Crag Tower

Crag Tower is generally thought to have been a peel tower although only the footings of the tower remain as earthworks.

After describing the towers of Dolphiston and Mossburnford the Statistical Account of Scotland goes on to say:

“The Crag Tower was built on a rock of some eminence, on the E. side of Oxnam water, about 500 yards W. of the church. Within these 20 years, it was a place of the same construction with those already mentioned, but much stronger from its natural situation, being surrounded with water on three sides.”

The description given for Dolphiston is as follows:

“The walls are from 8 to 10 feet thick, built of hewn stone, and so closely cemented with lime, that it is found more difficult to obtain stones for building from it, than from a quarry. It has been extensive, and divided into small apartments by stone partitions. Several vaulted apertures are in the middle of the walls, large enough for a small bed, and some of them so long, as to be used by the tenants for holding their ladders.”