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Auchenbathie Tower today

Scotland · Ruin

Auchenbathie Tower

Auchenbathie Tower (also Auchinbathie or Barcraigs Tower) is a small ruined Scottish tower house in Renfrewshire once held by the Wallaces of Elderslie. Only fragments of the original rectangular tower's rubble walls survive today; historical records and early maps show it once stood intact beside a small clachan and farm buildings.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1590

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1590

What Auchenbathie Tower looked like in its prime.

A compact rectangular tower house, historically about 29 ft by 10–12 ft, built of dark, rounded rubble masonry with continuous thick side walls; parts of the side walls once stood to about 17 ft high. The tower sat on a low rise amid pasture and small farmsteads beside a lane, with a small enclosed yard/byre within the tower footprint. Surrounding ground shows traces of an infield and a nearby well; no roofline survives today.

Its story

The story of Auchenbathie Tower.

Auchenbathie Tower, the spelling varies greatly, with Auchinbathie and Barcraigs Tower among the alternatives, is a ruined tower house in the parish of Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, once held by the Wallaces of Elderslie. Tradition holds that Sir Malcolm Wallace, believed by some to be the father of Sir William Wallace, may have been Lord of Elderslie and Auchenbothie, though William's own seal gives his father's name as Alan Wallace.

The Wallaces owned the tower by 1398, when John Wallace of Elderslie passed the lands of Auchinbothie Wallace to his son Thomas; the family line died out around 1650. The Semples of Eliotstoun and the MacDowalls also held the lands at various times, and in 1596 sasine of Auchinbothie was held by David Cunningham of Robertland. Only fragments of the rectangular tower's rubble walls survive, though records and early maps show it once standing intact beside a small clachan and farm buildings.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1590.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Auchenbathie Tower, including 2 interiors: ground-floor courtyard and byre, adjacent cottage and chimney. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from the west laneGround-floor courtyard and byreTower Well opposite the towerAdjacent cottage and chimneyInfield immediately behind the towerWallace's Knowe viewpoint

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Whose castle

Clans who held Auchenbathie Tower.

The families that held Auchenbathie Tower for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Wallace

    Held by the Wallaces of Elderslie, recorded owners in 1398; the Auchenbothie Wallace line died out around 1650.

  • Semple

    The Semples of Eliotstoun held the lands of Auchenbothie at various times.

  • MacDowall

    The MacDowalls held the lands of Auchenbothie at various times.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Auchenbathie Tower.

Ibrox Stadium, ScotlandStadiumIbrox Stadium18 km awayScotstoun Stadium, ScotlandStadiumScotstoun Stadium18 km awayKelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, ScotlandMuseumKelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum20 km away

Questions about Auchenbathie Tower

What is the history of Auchenbathie Tower?

Auchenbathie Tower was held by the Wallaces of Elderslie by 1398, when John Wallace passed the lands of Auchinbothie Wallace to his son Thomas. The Semples of Eliotstoun and the MacDowalls later held the lands at various times. The Wallace family line died out around 1650, and maps show the tower standing intact in the late sixteenth century before becoming a ruin.

What is inside Auchenbathie Tower?

Inside Auchenbathie Tower, the surviving evidence includes a ground-floor courtyard and a small byre once used as an outhouse for cattle. An adjacent cottage and chimney are also documented, and a carved stone dated 1678 was retrieved from the cottage chimney. Only fragments of the tower walls survive, so no complete interior arrangement remains.

What did Auchenbathie Tower look like in its prime?

Auchenbathie Tower was a compact rectangular tower house built of dark, rounded rubble masonry. It measured about 29 feet by 10 to 12 feet, with continuous thick side walls that once reached about 17 feet high. It stood on a low rise beside a lane, among pasture, small farmsteads and an enclosed yard or byre; no roofline survives.

Is Auchenbathie Tower still standing or is it a ruin?

Auchenbathie Tower is a ruin, with only fragments of its rectangular rubble walls surviving. The remaining side walls are continuous but are generally no more than 4 to 5 feet high, although a small portion reaches about 17 feet. A section of wall has also been removed beside the ruins of the farmhouse.

Which family or clan held Auchenbathie Tower?

Auchenbathie Tower was held by the Wallaces of Elderslie, who were recorded owners in 1398. The Semples of Eliotstoun and the MacDowalls also held the lands of Auchenbothie at various times. The Auchenbothie Wallace family line died out around 1650.

Where is Auchenbathie Tower?

Auchenbathie Tower is in Renfrewshire, in the parish of Lochwinnoch. It stands in the former lands of Auchenbathie, beside a lane and near the site known as Wallace's Knowe. The surrounding area included pasture, small farmsteads, an infield and the Tower Well.

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