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This is a 1450s Tower House Castle built for
John Cairns, a retired customs officer from
Linlithgow by Edinburgh, the only Round Tower
House in Scotland, 36 feet high.
The Tower is now just a shell with no roof.
You can climb the narrow Spiral Staircase and
walk around the top for great views.
The image right shows how the Tower would
have been used.
The Outer Buildings were demolished in the
1750s so the stone could be used for another
Mansion/Castle close by.
It is believed John Cairns acquired these
lands after King James II set about persecuting
the Black Douglas Clan then redistributing
their Land.
James II believed the Douglas where trying
to have him Assassinated so they could become
Kings of Scotland.
The Cairns were known for being loyal to the
King, with one of them designing parts of
Edinburgh Castle.
1558 - the death of William Cairns led to
the Estate being split between his
Daughters.
1616 - the part of the Estate with the Tower
was sold to the Maxwell family.
The Maxwell's were landowners in the area
that were Earls and Lords, known for supporting
Scottish Kings in battles such as the Battle of
Flodden in 1513.
The Maxwell's later fought with the
Jacobite's in the risings that ended with the
Battle of Culloden at Inverness in
1746. Sir Robert Maxwell was captured by
Government Forces at Culloden and
Imprisoned.
His release from Prison led to him returning
to Orchardton.
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