The area around the Tower has had a human settlement since the time of Ancient Rome, and there are relics from that time in the area.[2] The Tower was probably built in the late 15th or early 16th century, primarily as a defensive feature, although it could have been built earlier, and may have been mentioned in 1409.[3][4][5] It was at one stage part of the bishop of Dunkeld's summer residence.[6]
It became the property of James Inglis, an Edinburgh merchant, in 1622.[5] He repurposed the tower to make it more comfortable for occupation, adding and enlarging windows and creating internal recesses to increase the available living space.[5] His grandson moved to the nearby Cramond House in 1680, and the tower was abandoned for the next 300 years.[6]
It was portrayed as a romantic ruin by James Skene in 1837, and was in a poor state of preservation by the middle of the twentieth century.[7][4] In the 1960s, the City of Edinburgh Council put a concrete cap on the roof and cleared the vegetation.[4][5]
In 1978, it was acquired by Eric Jamieson, an amateur antiquarian.[6] Between 1979 and 1981, it was restored by architects Robert Hurd & Partners into a private residence.[5][2]
The castle is a nearly square four-storey tower house, around 25 feet (7.6 m) on each side and with walls up to 5 feet (1.5 m) thick.[6] In the south-east corner is a round staircase that protrudes from the building.[5] Currently, the tower has a store at ground level, a living room on the first floor, kitchen on the second, and bedrooms and bathrooms on the third and fourth floors.[5][9] A pitched roof has been re-erected as part of the restoration.[10] In the 1990s, a stone extension was added on the east side.[9]
Excavations between 1976 & 1981 and 1987 & 1988 found medieval and post-medieval material. They also identified building foundations to the west of the tower which are believed to be the outbuildings identified in the 19th century. Because of its proximity to Cramond Roman Fort some Roman amphorae and mortaria, as well as a defensive ditch for the fort, were also found. [11]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcHistoric Environment Scotland. "4 Kirk Cramond, Cramond Tower (Category B Listed Building) (LB28018)". Retrieved 17 July 2022.
^ ab. edinburgh.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
^Wood, John Philip (1794). The antient and modern state of the parish of Cramond. p. 45.
^ abcd. scottishcastlesassociation.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
^"Cramond Tower". capitalcollections.org.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
^"Fire causes damage to Cramond Tower in Edinburgh". BBC News. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
^ ab"Cramond Tower". scottish-taxidermy.co.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
^Lindsay, Maurice (1994). The Castles of Scotland. Constable. p. 167. ISBN0-09-473430-5.
^"Vol 74 (2017): Excavations and Interventions in and around Cramond Roman Fort and Annexe, 1976 to 1990 | Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports". journals.socantscot.org. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cramond Tower.
cramond, tower, fifteenth, century, tower, house, village, cramond, north, west, edinburgh, scotland, edinburgh, scotlandcoordinates55, 9782368, 2976298, 9782368, 2976298site, informationownerprivate, residencelisted, building, category, bofficial, name4, kirk. Cramond Tower is a fifteenth century tower house in the village of Cramond to the north west of Edinburgh Scotland Cramond TowerEdinburgh ScotlandCramond TowerCramond TowerCoordinates55 58 42 N 3 17 51 W 55 9782368 N 3 2976298 W 55 9782368 3 2976298Site informationOwnerprivate residenceListed Building Category BOfficial name4 Kirk Cramond Cramond Tower 1 Designated14 July 1966 57 years ago 1966 07 14 1 Reference no LB28018 1 Site historyBuilt15th century Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 Archaeology 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe area around the Tower has had a human settlement since the time of Ancient Rome and there are relics from that time in the area 2 The Tower was probably built in the late 15th or early 16th century primarily as a defensive feature although it could have been built earlier and may have been mentioned in 1409 3 4 5 It was at one stage part of the bishop of Dunkeld s summer residence 6 It became the property of James Inglis an Edinburgh merchant in 1622 5 He repurposed the tower to make it more comfortable for occupation adding and enlarging windows and creating internal recesses to increase the available living space 5 His grandson moved to the nearby Cramond House in 1680 and the tower was abandoned for the next 300 years 6 It was portrayed as a romantic ruin by James Skene in 1837 and was in a poor state of preservation by the middle of the twentieth century 7 4 In the 1960s the City of Edinburgh Council put a concrete cap on the roof and cleared the vegetation 4 5 In 1978 it was acquired by Eric Jamieson an amateur antiquarian 6 Between 1979 and 1981 it was restored by architects Robert Hurd amp Partners into a private residence 5 2 It was damaged by a fire in 2011 8 Description EditThe castle is a nearly square four storey tower house around 25 feet 7 6 m on each side and with walls up to 5 feet 1 5 m thick 6 In the south east corner is a round staircase that protrudes from the building 5 Currently the tower has a store at ground level a living room on the first floor kitchen on the second and bedrooms and bathrooms on the third and fourth floors 5 9 A pitched roof has been re erected as part of the restoration 10 In the 1990s a stone extension was added on the east side 9 It is a category B listed building 5 Archaeology EditExcavations between 1976 amp 1981 and 1987 amp 1988 found medieval and post medieval material They also identified building foundations to the west of the tower which are believed to be the outbuildings identified in the 19th century Because of its proximity to Cramond Roman Fort some Roman amphorae and mortaria as well as a defensive ditch for the fort were also found 11 References Edit a b c Historic Environment Scotland 4 Kirk Cramond Cramond Tower Category B Listed Building LB28018 Retrieved 17 July 2022 a b Edinburgh Survey of Gardens and Designed Landscapes 034 Cramond edinburgh gov uk Archived from the original PDF on 28 March 2019 Retrieved 25 September 2014 Wood John Philip 1794 The antient and modern state of the parish of Cramond p 45 a b c Edinburgh Cramond Kirk Cramond Cramond Tower rcahms gov uk Retrieved 25 September 2014 a b c d e f g h Historic Environment Scotland 4 Kirk Cramond Cramond Tower Category B Listed Building LB28018 Retrieved 28 March 2019 a b c d Cramond Tower A Derelict Property Rescued Restored and Reoccupied scottishcastlesassociation com Archived from the original on 11 May 2014 Retrieved 25 September 2014 Cramond Tower capitalcollections org uk Retrieved 25 September 2014 Fire causes damage to Cramond Tower in Edinburgh BBC News 1 December 2011 Retrieved 25 September 2014 a b Cramond Tower scottish taxidermy co uk Retrieved 25 September 2014 Lindsay Maurice 1994 The Castles of Scotland Constable p 167 ISBN 0 09 473430 5 Vol 74 2017 Excavations and Interventions in and around Cramond Roman Fort and Annexe 1976 to 1990 Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports journals socantscot org Retrieved 3 September 2021 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cramond Tower 55 58 38 N 3 17 58 W 55 9773 N 3 2995 W 55 9773 3 2995 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cramond Tower amp oldid 1170535625, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
