Geoff Piltz
Repentance Tower 1
Repentance Tower sits on the top of the hill known as Trailtrow with a magnificent view to the south all the way to the Solway Firth and England on its other side. It gets its name from the word "Repentance" carved over the entry door. Never lived in, it was built as a watchtower in the mid 16th century by John Maxwell, Lord Herries. There are several stories of how it got its name, most of them involving atonement for bloody deeds. The most credible however is more prosaic. This says that the chapel that formerly stood here (there is still a graveyard adjoining the tower and the low walls to the left of the picture surround a family enclosure) was pulled down for stone used in the building of Hoddam Castle half a mile to the north in a loop of the River Annan. On learning of this the Archbishop of Glasgow constrained Maxwell to atone for this desecration by building the watchtower as a benefit to the local area. There is a stone beacon for a watch-fire to "... be keeped, and never faill burning, so long as the Englishmen remain in Scotland", and there was a bell to be rung "... whenever the Fray is, or that the Watchman seiing the Thieves disobedient come over the Water of Annand or thereabout, and knowes them to be enemies; ..."
Repentance Tower 1
Repentance Tower sits on the top of the hill known as Trailtrow with a magnificent view to the south all the way to the Solway Firth and England on its other side. It gets its name from the word "Repentance" carved over the entry door. Never lived in, it was built as a watchtower in the mid 16th century by John Maxwell, Lord Herries. There are several stories of how it got its name, most of them involving atonement for bloody deeds. The most credible however is more prosaic. This says that the chapel that formerly stood here (there is still a graveyard adjoining the tower and the low walls to the left of the picture surround a family enclosure) was pulled down for stone used in the building of Hoddam Castle half a mile to the north in a loop of the River Annan. On learning of this the Archbishop of Glasgow constrained Maxwell to atone for this desecration by building the watchtower as a benefit to the local area. There is a stone beacon for a watch-fire to "... be keeped, and never faill burning, so long as the Englishmen remain in Scotland", and there was a bell to be rung "... whenever the Fray is, or that the Watchman seiing the Thieves disobedient come over the Water of Annand or thereabout, and knowes them to be enemies; ..."