Smailholm Tower is a peel tower that stands around five miles west of Kelso in the Scottish Borders. Its dramatic situation, atop a crag of Lady Hill, commands wide views over the surrounding countryside. The tower is located just west of Sandyknowe farm and is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument in the care of Historic Scotland. Smailholm Tower was originally built in the 15th century or early 16th century by the Pringle family. Followers of the Earl of Douglas, the Pringle (anciently spelt Hoppringle) family had held the lands of Smailholm from the early 15th century, and managed part of Ettrick Forest for their feudal superior. Smailholm Tower was designed, in common with all Scottish peel towers, to provide its occupants with protection from sporadic English raids.
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