Smailholm Tower

Smailholm Tower, near Melrose, in the Scottish Borders.

Built in the 1400s, Smailholm Tower has survived centuries of assault from border reivers. It was home to the Pringle family before falling into the hands of the ancestors of Sir Walter Scott.

Scott stayed here as a child in 1773, while recovering from polio, and it was here that he developed a lifelong affection for the stories and songs of the borders.

This picture was taken on 1 February 2023.