or Pele-Tower by Pete Armstrong Pele is derived from “pel” an Old French word for a stake. In early times many fortifications were constructed from wooden…
Tushielaw Tower Scottish Borders
Panoramic view of the extensive ruins of Adam Scott of Tushielaw's stronghold in Ettrick The extensive ruins of Tushielaw Tower and its associated structures are situated on a natural platform on the slopes of Tushielaw,…
Tinnis Castle, Tweeddale, Peeblesshire, Scottish Borders
Tinnis Castle, Tweeddale, Peeblesshire, Scottish Borders High above the valley of the River Tweed, on the summit of a prominent rocky knoll that it shares with the remains of an Iron Age fort, lie the…
Thirlstane Tower, Ettrick, Selkirkshire, Scottish Borders
Thirlstane Tower, Ettrick, Selkirkshire, Scottish Borders Thirlstane Tower stands in what was once the grounds of Thirlstane House, a gothic pile with neo-classic features of the 1820s, demolished in 1965. The remains of the tower…
Smailholm Tower, Nr. Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders
Smailholm Tower; Drawing Drawing by Pete Armstrong of Smailholm Tower, Nr. Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders Smailholm is strongly situated on a rocky outcrop above a dark lochan six miles west of Kelso and commands extensive…
Slacks Tower site, Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders
Slacks Tower site , Scottish Borders, Roxburghshire, Upper Jed Water Valley Slacks pele-house dates from the 16th century and closely resembles its neighbour at Mervinslaw just two miles to the north-east. It stands on the…
Slacks Tower Interior, Southdean, Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders
Slacks Tower Interior, Southdean, Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders Slacks pele-house which dates from the 16th century and closely resembles its neighbour at Mervinslaw stands on the right bank of Jed Water about a mile and a…
