Alloa Tower in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, in central Scotland, is an early 14th-century tower house that served as the medieval residence of the Erskine family, later Earls of Mar. Retaining its original timber roof and battlements, the tower is one of the earliest and largest Scottish tower houses, with immensely thick walls. It was designated as a scheduled monument in 1960 and is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
History
The four-storey tower is high, excluding the attic. The building is made from coursed rubble and measures in size. The building has been extensively re-fenestrated during its history, but retains some internal medieval features. It was originally built as part of a line of fortifications defending the north shore of the Firth of Forth. Several 19th-century works, including Groome's Gazetteer, date the tower to the year 1223. Archaeological investigations from the early 1990s date the original fortified house to the early 14th century, where it had a cellar that sometimes served as a pit prison. By the mid-14th century, it had been enlarged with a great hall and rose to three storeys in height, with the entrance on the first floor. In the 15th century, it was further enlarged to four/five levels while retaining its first-floor access.
Late in the 16th century, ground-floor access was probably added. John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, built a very large mansion (Alloa House) in 1710 that incorporated the tower as its annexe. Mar wrote:There is something in the Old Tower, especially if made to conform to the new design, which is venerable for its antiquity & makes not a bad appearance & would make one regret the being obliged to pull it down. Mar made plans to remodel the tower's interior, but it is unclear what changes were actually made. The house burned down in 1800 and was rebuilt by George Angus in 1834–1838 for the 9th Earl. It was demolished sometime after 1868.
Royal history at Alloa
In February 1497, the gardener of Alloa brought trees to plant in the garden at Stirling Castle. Margaret Tudor met the Chancellor James Beaton at Alloa on 11 July 1524, to discuss transferring power from Regent Albany to the young James V.
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots visited John, Lord Erskine and his wife Annabell Murray at Alloa on 16 June 1562, and again in May 1565. Mary returned to Alloa on 28 July 1566, soon after the birth of Prince James. This visit subsequently attracted the attention of her enemies, and the details are disputed. Mary wrote from Alloa on 31 July to Annabell Murray's brother-in-law, the Laird of Abercairney, on behalf of the evicted widow of one of his tenants. Claude Nau wrote that Mary's only companions were her ladies in waiting and the earl, and Darnley only made a brief visit. According to George Buchanan, Mary came by boat from Newhaven, crewed by "notorious pirates", associates of the Earl of Bothwell including William and Edmund Blackadder. Darnley came to Alloa by land but she told him to go away. Mary enjoyed dancing at Alloa during this visit. It is also said she went to Stirling in disguise dressed as an ordinary townswoman "in homely sort" and joined in a dance around the Market Cross.
A wedding masque
In December 1592, the widower John Erskine, Earl of Mar, married Marie Stewart, a daughter of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox. James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark gave the bride clothes, and wedding celebrations were held at Alloa following the marriage at Holyroodhouse. The festivities held at a bridegroom's family home were known as the infare. There was a masque at Alloa in costume in which Anne of Denmark performed, dressed in silk taffeta and "gold tock". The party was cut short when Sir John Carmichael and Sir George Home arrived from Edinburgh with news of the crisis caused by the discovery of the Spanish blanks.
References
External links
National Trust for Scotland page
Houses completed in the 14th century
Towers completed in the 14th century
14th century in Scotland
Category A listed buildings in Clackmannanshire
Castles in Clackmannanshire
Listed castles in Scotland
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