Building record MAB6616 - COXTON TOWER

A 14th or 15th century style tower house.

A 14th or 15th century style tower house. It was begun by Alexander Innes, who died 1612, and it was later completed by his grandson, Sir Alexander Innes, and repaired after sackings in 1635 and 1645. The estate was sold to William Duff of Dipple in 1714, and held by his successors, the Earls and Duke of Fife, until 1910, and was last occupied in 1900. It was re-roofed in 1992 to try to stop further deterioration. Further work was carried out in 2001 by Law and Dunbar-Nasmith, with repairs being made to the replacement roof and chimneys, and there was a general patching up of the upper sections of the tower. The walls of tower are particularly thick, up to 4.5 feet (1.4 metres) in places, and is circa 23 feet (7 metres) tall. The building contains 4 vaulted storeys, with a single room to each storey. It is constructed of harled rubble, with ashlar dressings and margins. There seems to have been a focus on the potential for fire damage, as every part of the structure, including the roof construction, is made of stone. There is a chamfered entrance is in the South wall, leading into a slightly sunken vaulted store. A stone forestair was added in circa 1846 by Benjamin Pennycuick. Previously, access to the first floor had been provided by a wooden ladder. The first floor off-centre entrance has an armorial panel above from circa 1587. The panel is initialled RI and AI for Robert Innes of Invermarkie, superior, and Alexander Innes of Coxton. The second set of initials are IR and KG, for Janet Reid and Kate Gordon, first and second wives respectively of Alexander Innes of Coxton, who died 6 October, 1612. There is a quasi-pediment above with the faded date 1644, the date Sir Alexander Innes became the 2nd Baron of Innes. There is a single small chamfered window on the first, second and third floor in the South and West fronts, and small vents elsewhere. The windows on the South front have iron grilles covering them. Round bartizans are corbelled out at the South-East and North-West angles, with conical roofs, small windows, shot-holes and an apex finial. There is a square, open bartizan at the South-West angle, with a corbelled base and crenelated wallhead. It has a cannon water spout on it, although originally there were three. There are coped end apex stacks, and a tall wallhead stack. There is a flush stone slab roof, mounted on a stone vault, and crowstepped gables. Inside, the vaulted ground floor store has gun loops in the North, East and West walls. A stone slab can be raised from an opening in the crown of the vault to pass goods up or down from the first floor hall. The first floor hall has a deep window embrasure, mural closet, aumbry, a small coat of arms and a yett. The coat of arms are of Sir Alexander Innes, and his second wife, Mary MacKenzie of Coul, Ross-shire.It must be after 1647, the year Sir Alexander's first wife died. A staircase leads to the second and third floor rooms in the North-East corner, contained within the walls. Each room is barrel vaulted, except on the third floor, which has arch pointed vaulting supporting the roof. The vaults alternate in direction on each floor. This rare design means that each vaulted roof counteracts the lateral thrust of the floor above. There is a mural closet in the second floor room. The third floor room opens to the bartizans. There is a fireplace from circa 1820 in the first, second and third floors. The South and East were probably enclosed with a courtyard wall, of which no trace remains. Water penetration due to bad roofing has caused some internal damage, while general neglect has caused some structural damage.

Period Notes
Building started in the early-17th century, and finished by the last repair in 1645. The armorial panel is from circa 1587, although with the date 1644 added onto the pediment. The coat of arms on the 1st floor from after 1647. The fireplaces were added in circa 1820, and the stone forestair in circa 1846. It was re-roofed 1992, and there were repairs in 2001. Listed designation was given on 26/01/1971, and scheduled designation on 01/12/1975.

BILLINGS, RW, 1852, BAR & ECC ANT OF SCOT IV (Bibliographic reference). SAB89.

DALRYMPLE, CE, 1884, PSAS 18(1883-4) 319-25, 28 (Bibliographic reference). SAB347.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, 23-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

MACDONALD, WR, 1900, PSAS 34(1899-90) 344-429, 399-400 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1181.

SIMPSON, WD, 1948, AUR 32(1947-8) 189-94, 189-94 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1680.

CRUDEN, SH, 1960, THE SCOTTISH CASTLE , 152 (Bibliographic reference). SAB247.

MCKEAN, C, 1987, MORAY: AN ILLUSTRATED ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE, p.110 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1142.

LAING TRADITIONAL MASONRY, 2001, COXTON TOWER BUILDING FABRIC REPAIR: SPECIFICATION AND REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB2797.

Aug 18 1978 , AAS/78/7/CT21, AAS/78/7/CT21 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31933.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, ST ANDREWS-LHANBRYDE (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Record last edited

Jul 29 2022 9:57AM