Clackmannan Tower: A Medieval Scottish Tower House

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.historicenvironment.scot

Country: United Kingdom

Civilization: Early Modern, Medieval European

Site type: Military

Remains: Castle

History

Clackmannan Tower is located in the town of Clackmannan, Scotland. It was originally constructed by Scottish builders during the medieval period and served a range of roles through several centuries.

The site began in the 13th century as a royal hunting lodge used by Scottish kings, including David II, who regularly visited the area for hunting purposes. In 1359, David II sold the estate to Robert Bruce, a relative distinct from the famous Robert the Bruce. Around 1365, this Robert Bruce built the first stone tower house on the property. This initial structure was modest, comprising two stories with access via an external staircase that led to the first floor.

Over the following centuries, the tower underwent considerable growth. In the 15th century, the main building was increased in height by two additional floors. At the same time, a new south wing, rising five stories tall, was constructed, creating an L-shaped layout. During the 16th century, a large gabled house was added southwest of the tower, expanding the residential area associated with the estate.

Significant changes occurred in the 17th century when defensive features were enhanced. The main entrance was moved from the first floor down to ground level on the south wing, where a wide doorway and a broad straight staircase were introduced. This period also saw the addition of protective elements such as a curtain wall surrounding the tower, a drawbridge, and a moat roughly two meters wide and one meter deep, reflecting ongoing concerns over security.

The tower remained in the Bruce family’s possession until 1796. It was abandoned in 1791 following the death of Lady Catherine Bruce, a descendant who is remembered for her role in knighting the celebrated Scottish poet Robert Burns during his visit in 1787. By 1815, the nearby gabled house was demolished, and its stones were repurposed for constructing a parish church.

In the 20th century, mining activities in the region caused structural damage to Clackmannan Tower, including partial collapse of the eastern wall. Since the 1950s, the site has been preserved and managed by Historic Scotland, now known as Historic Environment Scotland, although public access to the interior is currently restricted due to building safety concerns.

Remains

Clackmannan Tower stands prominently on King’s Seat Hill overlooking the Forth valley, combining a rectangular keep with a south wing to form its characteristic L-shaped footprint. The five-story tower house, constructed mainly of rubble stone with some finely cut ashlar blocks, rises to about 24 meters in height. This substantial medieval structure showcases a range of defensive and domestic architectural elements developed over its history.

The original 14th-century keep measures approximately 7 by 5.5 meters inside, enclosed by thick walls nearly two meters wide. Initially, access was gained via an external staircase leading to the first floor, a typical defensive feature of tower houses from that era. The substantial walls provided strong protection and support for the upper levels added in later centuries.

The south wing, added in the 15th century and taller than the original keep, connects on its first floor through a doorway. Inside the wing, notable rooms include a kitchen on the first floor and a private chamber on the second floor, distinguished by a finely crafted fireplace dating from the late 15th century. This chamber also features a built-in lavabo—a basin for washing—designed to drain externally through the east wall, an unusual detail showing attention to domestic function. Additional chambers occupy the upper floors of this wing.

The parapet crowning the tower displays defensive corbels and machicolations, which are openings in the parapet through which defenders could drop objects or pour substances on attackers. While the original keep’s stonework is finely finished, the south wing’s defensive features are more roughly constructed. The tower’s slate roof is a more recent addition intended to protect the structure from weather damage.

The 17th-century entrance on the south wing is imposing, about three meters wide and topped with a triangular gable. This doorway leads to a wide, straight staircase filling the space between the tower and the wing. This stairway grants access to a corridor on the first floor, thought to have served as a guardroom mezzanine within the wing. It also leads up to a rooftop terrace above the lower part of the south wing, offering vantage points for defense or observation.

Surrounding the tower was a curtain wall, a defensive enclosure that, together with a drawbridge and a moat about two meters in width and one meter deep, provided additional protection. While external buildings once stood near the tower complex, only fragments remain today. Despite damage caused by 20th-century mining subsidence, much of the main structure survives. Preservation efforts have stabilized the building, though parts such as the east wall have suffered partial collapse.

Clackmannan Tower retains its commanding position and reflects its layered historical development, combining medieval architecture with later modifications that showcase its long use and the changing needs of its inhabitants.