The original structure, some of which may date from the 14th century, has four storeys.[3] A further two storeys were added above the parapet in 1626,[4] with Renaissance windows[5] bearing the initials SIDKH (Sir John and Dame Katherine Hamilton).
The entrance to the Tower had a lean-to hoarding from which items could be dropped, for instance boulders, hot sand, or boiling oil.[6]
Preston passed by marriage to the "haughty Hamiltons" (also known as "Hameldone") at the close of the 14th century.[7] David Hamilton of Preston went to France with James V in 1536. Preston Tower was burnt by the Earl of Hertford on 16 May 1544 following the burning of Edinburgh during the war known as the Rough Wooing.[8] David Hamilton was a Master Usher for Regent Arran, and a depute warden of the Middle March of the border with England.[9]
During her Regency of Scotland, Mary of Guise anticipated an English invasion and asked Hamilton and the inhabitants of Prestonpans and Tranent to accommodate and provide food for French soldiers in May 1555 and February 1558. Supplies for the forts at Eyemouth and Inchkeith, including building lime, were shipped from Preston. Hamilton fought for Mary, Queen of Scots at the battle of Langside.[10]
David Hamilton's widow, Jonet Bailie, died in 1592. Her will mentions cattle and hogs on the farm, and an iron chain and winch with buckets for draining a mine.[11] Their son George married Barbara Cockburn (died November 1610), a daughter of John Cockburn of Ormiston. His grandson John married Katherine Howison (died 1629) as his second wife, and their initials were carved on Preston Tower.[12] They employed a stone mason, William Pedden, who also worked at Winton Castle, and a glazier, James Wauche.[13] A family pew in the church also featured their carved initials and painted heraldry.[14] In 1617 John Hamilton and the Earl of Lothian held a trial for John Hunter, the blacksmith in Prestonpans. Over several years he had stolen iron plough shares and fittings from farms in the neighbouring villages for scrap metal.[15]
The tower was burnt again in 1650 Oliver Cromwell with the loss of the family records.[16] After being restored it burnt again, accidentally, in 1663 and was abandoned for the nearby Preston House, East Lothian.[17] One of the Hamilton family was the noted covenanterRobert Hamilton, a commander in the battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Brig.[18] After this, the family were forfeited in 1684, but recovered the property in the 19th century.
The site also has a laburnum arch, and a herb garden, and a lectern-style doocot[20] which dates from the mid-17th century, after Cromwell had sacked the Tower. Preston Tower has a pit-prison[21] but the Preston Merkat Cross was eventually used as the local prison instead.[22]
preston, tower, east, lothian, confused, with, preston, tower, northumberland, preston, tower, ruined, plan, keep, ancient, scottish, village, prestonpans, situated, within, metres, other, historic, houses, hamilton, house, northfield, house, preston, tower, c. Not to be confused with Preston Tower Northumberland Preston Tower is a ruined L plan keep in the ancient Scottish village of Prestonpans 1 It is situated within a few metres of two other historic houses Hamilton House and Northfield House 2 Preston Tower Contents 1 History 2 Photo gallery 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory EditThe original structure some of which may date from the 14th century has four storeys 3 A further two storeys were added above the parapet in 1626 4 with Renaissance windows 5 bearing the initials SIDKH Sir John and Dame Katherine Hamilton The entrance to the Tower had a lean to hoarding from which items could be dropped for instance boulders hot sand or boiling oil 6 Preston passed by marriage to the haughty Hamiltons also known as Hameldone at the close of the 14th century 7 David Hamilton of Preston went to France with James V in 1536 Preston Tower was burnt by the Earl of Hertford on 16 May 1544 following the burning of Edinburgh during the war known as the Rough Wooing 8 David Hamilton was a Master Usher for Regent Arran and a depute warden of the Middle March of the border with England 9 During her Regency of Scotland Mary of Guise anticipated an English invasion and asked Hamilton and the inhabitants of Prestonpans and Tranent to accommodate and provide food for French soldiers in May 1555 and February 1558 Supplies for the forts at Eyemouth and Inchkeith including building lime were shipped from Preston Hamilton fought for Mary Queen of Scots at the battle of Langside 10 David Hamilton s widow Jonet Bailie died in 1592 Her will mentions cattle and hogs on the farm and an iron chain and winch with buckets for draining a mine 11 Their son George married Barbara Cockburn died