Dryhope Tower

A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

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Dryhope, a burn, a hill, and a Border peel-tower in the W of Yarrow parish, Selkirkshire. The burn rises on Deepslake Knowe (1717 feet), and runs 21/8 miles south-south-eastward to Yarrow Water, at a point 2½ furlongs NE of the foot of St Mary's Loch. The hill, called Dryhope Rig, flanks the right side of the upper course of the burn, and has an altitude of 1712 feet above sea-level. Dryhope Tower, crowning a slight eminence on the right bank of the burn, 5 furlongs N of the Loch, and 15½ miles WSW of Selkirk, was one of the strongest peel-houses in Ettrick Forest-square and lofty, commanding a glorious view up the vale of the Yarrow and over the Loch of the Lowes away to the Moffatdale Hills. Here, about 1550, was born the ` Flower of Yarrow,' Mary Scott, the bride of Wat Scott of Harden, whom her father engaged to find in man's and horse meat at his tower of Dryhope for a year and a day, in return for the profits of the first Michaelmas moon. Five barons pledged themselves for the observance of the contract, which was signed for all parties by a notary public, none of the seven being able to write his name. Wat either succeeded or ousted his father-in-law, for on 13 July 1592, James VI. issued at Peebles a warrant to demolish the fortalice of Dryhope, ` pertaining to Walter Scott of Harden, who was art and part of the late treasonable fact perpetrate against his highness' own person at Falkland.' Demolished, however, Dryhope was certainly not, for the tower, though roofless, is still in good preservation-the property still of a Scott, the Duke of Buccleuch.—Ord. Sur., sh. 16,1864.

An accompanying 19th C. Ordnance Survey map is available, or use the map tab to the right of this page.

Note: This text has been made available using a process of scanning and optical character recognition. Despite manual checking, some typographical errors may remain. Please remember this description dates from the 1880s; names may have changed, administrative divisions will certainly be different and there are known to be occasional errors of fact in the original text, which we have not corrected because we wish to maintain its integrity. This information is provided subject to our standard disclaimer

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