Preston Tower

Preston Tower stands in the village of Prestonpans in East Lothian as a ruined L-plan keep. It sits within metres of two historic houses, Hamilton House and Northfield House. The original structure may date from the 14th century and originally had four storeys. In 1626 two more storeys were added above the parapet, featuring Renaissance windows with the initials SIDKH for Sir John and Dame Katherine Hamilton. The entrance once had a lean-to hoarding used to drop items like boulders or boiling oil during attacks. The tower has a long history tied to the Hamilton family, who acquired it at the close of the 14th century. David Hamilton accompanied James V to France in 1536 and later fought for Mary, Queen of Scots at the battle of Langside. The tower was burnt by the Earl of Hertford in 1544 during the Rough Wooing and again by Oliver Cromwell in 1650. After further damage in 1663 it was abandoned for Preston House nearby. The Hamiltons recovered the property in the 19th century and the tower was purchased by the National Trust for Scotland in 1969. Visitors find a ruined keep with evidence of its past defences and living quarters. A laburnum arch and herb garden surround the tower, and a mid-17th-century lectern-style doocot stands on the site. The tower includes a pit-prison, though the local prison later used the Preston Merkat Cross. The site received an RIAS award in 2026 for careful heritage stewardship, recognised for its enduring inspiration and community value.