Dolphiston Tower (site of)

Dolphiston Tower seems to have been a smaller tower, possibly a watch tower, associated with Dolphinston Castle to the north.

Dolphinston Castle was attacked and destroyed by the English twice in the 14th century, and it may be that Dolphiston Tower was built as a replacement after this time, or it may just have been a supplementary property.

The Statistical Account of Scotland, published in 1799, describes Dolphiston 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.”

The New Statistical Account of Scotland, published in 1845, describes “a plot of grass 22 yds (20 metres) square, long unbroken by the plough or spade, which is alleged to have formerly been furnished with a watch tower”. Aerial photographs suggest the footings of a square building, although I haven’t had a chance yet to investigate further.