Clan Pringle - Smailholm Tower - Photo Print

Smailholm Tower, located around five miles west of Kelso in the Scottish Borders, is a peel tower that stands atop a crag of Lady Hill, offering wide views over the surrounding countryside. Built in the 15th century by the Pringle family, the tower's dramatic location and design were meant to provide protection from English raids.

The Pringles were close allies of the Earls of Douglas in the 14th century and held the lands of Smailholm from the early 15th century. They were known as Hoppringle of that Ilk, holding lands in Lauderdale, and were esteemed enough to be part of the royal courts of James IV and V. The tower was attacked by the English several times but remained a stronghold for the Pringles.

The Pringles' association with Smailholm Tower ended when it was obtained by the Scotts of Harden, ancestors of Sir Walter Scott. The famous author spent considerable time at the tower during his youth, and it provided inspiration for some of his works. The tower, now a museum, was restored in the 1980s and continues to be a symbol of the Pringles' resilience and connection to the land.

If you're considering a landscape photograph of Scotland as a way to visualise your ancestral connection to Clan Pringle or as a gift with personal meaning, this print of Smailholm Tower provides a beautiful immersive scene that transports you to the past.