Aikwood Tower
Castle in Scottish Borders, Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aikwood Tower (formerly known as Oakwood Tower) is a 16th-century tower house in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, 4 miles (6 kilometres) southwest of the town of Selkirk, on the Ettrick Water. The tower is a Category A listed building.[1]
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| Aikwood Tower | |
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Aikwood Tower in 2011 | |
 Interactive map of Aikwood Tower | |
Listed Building – Category A |
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History
The property was granted to Robert Scott by King James V in 1517, and the tower was likely built soon afterwards, possibly as early as 1535, although the exact date of completion is not known.[2][3] It was abandoned as a dwelling and was used as a store on the adjoining farm. The tower rises over four storeys with an additional attic level.[2][3]
The building was restored in the early 1990s by the former Liberal Party leader David Steel, and renovated in 1992.[4] Lord Steel purchased the property from the Duke of Buccleuch in the late 1980s, prior to undertaking the renovation works.[4]
He and his wife lived there for twenty years from 1992 to 2012. Aikwood Tower is now owned by Steel's son Rory and his wife who operate it as a private holiday home and wedding venue.[5][6]