November 1610 a daughter of John Cockburn of Ormiston His grandson John married Katherine Howison died 1629 as his second wife and their initials were carved on Preston Tower 12 They employed a stone mason William Pedden who also worked at Winton Castle and a glazier James Wauche 13 A family pew in the church also featured their carved initials and painted heraldry 14 In 1617 John Hamilton and the Earl of Lothian held a trial for John Hunter the blacksmith in Prestonpans Over several years he had stolen iron plough shares and fittings from farms in the neighbouring villages for scrap metal 15 The tower was burnt again in 1650 Oliver Cromwell with the loss of the family records 16 After being restored it burnt again accidentally in 1663 and was abandoned for the nearby Preston House East Lothian 17 One of the Hamilton family was the noted covenanter Robert Hamilton a commander in the battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Brig 18 After this the family were forfeited in 1684 but recovered the property in the 19th century Preston Tower was purchased by the National Trust for Scotland in 1969 It is currently under the guardianship of East Lothian Council 19 The site also has a laburnum arch and a herb garden and a lectern style doocot 20 which dates from the mid 17th century after Cromwell had sacked the Tower Preston Tower has a pit prison 21 but the Preston Merkat Cross was eventually used as the local prison instead 22 Photo gallery Edit Lectern doocot at Preston Tower See also EditList of places in East LothianReferences Edit Preston Tower Prestonpans East Lothian Castles Uncovered www castlesuncovered com Retrieved 21 September 2018 Preston Tower Prestonpans The Castles of Scotland Coventry Goblinshead www thecastlesofscotland co uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 By Undiscovered Scotland Preston Tower Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland www undiscoveredscotland co uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 Preston Tower Prestonpans The Castles of Scotland Coventry Goblinshead www thecastlesofscotland co uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 Preston Tower Scottish Borders and Lothians Castles Forts and Battles www castlesfortsbattles co uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 Preston Tower Prestonpans East Lothian Castles Uncovered www castlesuncovered com Retrieved 21 September 2018 Preston Tower Canmore canmore org uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 Joseph Stevenson Selections from unpublished manuscripts illustrating the reign of Mary Queen of Scotland Glasgow 1837 p 5 James Balfour Paul Accounts of the Treasurer vol 9 Edinburgh 1911 pp 154 203 402 James Balfour Paul Accounts of the Treasurer vol 10 Edinburgh 1913 pp 338 429 433 National Records of Scotland will of Jonet Bailie Lady Preston CC8 8 28 pp 527 9 John Anderson Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton Edinburgh 1825 pp 346 51 HMC 2nd Report Forbes Whitehaugh London 1871 p 199 National Records of Scotland will of Catherein Howisoun CC8 8 55 p 345 J Fowler Hislop Heraldic Panel found in the church of Prestonpans PSAS 26 Edinburgh 1892 p 243 Register of the Privy Council 1616 1619 vol 11 Edinburgh 1894 p 302 Preston Tower Canmore canmore org uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 Preston Tower Prestonpans The Castles of Scotland Coventry Goblinshead www thecastlesofscotland co uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 Preston Tower Prestonpans The Castles of Scotland Coventry Goblinshead www thecastlesofscotland co uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 By Undiscovered Scotland Preston Tower Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland www undiscoveredscotland co uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 Preston Tower Doocot Canmore canmore org uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 Preston Tower Prestonpans The Castles of Scotland Coventry Goblinshead www thecastlesofscotland co uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 Preston Tower Scottish Borders and Lothians Castles Forts and Battles www castlesfortsbattles co uk Retrieved 21 September 2018 Further reading EditCoventry Martin 2005 Castles of Scotland Goblinshead pp 93 94 ISBN 1 899874 24 0 Salter Mike 1985 Discovering Scottish Castles Shire Publications Ltd p 109 ISBN 0 85263 749 7 External links EditVideo about Preston Tower s history A Structural History of Preston Tower Drawing of Preston Tower 1834 Joseph Turner Tate Wikimedia Commons has media related to Preston Tower East Lothian 55 57 21 N 2 58 41 W 55 9557 N 2 9781 W 55 9557 2 9781 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Preston Tower East Lothian amp oldid 1169397504, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
