Saturday 18th October 2925 2.00 for 2.30 pm
The Society is delighted to offer Members an opportunity for a private tour of Preston Tower, Doocot and Garden on Saturday 18th October, 2025, 2.00 PM for 2.30 PM. Our visit will be hosted by Friends of Preston Tower, a local group of community-focused volunteers.
Preston Tower is a Scheduled Monument consisting of a partially ruined Tower House, Doocot and Garden nestling in the heart of the town of Prestonpans. The lower storeys of the tower are of 15th century origin whilst the upper mini Renaissance Palace (and probably the Doocot) was added in the early 17th century. There are two documented burnings of the Tower, firstly in 1544 during the Rough Wooing and again in 1650 by Oliver Cromwell’s forces. The Tower remained in use as a home until around 1700 when it was permanently abandoned by the Hamilton family. From the mid-19th century the Tower functioned as the centrepiece of a commercial market garden and in the late 1960s passed into the ownership of the National Trust for Scotland. Currently access is limited to the first floor great hall reached via a new external staircase, the ground floor vaulted chamber with its own entrance, and the nearby doocot which was substantially repaired at the same time the tower was being renovated.
Visit plan
Address: 30 Cross Cottages, Prestonpans, EH32 9EJ.
There will be two groups that will alternate between the Tower and Doocot & