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Tower or folly

Smailholm Tower

Near Kelso, Scottish Borders

A rugged Border tower that inspired Sir Walter Scott.

Smailholm is a tall stone tower house built in the 1400s to protect a family from Border raiders. As a sickly boy, Walter Scott stayed at the farm below and heard ballads and tales of the Border reivers.

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When
1400s
Where
55.6050, -2.5780
Group
Towers & follies

Visiting

Historic Environment Scotland, open in summer.

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