Clan Rising
Preston Tower today

Scotland · Partial ruin

Preston Tower

Preston Tower is a ruined L-plan keep in Prestonpans, East Lothian, built in medieval times with significant additions in the early 17th century. The tower is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is now under the guardianship of East Lothian Council.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1626

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1626

What Preston Tower looked like in its prime.

A compact L-plan stone keep of medieval origin, originally four storeys with two additional storeys built above the parapet in 1626. Constructed of red-brown rubble sandstone with ashlar dressings, a corbel table runs beneath the parapet; lower levels have narrow slit and small rectangular windows while the added upper storeys show larger rectangular Renaissance windows carved with the initials "SIDKH". The tower sits directly behind a low rubble boundary wall opening on to a small grassed forecourt in the village.

Its story

The story of Preston Tower.

Preston Tower is a ruined L-plan keep in Prestonpans, East Lothian, standing within a few metres of two other historic houses, Hamilton House and Northfield House. Preston passed by marriage to the "haughty Hamiltons" at the close of the fourteenth century, and the tower remained with the family for the next three hundred years.

The tower was burnt by the Earl of Hertford on 16 May 1544, following the burning of Edinburgh during the Rough Wooing, and burnt again by Oliver Cromwell in 1650, this time with the loss of the family records. Significant additions had been made to the medieval keep in the early seventeenth century.

One of the family was the noted Covenanter Robert Hamilton, a commander at the battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Brig; the Hamiltons were forfeited in 1684, though they recovered the property in the nineteenth century. The tower now belongs to the National Trust for Scotland, under the guardianship of East Lothian Council.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1626.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Preston Tower, including 1 interior: pit-prison (basement dungeon). 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 village lane and boundary wallForecourt at the tower baseMain entrance beneath a lean-to hoardingInner angle of the L-planUpper storeys with Renaissance windows and carved initialsParapet, corbel table and battlement walkPit-prison (basement dungeon)

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Recreate Preston Tower with AI to explore it.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Preston Tower.

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

  • Hamilton

    Held by the Hamiltons from the close of the 14th century; forfeited 1684, recovered in the 19th century.

From the archive

Preston 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. 270. — Preston Tower. View from the South-East., Preston Tower

Fig. 270. — Preston Tower. View from the South-East.

1887 · MacGibbon & Ross, Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, vol. 1 (1887)

Public domain

FIG. 271. — Preston Tower. Plans and Section., Preston Tower

FIG. 271. — Preston Tower. Plans and Section.

1887 · MacGibbon & Ross, Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, vol. 1 (1887)

Public domain

FIG. 271. — Preston Tower. Plans and Section., Preston Tower

FIG. 271. — Preston Tower. Plans and Section.

1887 · MacGibbon & Ross, Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, vol. 1 (1887)

Public domain

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Preston Tower.

Easter Road, ScotlandStadiumEaster Road12 km awayHolyrood Abbey, ScotlandAncient siteHolyrood Abbey12 km awayHolyrood Palace, ScotlandPalaceHolyrood Palace12 km away

Questions about Preston Tower

What is the history of Preston Tower?

Preston Tower began as a medieval keep and remained with the Hamilton family for about three hundred years after Preston passed to them by marriage at the close of the fourteenth century. It was enlarged in 1626, burnt by the Earl of Hertford in 1544 and by Oliver Cromwell in 1650, then abandoned in 1663 after another fire.

What is inside Preston Tower?

Preston Tower contains a pit-prison in its basement dungeon. The entrance had a lean-to hoarding from which defenders could drop boulders, hot sand or boiling oil, although this is an exterior defensive feature rather than an interior room.

Who owns Preston Tower?

Preston Tower is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is under the guardianship of East Lothian Council. It is also a scheduled monument, a designation held since 1936.

Where is Preston Tower?

Preston Tower is in Prestonpans, in East Lothian. It stands in the ancient village within a few metres of Hamilton House and Northfield House.

When was Preston Tower built?

Preston Tower was built in phases during the medieval period, with significant additions in the early seventeenth century. The original structure may date from the fourteenth century, and two further storeys were added above the parapet in 1626.

Was Preston Tower ever attacked or besieged?

Preston Tower was attacked and burnt twice: by the Earl of Hertford on 16 May 1544 during the Rough Wooing, and by Oliver Cromwell in 1650. It was burnt accidentally again in 1663, after which it was abandoned for the nearby Preston House.

Which family or clan held Preston Tower?

Preston Tower was held by the Hamilton family from the close of the fourteenth century. The Hamiltons were forfeited in 1684 but recovered the property in the nineteenth century.

What did Preston Tower look like in its prime?

Preston Tower was a compact L-plan stone keep of medieval origin, built from red-brown rubble sandstone with ashlar dressings. It originally had four storeys, with two additional storeys added in 1626 above the parapet; these have larger Renaissance windows bearing the initials “SIDKH”.

Is Preston Tower still standing or is it a ruin?

Preston Tower is a partial ruin. Its medieval L-plan keep survives, including the later upper storeys added in 1626, but the tower was burnt in 1544, 1650 and 1663; after the final fire it was abandoned for the nearby Preston House.

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