Archaeology Notes

Event ID 727176

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/727176

NY07NE 7 0828 7652.

(NY 0828 7652) Holmains Tower (NR) (Site of).

OS 6" map (1957)

Holmains Tower does not appear to have been a place of great strength, although described as 'a considerable stronghold before the union of the crowns'. Said to be in ruins in 1795 and 1835.

A stone 'on the mantlepiece' of Holmains Farm bears the escutcheon of the Carruthers family and the date 1665.

New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845 (T H Thomson); Name Book 1856-98; Statistical Account (OSA) 1795

This tower was situated on top of a small rocky knoll, and appears to have been rectangular, measuring 6.2m N-S by 6.8m E-W. Traces of the outer wall face can be seen on the north and east sides, and there is some fallen masonry at the SW angle, but otherwise there are no remains. A courtyard possibly existed to the south of the tower.

Resurveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 9 June 1966

No change to previous field report.

Visited by OS (DWR) 22 February 1973.