Whitslaid Tower
Tower House (16th Century)
Site Name Whitslaid Tower
Classification Tower House (16th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Whiteslade
Canmore ID 55906
Site Number NT54SE 1
NGR NT 55756 44546
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/55906
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Legerwood
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Ettrick And Lauderdale
- Former County Berwickshire
NT54SE 1 55756 44546
Not to be confused with Whitslaid Tower (NT 4285 1796) in Ashkirk parish, for which see NT41NW 6; or Whitslade Tower (NT 1125 3506) in Broughton, Glenholm and Kilbucho parish, for which see NT13NW 11.
(NT 5575 4454) Whitslaid Tower (NR) (remains of)
OS 6" map (1968)
REFERENCES
The ruins of Whitslaid Tower occupy a site of considerable natural strength, having the Leader Water on the W side and a deep ravine to the N. The existing fragment is a simple oblong on plan, measuring some 25ft by 16ft 10ins within walls averaging 7ft in thickness. The main entrance has been at the N end of the E wall giving direct access to a vaulted basement lighted by a narrow opening in the S wall. From the S in-go of this doorway, a flight of straight steps ascends in the thickness of the S and E walls to the great hall on the first floor. At this level the walls are very much ruined, but indications of windows in the side walls and a fireplace in the N wall can still be seen. A recess in the SW angle has evidently served as a garde-robe having a built flue withan outlet near ground level. There appears to have been a wheel-stair formed at the SW angle leading from the platt at the entrance to the hall to the level of the attic floor above. The upper part of the castle has been reconstructed in the form of a gabled house at a late date. The whole was originally built of rough rubble, and is now in a very ruinous state. The quoin-stones within easy reach of the ground have been torn-out, and the total height to the wall-head is 23ft.
RCAHMS 1915, visited 1912; D MacGibbon and T Ross 1892
The lands of Whytslaid are mentioned in a charter of Robert II, dated 1371. In the mid-17th century the tower was owned by William Montgomery of Makbiehill.
A Thomson 1902
Whitslaid Tower is a roofless ruin, rising to some 8m on the W, S and E sides; the N wall has collapsed into a tumbled mass, revealing the barrel-vaulted basement. The general form is that of a plain rectangular keep, similar to Corsbie Tower (NT64SW 1), which dates from the 16th century.
Visited by OS (JFC) 16 February 1955
As described by the previous authorities.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 1 October 1962.
Field Visit (12 April 1912)
Whitslade Tower.
The ruins of this tower are situated about 2 ½ miles to the south-east of Lauder. The site has originally been one of considerable natural strength, having the Leader on the west side and a deep ravine to the north. The existing fragment is a simple oblong on plan (fig. 118) measuring some 25 feet by 16 feet 10 inches within walls averaging 7 feet in thickness. The main entrance has been at the north end of the east wall giving direct access to a vaulted basement lighted by a narrow opening in the south wall. From the south in-go of this doorway a flight of straight steps ascends in the thickness of the south and east walls to the great hall on the first floor. At this level the walls are very much ruined, but indications of windows in the side walls and a fireplace in the north wall can still be seen. A recess adjoining the south-west angle has evidently served as a garderobe having a built flue with an outlet near the ground level. There would appear to have been a wheel-stair formed at the south-west angle leading from the platt at the entrance to the hall to the level of the attic floor above. The upper part of the castle has been reconstructed in the form of a gabled house at a late date. The whole has been originally built of rough rubble, but it is now in a very ruinous state. The quoin-stones within easy reach of the ground have been torn out, and the total height from the ground to the wall-head does not exceed 23 feet.
Whitslade Tower is said to have belonged to a branch of the Lauder family. Unfortunately no details now remain to suggest its approximate date.
RCAHMS 1915, visited 12th April 1912.
OS Map: Ber., xx. SW.
Sbc Note
Visibility: Upstanding building, which may not be intact.
Information from Scottish Borders Council
