Alloa Tower, Alloa, Clackmannanshire
Channel: ScreenScape Scotland
Date: 2020-04-10

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ALLOA TOWER 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, of Scottish tower houses, with immensely thick walls. The building has been extensively re-fenestrated during its history, but retains some internal medieval features. It was designated as a scheduled monument in 1960 and is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.



The tower 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. Archaelogical 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.

In December 1592 the widower John Erskine, Earl of Mar married Marie Stewart, a daughter of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, and the wedding celebrations were held at Alloa.

John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, built a very large mansion (Alloa House) in 1710 that incorporated the tower as its annexe. 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.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alloa_Tower)


Music:
- Willow and the Light by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4628-willow-and-the-light
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/


Map: Google Earth


Photos: Tina Stewart


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