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Langhaugh

Tower House (Medieval)

Site Name Langhaugh

Classification Tower House (Medieval)

Canmore ID 51356

Site Number NT23SW 15

NGR NT 2030 3100

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/51356

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Scottish Borders, The
  • Parish Manor
  • Former Region Borders
  • Former District Tweeddale
  • Former County Peebles-shire

Archaeology Notes

NT23SW 15.00 2030 3100

NT23SW 15.01 203 310 garden

(Centred NT 2030 3100) Tower and Associated Buildings, Langhaugh. These remains stand on the left bank of the Langhaugh Burn about 300 yds above its confluence with the Manor Water, and immediately to the E of the present farmhouse of Langhaugh. Here there may be seen a series of stony mounds, now largely turf-covered, evidently representing the last vestiges of the tower house of Langhaugh with its associated outbuildings and enclosures (which are fully described in the Inventory).

The character of the remains may most readily be grasped by reference to the plan. Their most conspicuous feature is the prominent mound (A) which encases the lowermost storey of the tower. Trial trenches dug at the date of visit showed that the tower measured 21ft 6 in by 21ft 4 in over walls some 3ft 3 in in thickness. The ground floor apartment was ceiled with a barrel-vault springing from N to S. Part of an inner wall-face protrudes through the turf covering of the S wall of the tower at a height roughly corresponding to the original first floor level. Extending for a distance of up to 130ft along the hillside to the S of the buildings and enclosures there may be seen what appear to be the remains of three or four terraces. For most of their length all but the lowermost of the terraces now lie within a dense plantation, and can be traced only with difficulty; their delineation on the plan should therefore be regarded as tentative.

The plan and dimensions of the tower suggest that it was erected during the 16th century, and the associated structures are probably either contemporary with the tower or slightly later in date. The terraces may be either cultivation terraces, earlier in date than the tower or garden terraces contemporary with the tower and comparable to those at Neidpath Castle.

Langhaugh formed part of the estate of Posso and was occupied by tenants. Buchan records that in a dispute in 1561 Janet Scott widow of John Baird of Posso, claimed delivery of "the tower of Langhaugh and the reasonable terce of the other houses there" from William Cockburn who was occupying the property at that time.

RCAHMS 1967, visited 1962; NSA 1845

These grass-covered remains of this complex are as described.

Visited by OS (EGC) 27 June 1961 and (BS) 8 October 1974

On the left bank of the Langhaugh Burn there are the turf-covered remains of what is probably a sixteenth-century twoer-house, together with its outbuildings and associated enclosures.

I M Smith 1990, visited July 1981.

Activities

Sbc Note

Visibility: This is an upstanding earthwork or monument.

Information from Scottish Borders Council

References

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