Purves Hall, Tower

Now a private house, Purves Hall tower was once a peel tower; a form of strong, fortified dwelling. Probably first built in the sixteenth century, this building has had many alterations and additions over the years. It was once the seat of the Purves family.

The basic plan of the tower is rectangular, with a more recent addition to the rear. A large eighteenth-century wing to the north-east was demolished by the end of the nineteenth century, leaving a number of rubble projections on the outer wall. A number of features dating from the seventeenth century can still be seen, including the crowstepped gables and the door and window surrounds. Within the house, panelling in a first floor room is thought to date from 1738.

Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project