Alloa tower was lavishly updated by john erskine, 6th earl of mar, who created an 18thcentury mansion within the ancient walls. The tower is a truly massive construction, four storeys tall and with walls 11ft thick. Alloa tower in alloa, clackmannanshire in central scotland is an early 14th century tower house that served as the medieval residence of the erskine family, later earls of mar. In 1702 john, 6th earl of mar, began to convert the tower into an elegant modern house and created an ambitious and extensive planned landscape around his home. Retaining its original timber roof and battlements, the tower is one of the earliest, and largest, of scottish tower houses, with immensely thick walls. A royal residence might have existed here from the reign of malcolm iv in 1053 to 1056, and a castle of clackmannan is mentioned in a royal charter from the 1200s. From ancient towers and castles, to a miracle stone, a terrifying mummy and even a library, we take a look at the stories behind five scottish curses.
Alloa tower is located in a pleasant area of an otherwise nondescript town. Alloa, clackmannanshire, scotland genealogy genealogy. It has probably always been a showy building, with highquality stonework and. Mary, queen of scots, was reconciled with henry stewart, lord darnley, here in 1565, and she made the family. With walls over 3 metres thick in places and rising over 25 metres to a crenellated parapet, the tower was clearly built with defence in mind.
The tower dates back to the 14th century and is one of the largest surviving tower houses in scotland. The parapet has open rounds at the corners, and a machicolation over the entrance. The tower was originally built as part of a line of fortifications defending the north shore of the. Alloa tower, built in 68, was the ancestral home of the erskines, one of scotlands prominent families, who acted as guardians to the young mary queen of. Alloa sixty years ago by james archibald after 1910. The outside is accessible yearround, but there does not seem to be any access to the inner portion. Visit alloa tower on your trip to alloa or united kingdom.
Other buildings of interest include the alloa town hall and library, built in 1886 1889 and the old church of st mungo with its graveyard and 17th century tower. Alloa tower dating from the 14th century, alloa tower is the largest remaining medieval tower house in scotland. The alloa tower you see today was built in the late 1400s, probably incorporating parts of the earlier castle. Fully restored and furnished, alloa tower is the largest surviving keep in scotland, dating back to the 14th century. Clackmannan tower is in a conspicuous hilltop position, and is visible from miles around. We did not visit it, but it is a fivestorey tower house built in the 14th century by king david ii of scotland. The club has its roots in cambridge in 1855, where fellows at trinity college began to discuss ghosts and psychic phenomena. Alloa tower the castles of scotland goblinshead martin coventry. Sauchie has a population of around 6000 and is located 1.
Not far from shops and places of local interest like the alloa tower. Alloa, a burgh of barony, seaport town, and parish, in the county of. The tower dates back to the 14th century and was built to guard a strategically important ferry crossing on the nearby river forth. Alloa tower 2020 all you need to know before you go. Murdie has written a number of ghost books including haunted brighton and regularly writes for fortean times.
The family is first recorded in paisley abbey in 1226 and in the following century the erskines rose to high positions at the scottish court. Alloa tower in clackmannanshire, scotland, looms unhappily above its. Sauchie and alloa a peoples history by john adamson no date in pages sent the oxford companion to british history 1997 p 616. One of the clubs earliest investigations was of the davenport brothers and their spirit cabinet hoax, the club challenging the davenports claim of. Other buildings of interest include the alloa town hall and library, built in 1886 1889, tobias bauchops house built in 1695 and the old church of st mungo with its graveyard and 17th century tower. Alloa tower in alloa, clackmannanshire in central scotland is an early 14th century tower. Sauchie is a town in the central lowlands of scotland. So begins the curse of alloa tower, supposedly placed upon john erskine, 17th. The castle, clackmannan tower, stands at the summit of kings seat hill in open fields some way clear of the uphill edge of the town itself. To learn more about how to use these records to search for your ancestors, go to the scotland. What you find is a magnificent tower house built of golden stone, five storeys high. Alloa tower acquired by national trust for scotland history.
