Liberton Tower, Medieval tower house in Edinburgh, Scotland
Liberton Tower is a four-storey tower house built from yellow-harled stone with unevenly spaced windows and a base of about 34 feet by 25 feet. The structure has defensive features such as thick walls and small openings typical of Scottish residential towers from this period.
The tower was documented as owned by the Dalmahoy family in 1453 and later passed to the Forrester family. It eventually came under the ownership of William Little, a Provost of Edinburgh, before changing hands again in later periods.
The tower shows how Scottish noble families built and lived in their homes during the 1400s, with thick walls for protection. Such buildings served as both living spaces and symbols of local power and wealth in the region.
The structure now operates as holiday accommodation for visitors to Edinburgh and underwent major restoration work in 1994. The location is easily accessible from the city, and guests should expect limited opening hours since it functions as a private rental property.
During Cromwell's 1650 invasion of Edinburgh, the tower served as a military position, with cannonballs and charcoal deposits still found in nearby fields. These physical traces show how intense the fighting was in this area and the role the building played in the defense of the region.
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