A 15th century structure in Dumfries and Galloway has reopened its doors following a series of high-level masonry inspections.
Dating to the mid 1400s, Orchardton Tower near Castle Douglas is the only free-standing round tower of its type in Scotland. It operated as a fortified residence for a nobleman named John Cairns, who is thought to have built the structure in around 1455 and may have acquired the land after James II’s overthrow of the Douglases.
It has been closed under Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) High-Level Masonry Programme, which assesses the impact of climate change on sites as well as the scale of deterioration caused by a number of other factors, including the materials used in the building’s construction, its age and physical location.
Rosie Thorp, from HES, said: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming visitors back to Orchardton Tower, where they can delve into the history of late medieval noble life. Nestled in a beautiful part of the Dumfries and Galloway landscape, and the only surviving near free-standing late medieval circular tower in the country, this is a truly one-of-a-kind part of our built heritage and an asset in telling Scotland’s story.”
