Description

Dated 1734. Slightly tapered, square plan, 5-stage tower with partly convex octagonal ashlar broach spire and corbelled balustraded parapet on the traditional 16th/17th century Fife pattern. Prominently sited projecting forward from the street line at the heart of the historic burgh with wrap around stone forestair at first floor leading to side entrance door to tower. Rubble stonework with strip margined quoins and horizontal band courses framing each of 5 stages. Ground floor arched doorway with bi-fold timber doorway, quadrangle pyramidal capped sundial and armorial panel to 2nd stage. Small window to 3rd stage, clocks to 4th stage and paired lancet gothic windows at belfry stage.

Statement of Interest

Strathmiglo Tower is a important survival of an outstanding 18th century stone tower with fine stone detailing surviving in good and near original condition and providing a strong focal point to the historic market town.

Strathmiglo is an ancient burgh, the Burgh of Barony given to Sir William Scott of Balwearie in 1509, although the first feus were not granted until 1600 and it ceased to be a Burgh in 1748. The town developed from this date and by the early 19th century is was a centre for weaving. The tower was an addition to an earlier building used as the Town Hall which was demolished and rebuilt in the mid 19th century (now converted to private dwelling).The later hall is linked to the tower by a crowstepped gable and the forestair. A skewputt within the gable which is the carving of a head is of an earlier date to the hall.

The armorial panel is dated 1734 and holds the name and arms of the Honourable Margaret Balfour of Burleigh, the superior of the burgh. The sundial is supported by a short section of semicircular shaft and is said to be a remnant of the burgh's market cross. The belfry houses a bell bearing the motto Tempus Fugit, cast for the burgh in 1766 by Lester and Pack of London. Originally the ground floor of the tower housed the town's cell with a slit window to the W. The clocks apparently had stone dials prior to 1921 when they were altered to be as they are today.

It is possible that the tower may be built from the stones of Strathmiglo or Cairney Flappet Castle. It is built on the traditional Fife pattern which is a subtly battered section and a partly convex section to the broached spire. The tower is similar in profile to the nearby B-listed Auchtermuchty Town Hall Tower which is now incased in a later 19th century hall.

Descheduled 2013. List description updated 2013.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Town House, High Street, Strathmiglo at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17569426

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
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  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)