Fala Luggie

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Near Gorebridge, Midlothian

Remains of a tower house held by the Douglases and by the Murrays, but by the 18th century, Fala was owned by the Hamiltons. It is suggested that this was a royal hunting lodge, or box.

This building is likely to be the ruins of a twelfth-century monastery. Built by monks of the Augustinian Order, this monastery was the highest in Britain, at 370 metres above sea level. Built on the site of an ancient Roman road, the monastery was located beside what was then the main land route into Scotland. Fala Tower is mentioned in verse eight (canto IV) of Sir Walter Scott's epic poem, 'The Lay of the Last Minstrel'.

Rev. James Hunter, in his history of Fala and Soutra writes:
Near to the scar is situated the remains of an old Roman speculum or keep, called Fala Luggie. Of its history nothing is known ; but as it is situated on that part of Watling Street which runs from Soutra to Currie, near Borthwick Castle, it is either the ruins or the site of a Roman look-out.

There can be no doubt that the Romans lived there, for two Roman urns were found in 1852 , a few hundred yards to the north, on Cakemuir Hill. They were presented to the Museum of the Society of Antiquaries, Edinburgh, by Mr Borthwick of Crookstone. Several coins were found at the ruin about the same time, belonging to the reign of Charles I .

The ruin itself is now not much, and shows that utilitarian hands have been upon it again and again. It commands a magnificent view of the Pentlands, Arthur Seat, and Mid Lothian, and a most likely place to erect a signalling station. Around it are still to be found faint traces of a ditch or moat, and beyond the land has been cultivated. Overlooked by the Luggie is the ancient castle of Cakemuir, where Queen Mary slept the night after she fled from Borthwick Castle.


Canmore:  A small keep of which only the SE wall remains, according to the RCAHMS, though MacGibbon and Ross noted a return wall at one end and a foundation wall at the other. This wall, about 3 1/2' thick was estimated to be about 30' high by MacGibbon and Ross who give the length of the building as 29'3", the RCAHMS adding that the width was 25'. The former authorities add that the keep was covered by its own ruins, and that the ground floor was vaulted. The remaining wall had two tall narrow windows on the first floor.

Hunter alleges that a ditch or moat could be traced around the building. The O N B notes a reference to the building where it is alleged, traditionally, it was a hunting lodge of one of the kings of Scotland.

Note:
•  Luggie, a hut or lodge

Source

 

Sources for this article include:
  • Canmore
  • National Library of Scotland

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    Last modified: Monday, 25 March 2024