Pringles of Greenknowe Tower

Greenknowe Tower (owned by Historic Scotland, open all year)
The ruined L-plan tower bears the date 1581 and the initials of J. Seton of Touch and his wife J. Edmonstone. It was later purchased by the Pringles of Stichel. Greenknowe was sold in 1785 to George Fairholme of  Greenhill. Today, it is listed as an Ancient Monument, in the care of  the Secretary of State for Scotland.

 Map of Greenknowe (Multimap.com)

Greenknowe Tower, Gordon, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders

Greenknowe stands half a mile west of the Berwickshire village of Gordon. The L-shaped tower consists of a four storey main block with a wing a storey higher. Above the door in the re-entrant angle are shields with the arms of Seton and Edmonstone with initials and the date when the tower was built; 1581.

Three of the angles of the building are surmounted by small turrets  with gun loops and in the re-entrant angle above first floor level rises a  stair turret. In the basement is a vaulted kitchen with an arched fireplace. A wide newel stair rises only to the first floor, the rooms above are accessed from the turret stair.

Greenknowe came to the Setons by marriage with a Gordon heiress. In the  17th century it passed to the Pringles of Stichel and was the home of the famous Covenanter Walter Pringle of Greenknowe. The well preserved ruins  are in the care of Historic Scotland.

Buckle from Greenknowe Tower

This bronze double buckle was found during excavations at Greenknowe  Tower in Berwickshire. It dates from the 17th century. On either side of the central pin is a flower head decoration.

Greenknowe is a ruined tower in south west Berwickshire. It was the residence of the famous Covenanter, Walter Pringle of Greenknowe, whose  memoirs were published at Edinburgh in 1723.