By medieval times a ferry operated between alloa and. Feb 23, 2018 a look at alloa and clackmannan, and a walk between the two towers. Alloa tower a free history and description of this large towerkeep by historian the castle guy with full downloadable eguide available. A caphouse, with a conical roof, crowns a turnpike stair. With walls over 3 metres thick in places and rising over 25 metres to a crenellated parapet, the. It lies north of the river forth and south of the ochil hills, within the council area of clackmannanshire. Alloa tower is one of many which can be discovered on the tower trail through the area. The settlement was established at a crossing point on the river. Jun 09, 20 fully restored and furnished, alloa tower is the largest surviving keep in scotland, dating back to the 14th century. Alloa tower in alloa in central scotland is the surviving part of the medieval residence of the erskine family, later earls of mar. Take a whistlestop tour through 700 years of scottish history at scotlands largest and oldest keep, the ancestral home of the influential erskine family.
Parliament, for the calling of an assembly of learned and godly divines, and others, to be consulted with by the parliament, for the settling of the government and liturgy of the church of england. Alloa tower was the main seat of the chief of clan erskine. Alloa is the main town serving scotlands smallest local authority area, clackmannanshire. Alloa tower was the main seat of the chief of clan erskine the house of dun and the dun estate was home to the clan erskine family from 75 until 1980, but archaeological evidence shows that people have lived here for at least 9,000 years. History of alloa in clackmannanshire map and description. It is nearly 700 years old, with several rooms added in the 18thcentury. This is a guide to the history and major genealogical records of scotland as they pertain to the parish of alloa. Over four hundred people attended a conference, held in glasgow, under the title of restoring scotlands castles, some time ago. Alloa tower despite extensive internal and external alterations, the tower retains its original medieval wooden roof and battlements, as well as some internal. Another figure, rendered headless by time and strife, holds a book out to us. The family is first recorded in paisley abbey in 1226 and in the following century. John erskine of dun was a key figure in the scottish reformation corgarff castle was acquired by john erskine, 19th earl of mar in 1626. This bold medieval keep may look forbidding, but inside its full of art and riches not to mention intriguing tales. British phone books 18801984 search military records the national.
The house of dun and the dun estate was home to the clan erskine family from 75 until 1980, but archaeological evidence shows that people have lived here for at least 9,000 years. Launched officially in london in 1862, it counted charles dickens and sir arthur conan doyle among its members. The tower was home to the erskine family, who had strong links to the scottish crown. This place, of which the name, in various documents aulewoy and alloway, is supposed to signify, in the gaelic language, the way to the sea, includes also the ancient parish of. Alloa tower was built around 1497 by alexander, 3rd lord erskine. Scottish history books scottish castles association. K in the 1500s, there were many tower houses in scotland, now there are only a few. The restoration of midhope castle, muckrach, tilquhillie, aiket, alloa tower, fawside castle, mains, rusco tower, tillycairn, hatton and forter castles. One of scotlands earliest and largest tower houses in scotland, alloa tower retains its original timber roof and battlements along with its extremely thick. Five parts of scotland you didnt know were cursed the. A look at alloa and clackmannan, and a walk between the two towers. It was home to successive generations of the earls of mar, who played host to. In 1998, perrott resigned as chairman although he remained active in club affairs, and barrister alan murdie was elected as his successor. Admire the imposing keep of a 0s tower house, visited by robert burns and built by a descendant of robert the bruce.
It was built by david ii in the 0s before being sold to a relative, robert bruce, in 59. The developments at alloa tower represent the changing role of the castle from a stronghold as part of a defensive line along the n banks of the forth clackmannan tower, visible from alloa, also forms part of this defensive line, to its role as an 18thcentury mansion house, at the centre of an extensive designed landscape. The erskines, later created earls of mar, were once one of the greatest families in the land, and the 6th earl, john, was secretary of state for scotland under queen anne and was later renowned for his. Visitors are invited to watch three david allan paintings being cleaned at historic alloa tower. Alloa s most famous landmark is the 15th century alloa tower national trust for scotland, the surviving part of the ancestral medieval residence of the erskine family, the earls of mar. Five parts of scotland you didnt know were cursed the scotsman.
