Historic Clan Scott Sites - Aikwood Tower - Scotts of Harden

The lands of Aikwood were granted, in 1517, on behalf of the infant King James V, to Maister Michael Scott, namesake of the thirteenth century scholar on whom the legends of wizardry are founded. Previously, Aikwood had been one of the forest steadings in the Royal Forest of Ettrick: the outright grant may indicate that Michael Scott had performed some special service.

The tower and farm - the last of the Harden properties in Ettrick - were sold to the Duke of Buccleuch during the post-WW II period. In 1989, Sir David Steel (now Lord Steel of Aikwood) along with Lady Steel bought the tower, and adjacent garden ground and restored it as their home. It had been 200 years since the tower had been lived in.

Articles on this transformation include pictures of the house.
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Historic Clan Scott Sites - Newark Castle, Scotts of Buccleuch

Situated on the grounds of Bowhill, home of the Chief of Clan Scott, Newark Castle has one of the longest histories of all the Scott peel towers that dot the Borders region between Scotland and England.

In 1473 Newark was given to Margaret of Denmark, wife of James III of Scotland. The royal arms are visible on the west gable. Newark was unsuccessfully besieged by an English army in 1547, but was burnt the following year. In 1645, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 100 royalist followers of the Marquis of Montrose were shot in the barmkin of Newark after the Battle of Philiphaugh.

The castle was altered for Anna Scott, Duchess of Monmouth and Buccleuch at the end of the 17th century. Today it is a standing ruin and recognized as a Category A listed building.

Wikipedia provides a fuller background on Newark Castle.


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Historic Clan Scott Sites - Dryhope Tower - Scotts of Dryhope

One of the Clan Scott historic sites near Selkirk, Scotland is Dryhope Tower.

Mary Scott a member of the Scotts of Dryhope, was known as the "Flower of Yarrow" and was given in marriage to Wat Scott of Kirkhope, a notorious Border Reiver. The property passed to Wat Scott's family, the Scotts of Harden, and Scott took possession of Dryhope following his marriage. However, in 1592, Wat Scott fell out of favour with King James VI due to his association with Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell. King James levied an army and proceeded through the forest and slighted many houses of his opponents. Wat Scott did not get off lightly and Dryhope was amongst Scott of Harden's fortalices that were slighted. The tower seems to have been rebuilt by 1613. The castle fell into terminal decay in the latter part of the 17th century and was acquired by the senior branch of the Scotts, the Dukes of Buccleuch.

Dryhope Tower today belongs to the Philiphaugh Estate, and has recently been undergoing stabilisation work.



The history of Dryhome Tower is well covered in Wikipedia.


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Historic Clan Scott Sites - Kirkhope Tower

Kirkhope Tower is west of the village of Ettrickbridge (near the town of Selkirk, Scotland). It was used as a residence of the eldest sons of the Scotts of Harden and Young Wat Scott brought his bride and cousin Mary Scott of Dryhope, known as the "Flower of Yarrow" back to Kirkhope prior to the death of his father William.

Wat Scott was later to be a supporter of Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell, an unsuccessful warrant for his arrest was made in 1592 by James VI. Wat Scott, although the subject of many Border ballads is perhaps best remembered by his wife's reaction to empty stores, presenting him with his spurs on a platter for dinner; a signal to ready his men for a raid.


Kirkhope came into the possession of Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch, widow of the Duke of Monmouth in the early eighteenth century and from mid-nineteenth century it fell into a state of decay.

Background on the site at Wikipedia gives a good history of this important Clan Scott site.


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Historic Clan Scott Sites - Smailholm Tower

Smailholm Tower is a well preserved peel tower near Kelso, Scotland. Peel towers are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish Borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England. Located at Sandyknowe Farm, where Sir Walter Scott spent formative years as a young boy visiting his grandfather and grandmother this tower is credited with triggering Sir Walter's interest in history and the development of his imagination as a writer.





The Wikipdia entry on Smailholm Tower provides a good background as does the entry by Historic Scotland who operate the site, which is open to the public.