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Darnick, Tower Road, Darnick Tower
Garden Wall (19th Century), Tower House (16th Century)
Site Name Darnick, Tower Road, Darnick Tower
Classification Garden Wall (19th Century), Tower House (16th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Darnick Village; Abbotsford Road
Canmore ID 55720
Site Number NT53SW 14
NGR NT 53202 34375
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/55720
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Melrose
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Ettrick And Lauderdale
- Former County Roxburghshire
NT53SW 14 53202 34375
Not to be confused with Darnick, Tower Road, Fisher's Tower (NT 5320 3434), for which see NT53SW 11.
See also NT53SW 18.
(NT 5321 3437) Tower (NR).
OS 25" map (1964)
Darnick Tower, a 16th century tower-house of the Heiton family standing on the site of a predecessor destroyed in 1545. The tower is built on the T-plan with a 3-storey oblong main block running E-W and a small stair wing projecting from near the middle of the south wall. A low, possibly original, outbuilding, containing a doorway, formerly projected from the west half of the south wall but this has been removed. The tower is of rubble with freestone dressings and was formerly harled.
The entrance is in the stair wing and bears the date 1595. The windows have been enlarged, the bartizan and garret have been rebuilt and an extension has been added to the east side, but otherwise the tower retains much of its original character.
D MacGibbon and T Ross 1892; RCAHMS 1956, visited 1933.
This tower is in good condition and inhabited.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 30 January 1960
This tower, generally as described, is well preserved and used as a dwelling.
Surveyed at 1:1250.
Visited by OS (TRG) 1 March 1977
EXTERNAL REFERENCE:
SRO-
Finishing building of Gables and chimney heads.
Renewing of part of battlements and paving.
Pointing part of tower.
Weather cock.
Repairs to Darnick Tower. Letters between Mr Heiton, builder of Edinburgh
and John Smith. Accounts sent to Mr Heiton and sketch plans.
1823 GD1/146/1
A boundary wall. Darnick Tower. Letter from John Smith to John Heiton
indicating that he had been ordered to enclose N. side of garden belonging
to John Wilson.
1831 GD1/146/1
Restoration and alterations to Darnick Tower "Railways rife and stables at
a discount now" so alterations possible. Letters, accounts and sketch plan
by John Smith for Mr John Heiton
1860 GD1/146/1
Restoration of Tower. New doors and windows. Floor paved. Stair rail
renewed.
Building of cottage adjoining tower.
Fitting up of Garret.
New windows for house adjoining (5)
Stucco for walls.
Border Magazine - March 1901, 1 photograph
Photographic Survey (1956)
Photographs by the Scottish National Buildings Record in 1956.
Sbc Note
Visibility: This is an upstanding building.
Information from Scottish Borders Council.
