Preston Tower & Doocot

This is Preston Tower in the mining town of Prestonpans in East Lothian.

We were on a weekend visit to East Lothian, visiting places of interest on the Fabulous North website, when we stumbled across Preston Tower.

We were planning a visit to the nearby Northfield Doocot in Prestonpans, when I noticed Preston Tower on the OS map and thought it worth investigating.

Little did I realise, it had only just reopened after a four year renovation project. The project not only involved extensive work on the tower, but also the Doocot and gardens.

The tower was built sometime in the 14th century, and was in the hands of David Hamilton by the late 1300s. At this stage, the tower had four storeys.

The entrance to the tower would have had a platform from which items could be dropped as a means of defence. The tower also had a prison pit on the lower floor.

In 1536, David Hamilton went to France with James V. A little later, in 1544, the Earl of Hertford burned down the tower as part of the Rough Wooing. This was England's effort to stop collaboration between France and Scotland after England's break away from the Catholic Church.

Between 1555 and 1558, Mary of Guise (Mary Queen of Scots' mother) anticipated an English invasion and asked David Hamilton and the local people to provide food for French soldiers.

David, would later fight for Mary Queen of Scots in the Battle of Langside (1568).

By 1617, James VI of Scotland (James I of England/Ireland), made Preston and Prestonpans a free barony for David's great-grandson John, including rights to hold a fair and rebuild the harbour.

In 1626, a further two storeys were added to the Tower, including Renaissance windows. Sir John Hamilton and his wife Katherine Howieson, carved their initials into the stonework of the tower.

In 1650, the tower was once again burned down, this time by order of Oliver Cromwell. Unfortunately, this time the family records were all destroyed.

After undergoing restoration work, in 1663, yet again the tower succumbed to flames, although this time by accident.

At this point, Preston Tower was abandoned in favour of nearby Preston House. The Hamilton's gave up the tower in 1684, but then recovered the property in the 1800s.

Preston Tower was purchased by the National Trust for Scotland in 1969, and is currently under the guardianship of East Lothian Council.

The site also has a laburnum arch, a herb garden, and a Doocot which dates from the 1600s.

There are some very helpful information boards, that are well worth a read when visiting the site.

If you happened to visit during the major restoration work, then this is the sight that would have met you!

Within the gardens is this lectern style Doocot which was used to keep pigeons for meat, eggs and manure.