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Littledean Tower

Littledean Tower was the principal residence of the Kers of Littledean, and was built on the site of an earlier fort.

Standing on the south bank of the River Tweed, the site is close to an old ford, and so may have been built to protect this river crossing. When the site was first occupied is unclear, although the remains of a prehistoric fort have been identified.

Whether or not there was a continuous period of occupation over the centuries is unknown, as the earliest portions of Littledean Tower are thought to date to two periods in the 16th century.

However there was certainly a castle here prior to that, as the Kers of Cessford made this site the principal residence of their barony of Maxton, with that branch later becoming known as the Kers of Littledean.

In the late 15th or early 16th century a Mark Ker of Littledean married a Marjorie Ainslie of Dolphinston, and Dolphinston Castle passed into the Ker family at that time.

The first part of Littledean Tower to be built in the 16th century was a main oblong block consisting of four storeys, built from freestone rubble with ashlar dressings. The entrance was in the south wall at ground level, and gave access to a vaulted cellar. From what remains of this main block, namely the western ends of the north and south walls, it isn’t clear how the upper floors would have been reached.

Later in the 16th century a massive D-shaped tower was added to the west end of the main block. In 1544 Littledean was attacked and burnt by the English, and it seems likely that this defensive tower was added in response to this, to give the castle extra strength against any future attacks.

This new tower was also rubble-built, with walls 1.8m thick and faced with ashlar. The tower was four storeys in height plus a garret, and as well as increasing the defensive capabilities of Littledean it also added considerable new accommodation.

A chamfered base course rises up to meet a series of six oval gun loops spreading around the tower at ground floor level. At first floor level are a further six gun loops, allowing the main approach to the castle to be covered by the occupants within.

The D of the tower is wider than the rectangular original building it is joined to, and on the south side there is an entrance into the back of the D. This gives access both to the ground floor of the tower which is vaulted, and also to a small spiral staircase with which to reach the upper floors.

On the first floor is the hall, with a large fireplace installed within the curve of the D, with the aforementioned gun loops on either side of it. Over the doorway is a small guardroom with a window in the east wall of the projecting part, allowing the guard to cover the south wall of the castle.

At the top of the tower was a corbelled parapet, and within that a garret was built, possibly at a slightly later date, consisting of a two storey attic with crow-stepped gables.

Littledean may have had a barmkin, although any trace of that has now gone. Since the castle was vulnerable to attack only from the west and the south, and the D-shaped tower covers the west side, I’m assuming that this barmkin would have extended to the south.

The castle is marked on mid-17th century maps as Littildenn and Littildene.

A description of the province of the Merche
Robert Gordon, c.1636-1652

Merce or Shirrefdome of Berwick
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1654

It is said that Littledean fell out of use when the Kers moved to nearby Nenthorn House in the 18th century.

Littledean Tower is sometimes said to be the birthplace of the scholar John Duns Scotus, although his birthplace is also given as a property just outside the gatehouse of Duns Castle.

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Alternative names for Littledean Tower

Litil Dene; Litill Dene; Littildane; Littildene; Littildenn; Little Dean; Littledean Castle

Where is Littledean Tower?

Littledean Tower is in the parish of Maxton and the county of Roxburghshire.

Grid reference: NT 63287 31324

Lat / long: 55.574184, -2.5838126

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Littledean Tower

OS map 339
Kelso, Coldstream & Lower Tweed Valley
OS Explorer map 339


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Directions to Littledean Tower

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Weather at Littledean Tower

14°C
max 14°C / min 14°C
5km/h SSW
1007mb
73%
100%
03:27 20:57

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Saint Boswells at 18:55

References (books)

The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland Volume 3
David MacGibbon
Edinburgh, 1889
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Littledean Tower

Old Mertoun House

1.4km away

Maxton (site of)

2.2km away

Dalcove (site of)

2.4km away

Smailholm Tower

3.4km away

Lessudden House

3.4km away

Whitrig (site of)

3.4km away

Fairnington House

3.5km away

Lessudden Bastle (site of)

3.9km away

Makerstoun House

3.9km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Littledean Tower

Littledean fort

0.1km away

Brothers' Stones standing stone

4.9km away

Newstead (site of) souterrains

7.1km away

Eildon Hill North fort

7.9km away

Earlston standing stone

9.2km away

Cambridge standing stone

17.6km away

Torwoodlee broch and fort

18.2km away

Bruntaburn Mill standing stone

18.8km away

Bow Castle broch

20.0km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near Littledean Tower

Borthwick Mains Class I symbol stone

26.0km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

56.3km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

56.3km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

57.1km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

71.8km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

71.8km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

71.9km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

71.9km away

Abercrombie 1 Class III cross slab

72.9km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Littledean Tower

Whitlaw silver chain

21.3km away

Hoardweel silver chain

32.6km away

Haddington silver chain

43.8km away

Traprain Law silver chain

43.8km away

Borland silver chain

59.0km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

61.1km away

Norrie's Law hoard

79.2km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

82.6km away

Dunnicaer fort

155.3km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Littledean Tower

The Buccleuch Arms Hotel
hotelSt Boswells
4.3km away
The Roxburghe Hotel & Golf Course
hotelRoxburgh
7.5km away
Melrose SYHA Hostel
hostelMelrose
8.7km away
George & Abbotsford Hotel
hotel, barMelrose
9.0km away
The Spread Eagle Hotel
hotelJedburgh
10.8km away
Larkhall Burn luxury cottages
self-catering cottagesJedburgh
10.9km away
Huntlywood Granary
bed and breakfastEarlston
11.7km away
Jedforest Hotel
hotelJedburgh
16.2km away
Best Western Philipburn Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barSelkirk
17.6km away
The Clovenfords Country Hotel
hotelGalashiels
19.0km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Littledean Tower

The Terrace Café, Floors Castle
caféKelso
7.9km away
The Courtyard Restaurant, Floors Castle
café, restaurantKelso
8.6km away
George & Abbotsford Hotel
hotel, barMelrose
9.0km away
Baxters Selkirk
caféSelkirk
15.9km away
Selkirk Deli
caféSelkirk
16.4km away
Best Western Philipburn Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barSelkirk
17.6km away
Johnstons of Elgin Eastmill Café
caféHawick
20.2km away
Hirsel Cottage Tea Room
caféColdstream
21.4km away
Castle Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantColdstream
22.4km away
Saffron
restaurantInnerleithen
30.6km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 13th of November 2011 at 6:29 pm. Updated on the 19th of February 2023 at 10:55 am.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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