Scottish painter david allan 174496 was born in alloa and is best known for his historical subjects and genre works. The town grew up here largely because of the presence of alloa tower. The alloa tower is one of scotlands largest surviving medieval tower homes and was the ancestral home of the erskine family, who often served as aids to the ruling stuart family and guardians to the royal children. The erskine earls of mar the erskines originated in a parish of that name in renfrew the erskine bridge across the river clyde is the bestknown testimony of that. Historical books on scottish history and its castles.
Information panels are available at all five sites and you can also download the information leaflet from the tower trail page. It lies on the north bank of the river forth, some six miles east of stirling and two miles west of clackmannan. Take a whistlestop tour through scottish history at scotlands oldest keep. Alloa tower acquired by national trust for scotland. Dating from the 0s, this fine medieval tower house is one of the largest, best designed and constructed of its type in scotland. Alloa tower and the erskines of mar 1996 by clackmannanshire field studies society and friends of alloa tower.
Dating from the fourteenth century, alloa tower is one of the largest surviving tower houses in scotland and the ancestral home of the erskine family, the earls of mar and kellie. Scottish castles association former president, the late professor charles mckean 2011. Alloa, clackmannanshire genealogy heraldry and history. Alloa was the home of the erskines of mar, who built alloa tower picture, which at one time formed the centre of a palatial complex. The 10 best hotels near alloa tower in alloa, united kingdom. Adjacent to the town are alloa house seat of earl of mar and kerrie and the remains of ancient mansion of earls of mar.
Alloa is the realdeal and little altered since the earls of mar had it. Alloa tower 2020 all you need to know before you go with. Clackmannan tower public body for scotlands historic. Great is the calm, for everywhere the wind is setting down, the reek throws right up in the air from every tower and town. A quirky and very comfortable base to explore other parts of scotland. Dating from the 0s, this fine medieval tower house is one of the largest, best designed and constructed of its type in. Alloa is a town on the north side of the river forth in clackmannanshire. In 1800 the mansion was destroyed by fire, but the tower survived. The rectangular tower rises to four storeys and a garret within a flush parapet. Featuring free wifi, a restaurant and a sun terrace, inglewood house and spa offers accommodations in alloa, 27 mi from edinburgh.
Sketches of alloa and clackmannan tower 1 on a nearby hilltop is clackmannan tower, a 0s tower house. Illustrated guide to places to visit alloa tower, clackmannan. Paint conservator owen davison will be carrying out the conservation project in the great hall, in full view of the public. Mar 08, 2020 sketches of alloa and clackmannan tower 1 on a nearby hilltop is clackmannan tower, a 0s tower house.
See more ideas about old school bus, inglewood house and bluebird buses. Alloa tower, the largest and oldest keep in scotland, has been acquired by national trust for scotland, becoming the first property that the conservation charity has acquired since 2008. But it is only a small part of what once stood here. The restoration of midhope castle, muckrach, tilquhillie, aiket, alloa tower, fawside castle, mains, rusco. Page 91 an ordinance of the lords and commons assembled in.
We all enjoy very much doing living history costume tours at the tower as we feel this brings the property to life. John erskine of dun was a key figure in the scottish reformation. Alloa park, fk10 1pp map and directions the ruined 14th century alloa tower in alloa was the medieval residence of clan erskine, the earls of mar. Alloa tower building preservation trust restored it to its likely appearance in 1712. Standing in a wooded public park, alloa tower is an altered 14th or 15thcentury tower with very thick walls. A sojourn in scotland iii the tower in alloa despite. The sweeping staircase leads past the minstrel gallery and on into the impressive great hall making it the perfect setting for wedding receptions. Our current president, professor richard oram may 20 present. Alloa, a burgh of barony, seaport town, and parish, in the county of clackmannan, 7 miles e. Clackmannan tower stands on kings seat hill, and stands in a site rich with royal connections.
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