Archaeology Notes

Event ID 700829

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/700829

NS43NW 26 4262 3632.

(NS 4262 3632) Yardside (NAT) Site of Tower (NR)

(NS 4272 3630) Wallace Tree (NAT)

OS 25" map (1856)

The farm steading of Yardside is said to occupy the site of a tower, once the residence of Sir Ronald Crawford, maternal uncle of Sir William Wallace. No trace remains of the tower. Wallace is said to have planted the old pear tree which grows nearby, in the garden associated with the tower.

Name Book 1856; NSA 1845 (J Porteous)

The formerly published tower site is occupied by an empty, stone-built, 19th century house (ex- 3 Fleming Street), now isolated in an area of redevelopment. On its front wall is a marble tablet inscribed: "Site of Riccarton Castle. Birthplace of Malcolm Wallace - Father of Scotland's Hero." When and in what circumstances the tablet was erected, were not established.

Visited by OS (JRL) 4 July 1982