Sauchie Tower, Medieval tower house in Clackmannanshire, Scotland.
Sauchie Tower is a four-story stone structure with a square base and a hexagonal caphouse, topped with corbelled parapets and round towers at each corner. Inside, the vaulted basement contains a pit-prison built into the walls, while the first-floor hall opens with wide fireplaces and window seats carved from stone.
The lands of Sauchie were granted to Henri de Annand by King Robert the Bruce in 1321, and tower construction began around 1430. Over time, the structure became a significant residence for local nobility and remained an important stronghold in the region.
Mary Queen of Scots visited the tower in May 1565, and records show the gardener presented pears to King James IV in 1503 point.
The tower requires climbing through multiple floors, with the basement at ground level and upper rooms accessible by narrow stairs. Visitors should expect uneven floors, low ceilings in some areas, and the constraints typical of medieval stone buildings.
Sir James Shaw, Governor of Stirling Castle, refused King James III access to his son, an act of defiance that sparked events leading to the Battle of Sauchieburn. This family dispute became entangled in one of the most consequential military confrontations of the era.
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