Published on:
22
August 2012
Sauchie Tower in Clackmannanshire is among eight historic buildings around the country which this week were awarded a total of £2 million in grants to carry out essential repair and restoration works.
The money is from the latest round of Scottish Government monies in the shape of Historic Scotland's Building Grants.
Sauchie Tower, which is owned by Clackmannanshire Heritage Trust, is supported by Clackmannanshire Council
Councillor Donald Balsillie, the council's representative board member on the Heritage Trust, said: "This is a tremendous boost and both the Trust and Clackmannanshire Council welcome the grant and support from the Scottish Government.
"It will ensure that essential repair and restoration work can be carried out to a high standard and ensure that such a historic and important building in our county can be reused and enjoyed by many people for generations to come."
Sauchie Tower, considered to be an outstanding example of a large, early 15th century tower house, was awarded £278,448, with the money to be used to complete the restoration of the historic building.
It was built by Sir James Schaw, governor of Stirling Castle and a member of one of the more influential families in Medieval Scotland in the early 1400s.
The tower complex includes an outer wall, cobbled courtyard and large hall with kitchen and bread oven. The west courtyard wall was partly remodelled c1490, to include gunholes and corner tower.
In 1631 this was incorporated into Sauchie House, built by Alexander Schaw, who was knighted in 1633 by Charles I.
In c1710 the family moved to their new mansion of Schawpark. A cottage was built against the south end of Sauchie House. The tower roof fell in c1858 and the corner turrets and
gables collapsed c1890.
Sauchie House was demolished in 1930 and the cottage soon afterwards.
Sauchie Tower is owned by Clackmannanshire Heritage Trust, which has begun a programme of repair and conservation. The Friends of Sauchie Tower were established
to support the restoration of the tower.
The group was awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to carry out the project entitled Sauchie Tower and its Environs. It included an excavation by Addyman Associates and enthusiastic local volunteers which greatly increased knowledge of the site.
Clackmannanshire Heritage Trust and the Friends hope to complete the excavation of
the site, finish the restoration of Sauchie Tower and conserve the ruins of Sauchie House and the surrounding landscape. And with this grant from the Scottish Government, it appears they are well on their way to achieving that aim.