Corston Tower
Dovecot (17th Century), Tower House (Medieval)
Site Name Corston Tower
Classification Dovecot (17th Century), Tower House (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Corston Castle
Canmore ID 29867
Site Number NO20NW 1
NGR NO 20687 09794
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/29867
- Council Fife
- Parish Strathmiglo
- Former Region Fife
- Former District North East Fife
- Former County Fife
NO20NW 1 20687 09794 to 2066 0980.
(NO 2068 0979) Corston Tower (NR) (Ruins of)
OS 6" (1938)
Corston Tower was three storeys and an attic in height. The kitchen was a single-storey building at the SW corner. 'About five years ago, the whole structure with the exception of the east wall fell...' The lower part of the old walls was rebuilt.
D MacGibbon and T Ross 1892
This 16th century tower was oblong in shape, measuring 26 x 21ft, the masonry being of rubble with ashlar dressing. Twenty yards NE of the tower is a fragment of a rectangular dovecot.
RCAHMS 1933
The remains of Corston Tower are as described by RCAHMS. The east wall is about 10.0m high, the other walls being 1 to 2.0m high, and 1.0m thick. Only the NE corner of the dovecot (NO 2066 0980) remains the east wall being 3.0m long, the north 1.5m. Both walls are of rubble and 0.4m thick.
Visited by OS (DS) 29 October 1956
Generally as described above. The dovecot has been further reduced.
Visited by OS (RD) 31 March 1967
Field Visit (5 June 1928)
Corston Tower.
The shell of this 16th century tower survives in a field on the right bank of the River Eden and less than half a mile south-west of Strathmiglo station. The east wall is still standing to the height of the third-floor windows, but the remains of the other walls are inconsiderable. The masonry is of rubble with ashlar dressings. On plan the building has been oblong, measuring externally 26 ½ feet from north to south by 21 feet 10 inches from east to west. At the south-west angle is a rounded projection, which may represent the lower part of a turnpike. The entrance, one jamb of which has at some time been renewed, that has survived is part of a window looking north.
DOVECOT. Some 20 yards to the north-east of the tower is a fragment of a rectangular dovecot.
HISTORICAL NOTE. - The lands of Corston were occupied by Ramsays during the 16th century, in 1540 "with the manor-place", in 1581/2 "with the tower, cottages, &c." - Reg. Mag. Sig., s.a., No. 2184; No. 327.
RCAHMS 1933, visited 5 June 1928.
