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Cramond Tower today

Scotland · Restored

Cramond Tower

Cramond Tower is a late medieval, four-storey tower house in the village of Cramond, north‑west of Edinburgh. Built as a compact defensive residence, it later served as a domestic dwelling and has been restored into a private house.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1500

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1500

What Cramond Tower looked like in its prime.

A compact, nearly square four‑storey stone tower house about 25 feet on each side, with masonry walls up to five feet thick and a pitched roof. A round stair turret projects from the south‑east corner. Narrow windows and small slit openings puncture the thick walls; the tower presents a simple vertical silhouette. At prime the tower stood with a small cluster of service outbuildings to the west on the edge of the village close to the Roman fort at Cramond.

Its story

The story of Cramond Tower.

Cramond Tower is a fifteenth-century tower house in the village of Cramond, north-west of Edinburgh. Nearly square, around 25 feet on each side with walls up to five feet thick, the four-storey tower has a round staircase protruding at its south-east corner. It was at one stage part of the bishop of Dunkeld's summer residence.

In 1978 the tower was acquired by Eric Jamieson, an amateur antiquarian, and between 1979 and 1981 it was restored by architects Robert Hurd & Partners into a private residence, the pitched roof re-erected as part of the work and a stone extension added on the east side in the 1990s. It is a category B listed building.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1500.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Cramond Tower, including 5 interiors: ground‑floor store, first‑floor living room (hall), second‑floor kitchen chamber and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the village laneSouth‑east round stair turret (exterior)Ground‑floor storeFirst‑floor living room (hall)Second‑floor kitchen chamberThird and fourth‑floor bedchambersInternal stair and landingsService outbuildings to the westRoof level and view toward the Roman fort

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From the archive

Cramond Tower on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Fig. 361. — Cramond Tower. View from South-West., Cramond Tower

Fig. 361. — Cramond Tower. View from South-West.

1889 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 3 (1889)

Public domain

FIRST FLOOR, Cramond Tower

FIRST FLOOR

1889 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 3 (1889)

Public domain

SECTION LOOKING EAST, Cramond Tower

SECTION LOOKING EAST

1889 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 3 (1889)

Public domain

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Cramond Tower.

Murrayfield Stadium, ScotlandStadiumMurrayfield Stadium5 km awayForth Bridge, ScotlandBridgeForth Bridge6 km awayTynecastle Park, ScotlandStadiumTynecastle Park6 km away

Questions about Cramond Tower

What is the history of Cramond Tower?

Cramond Tower was built in the fifteenth century, probably in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century, primarily as a defensive feature. It later formed part of the bishop of Dunkeld’s summer residence. After a long period of abandonment, it was restored between 1979 and 1981 into a private residence.

What is inside Cramond Tower?

Cramond Tower contains a ground-floor store, a first-floor living room, a second-floor kitchen chamber, and bedchambers on the third and fourth floors. Its internal stair and landings connect the four storeys. The tower was restored as a private residence.

Why was Cramond Tower built, and what was it used for?

Cramond Tower was built primarily as a defensive residence. Its compact tower-house form provided a strong dwelling, with thick masonry walls and narrow openings. It later served as a domestic dwelling and formed part of the bishop of Dunkeld’s summer residence.

Where is Cramond Tower?

Cramond Tower is in the village of Cramond, north-west of Edinburgh, in the City of Edinburgh administrative area. It stands close to the Roman fort at Cramond. The village is north-west of the city centre.

When was Cramond Tower built?

Cramond Tower was built in the fifteenth century, although it may date from the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. The first-raised year is not recorded. The differing descriptions place its construction around the transition between those two centuries.

What did Cramond Tower look like in its prime?

In its prime, Cramond Tower was a compact, nearly square four-storey stone tower house about 25 feet on each side. Its masonry walls were up to five feet thick, with a pitched roof and a round stair turret projecting from the south-east corner. Narrow windows and slit openings gave it a simple vertical silhouette.

Is Cramond Tower still standing or is it a ruin?

Cramond Tower is still standing and has been restored, rather than remaining a ruin. It was restored between 1979 and 1981 as a private residence, with the pitched roof re-erected. A stone extension was added on the east side in the 1990s.

Can you visit Cramond Tower?

Cramond Tower is a private residence, so it is not described as a public visitor attraction. The restored tower was converted into a private house between 1979 and 1981. It is also a category B listed building.

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