Note

Date 5 July 2022

Event ID 1138971

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Note

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1138971

Sauchie was the principal seat of a branch of the Schaw family, who enjoyed royal favour at a number of periods. The Barony of Sauchie was granted to Henry de Annand in 1324 by Robert I. It was later divided between two co-heiresses, married to William Brown of Colston and James Schaw of Greenock, before the Schaws gained full possession. The tower is thought to have been built by James Schaw around 1430. His son, another James Schaw, was to serve as 'Comptroller to the King (James III)'. One of the most distinguished members of the family was William Schaw, Master of Works to James VI from 1583 and one of the founders of modern freemasonry, whose imposing tomb is in Dunfermline Abbey.

As was generally the case, the tower was the nucleus around which a complex of buildings developed within the walls of a courtyard. By the 17th century the main residence was in Old Sauchie House but in the 18th century the family's principal home had moved to Schawpark (itself now demolished), though Old Sauchie House remained in occupation into the twentieth century and the tower served a number of uses until the roof collapsed in about 1858. Old Sauchie House was demolished in 1930.

The tower is a rectangular structure with external walls of fine ashlar. Although there is only one principal room to each floor, considerable ingenuity has been shown in the planning, with spacious subsidiary chambers at basement and first-floor level, as well as the more usual mural latrine closets. There are a number of fine architectural details, including a lavabo recess and a handsome fireplace in the hall, and there is a polygonal caphouse at the wall head over the stair.

To the west of the tower are the partly excavated remains of a residential range, known as Old Sauchie House, of largely seventeenth-century date, but probably embodying earlier fabric. Recent archaeological excavations have uncovered evidence of a medieval hall range within the courtyard.

Description

The tower is a rectangular structure with external walls of fine ashlar. Although there is only one principal room to each floor, considerable ingenuity has been shown in the planning, with spacious subsidiary chambers at basement and first-floor level, as well as the more usual mural latrine closets. There are a number of fine architectural details, including a lavabo recess and a handsome fireplace in the hall, and there is a polygonal caphouse at the wall head over the stair.

To the west of the tower are the partly excavated remains of a residential range, known as Old Sauchie House, of largely seventeenth-century date, but probably embodying earlier fabric. Recent archaeological excavations have uncovered evidence of a medieval hall range within the courtyard.

History

Sauchie was the principal seat of a branch of the Schaw family, who enjoyed royal favour at a number of periods. The Barony of Sauchie was granted to Henry de Annand in 1324 by Robert I. It was later divided between two co-heiresses, married to William Brown of Colston and James Schaw of Greenock, before the Schaws gained full possession. The tower is thought to have been built by James Schaw around 1430. His son, another James Schaw, was to serve as 'Comptroller to the King (James III)'. One of the most distinguished members of the family was William Schaw, Master of Works to James VI from 1583 and one of the founders of modern freemasonry, whose imposing tomb is in Dunfermline Abbey.

As was generally the case, the tower was the nucleus around which a complex of buildings developed within the walls of a courtyard. By the 17th century the main residence was in Old Sauchie House but in the 18th century the family's principal home had moved to Schawpark (itself now demolished), though Old Sauchie House remained in occupation into the twentieth century and the tower served a number of uses until the roof collapsed in about 1858. Old Sauchie House was demolished in 1930.

Status

The tower is owned by Clackmannanshire Heritage Trust, who arrange guided tours during Scottish Archaeology Month and Doors Open Days. It is also promoted as part of the Clackmannanshire Tower Trail. The Trust has aspirations to put the castle to some form of use.

Conservation Options

The tower is complete to the wall head, apart from the parapet around the wall walk. It is now covered by a modern roof, the framing of which was based on the evidence for the original roof, but which currently has additional sections to protect the exposed wall heads. There has been some structural movement of the upper walls, which is currently held in check by cables. The partly excavated walls of the range to the west of the tower require stabilisation.

The tower is of a size that would be suitable for a scheme of adaptive resuse. The two lowest storeys, which were contained within a barrel vault, would inevitably be relatively low and dark. Above that are three more generously proportioned chambers, with the option of a fourth within the roof space.

Recent archaeological investigations have shown that there are significant archaeology remains of associated courtyard buildings and these should be considered in any scheme of adaptive reuse.

T Addyman 2000; J Cannell and J Lewis 1997; J Gifford and F A Walker; D MacGibbon and T Ross 1887; S A Mills 2003; RCAHMS 1933; J Watson 1905

Information from the HES Castle Conservation Register, 5 July 2022