# Sauchie Tower > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sauchie_Tower > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sauchie_Tower.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauchie_Tower > Source revision: 1343921271 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox building | name = Sauchie Tower | image = The west face of the Sauchie Tower - geograph.org.uk - 7433938.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = The tower in 2022 | pushpin_map = | coordinates = | location = Clackmannanshire | location_town = [Fishcross](/source/Fishcross) | location_country = Scotland | architect = | client = | engineer = | construction_start_date = | completion_date = | demolished_date = | cost = | structural_system = | architectural_style = | size = 11.5 by 10.3 metres (38 by 34 ft) }} '''Sauchie Tower''', also known as '''Devon Tower''', is a 15th-century [tower house](/source/tower_house) in [Clackmannanshire](/source/Clackmannanshire), [Scotland](/source/Scotland). The tower is located by the village of [Fishcross](/source/Fishcross), {{convert|1|km}} north of [Sauchie](/source/Sauchie) and {{convert|2.5|km}} north of [Alloa](/source/Alloa), close to the [River Devon](/source/River_Devon%2C_Clackmannanshire).{{cite web|title=OS 25 inch, 1892-1905|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=56.1415&lon=-3.7782&layers=168&b=1|website=National Library of Scotland|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=9 June 2017}} It is protected as a [Scheduled Ancient Monument](/source/Scheduled_Ancient_Monument).{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM629|desc=Sauchie Tower, tower and house|access-date=25 February 2019}} ==History== The lands of Sauchie were granted by [King Robert the Bruce](/source/Robert_I_of_Scotland) to Henri de Annand, Sheriff of Clackmannan, in 1321.{{cite news|last1=Forsyth|first1=Valerie|title=A Walk in the Past: The origins of Sauchie Tower|url=http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/16121166.A_Walk_in_the_Past__The_origins_of_Sauchie_Tower/|access-date=4 April 2018|agency=Alloa Advertiser|date=28 March 2018}} In 1431, Sir James Schaw of [Greenock](/source/Greenock), [Comptroller](/source/Comptroller) to the King, acquired the lands of Sauchie when he married the heiress Mary de Annand. Sauchie Tower was built by Sir James soon after.{{cite book|last1=MacGibbon|first1=David|last2=Ross|first2=Thomas|title=The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland, from the twelfth to the eighteenth century|date=1889|publisher=David Douglas|location=Edinburgh|pages=265–270|edition=Volume 1|url=https://archive.org/stream/castellateddomes01macguoft#page/264/mode/2up|access-date=11 October 2017}} His son was appointed Governor of [Stirling Castle](/source/Stirling_Castle) in 1460.{{cite web |url=http://www.forthstimeline.com/downloads/tower_leaflet.pdf |title=Clackmannanshire Tower Trail |access-date=2010-05-11 |publisher=Clackmannanshire Council}} The [Schaws](/source/Clan_Schaw) held the land into the 17th century, with several members of the family serving in the Scottish royal household.{{cite web |url=http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/visiting/sauchietower/ |title=Sauchie Tower |access-date=2010-05-11 |work=ClacksWeb |publisher=Clackmannanshire Council}} On 5 September 1503, the gardener of Sauchie bought a gift of pears to [James IV](/source/James_IV_of_Scotland).[James Balfour Paul](/source/James_Balfour_Paul), ''Accounts of the Treasurer: 1500-1504'', vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 392. [Mary, Queen of Scots](/source/Mary%2C_Queen_of_Scots) visited Sauchie and [Alloa Tower](/source/Alloa_Tower) in May 1565.Edward Furgol, [http://journals.socantscot.org/index.php/psas/article/view/9307 'Scottish Itinerary of Mary Queen of Scots, 1542-8 and 1561-8', ''PSAS'', 117 (1987), microfiche, scanned] Around 1631, Alexander Schaw, who was knighted by [King Charles I](/source/Charles_I_of_England) in 1633, built a house in the courtyard to the north-west of the tower. Another house on the estate, Schawpark, was built around 1700, and in 1752, Sauchie passed by marriage to the Cathcart family. Around this time the tower is thought to have been gutted by fire, and was not subsequently lived in. The roof and turrets were destroyed in the second half of the nineteenth century.{{cite news|last1=Forsyth|first1=Valerie|title=A Walk in the Past: The decline and ruin of Sauchie Tower|url=http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/16136076.A_Walk_in_the_Past__The_decline_and_ruin_of_Sauchie_Tower/|access-date=4 April 2018|agency=Alloa Advertiser|date=4 April 2018}} Old Sauchie House, in the courtyard, was demolished after the estate was bought for coal extraction in the 1930s.{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=219418 |desc=Old Sauchie, House | num2=NS89NE 120 |access-date=7 July 2025}} The tower was derelict but in good condition in 1950.{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=47053 |desc=Sauchie Tower | num2=NS89NE 1 |access-date=7 July 2025}} Schawpark was sold about 1802 to the [Earl of Mansfield](/source/David_Murray%2C_3rd_Earl_of_Mansfield), just prior to his assuming the position of [Lord Lieutenant of Clackmannanshire](/source/Lord_Lieutenant_of_Clackmannanshire), but it was demolished in 1961.Land Tax Rolls, 1645-1831, v.4, p. 14, scotlandsplaces.gov.uk. Proposals for restoration of the tower were first put forward in the 1980s, when a series of excavations were carried out.{{cite journal |url=http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_127/127_843_853.pdf |title=Excavations at Sauchie Tower, Clackmannanshire |access-date=2010-05-11 |last=Cannel |first=John |author2=Lewis, John |date=1997 |work=Proceedings of the [Society of Antiquaries of Scotland](/source/Society_of_Antiquaries_of_Scotland) |volume=127 |pages=843–853}} However, restoration work was never completed. The building is now owned by Clackmannanshire Heritage Trust, which has erected a temporary roof. In 2002, the Friends of Sauchie Tower were formed to promote the restoration of the building. With a [Heritage Lottery Fund](/source/Heritage_Lottery_Fund) award of £46,300, the group undertook site clearance, carried out further excavations, and produced a DVD to raise awareness of Sauchie Tower.{{cite news |first=Nicola |last=Findlay |title=Friends launch DVD of Sauchie Tower project |url=http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/roundup/articles/2009/12/23/395321-friends-launch-dvd-of-sauchie-tower-project-/ |work=Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser |date=23 December 2009 |access-date=2010-05-11}} ==The tower== The tower measures {{convert|11.5|by|10.3|m}} and rises four storeys to a [corbel](/source/corbel)led [parapet](/source/parapet) walk, with [bartizan](/source/bartizan)s (open round towers) at the corners. At the north-west corner is a hexagonal [cap-house](/source/cap-house) (a small room covering the top of the stair), with a pyramidal roof. The vaulted basement contains a well, and the main hall is at first-floor level. The tower is 79 feet tall and was surrounded by a moat with a draw-bridge.{{cite book|last1=Brodie|first1=William|title=The new statistical account of Scotland|date=1845|publisher=W. Blackwood and Sons|location=Edinburgh and London|pages=124–125|edition=Vol 8|url=https://archive.org/stream/newstatisticalac08edin#page/126/mode/2up|access-date=9 June 2017|ref=Parish of Alloa}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{coord|56|08|28|N|3|46|40|W|region:GB|display=title}} Category:Castles in Clackmannanshire Category:Listed castles in Scotland Category:Scheduled monuments in Clackmannanshire --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sauchie Tower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauchie_Tower) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauchie_Tower?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.