History in Structure

Amisfield Tower

A Category A Listed Building in Tinwald, Dumfries and Galloway

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Coordinates

Latitude: 55.1383 / 55°8'17"N

Longitude: -3.5827 / 3°34'57"W

OS Eastings: 299203

OS Northings: 583800

OS Grid: NX992838

Mapcode National: GBR 39F0.4W

Mapcode Global: WH5WB.Y33R

Plus Code: 9C7R4CQ8+8W

Entry Name: Amisfield Tower

Listing Name: Amisfield Tower

Listing Date: 3 August 1971

Category: A

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 351119

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB17233

Building Class: Cultural

ID on this website: 200351119

Location: Tinwald

County: Dumfries and Galloway

Electoral Ward: Lochar

Parish: Tinwald

Traditional County: Dumfriesshire

Tagged with: Tower house

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Amisfield Town

Description

1600 panel probably dates re-modelling of existing (? 16th
century) tower house. Rectangular-plan; 4 storeys with attics
and garrets above. Rubble-built, with red ashlar dressings.
Circular stair turret corbelled above ground level on south
east angle, corbelled at 3rd floor to ashlar-built 3-storey
gabled tower with rope-moulded apex stack and skews, dormers
to flanks; gabled rectangular cap house above, set astride
gable head. Ashlar-built 2-storey turrets corbelled over
remaining angles, with curved semi-conical roofs.
Roll-moulded off-centre door on south wall, windows above
have nail-head decoration; 2nd floor window flanked by
plaques; single, corbelled dormer with decorative jambs and
shaped gable head; chequer-corbelled eaves. All larger
openings below relieving arches. Gunports. Crow-stepped west
gable (hollowed steps) and apex stack with rope moulding;
slated roofs.
Interior: guard room(?) and vaulted chamber with cobbled
floor at ground level, L-shaped chambers above (to
accommodate stair); fireplace with shafted jambs on west wall
of 1st and 2nd floor chambers; stone-flagged floor in former,
original painted frieze in latter; ceiling joists on stone
corbels. Attic and garrets no longer floored.
Incorporated in south west angle of walled garden (listed
separately).

Statement of Interest

Not occupied but well maintained and virtually unaltered. The original wooden door, dated 1600, and bearing a representation of Samson slaying the Lion, is in the National Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh (illus in INVENTORY). The plaques above the door are dated 1600, and bear initials and arms of John Charteris of Amisfield and of Agnes Maxwell his wife. Some interesting graffiti especially on 1st floor east window ingoes, dating from 17th century.

External Links

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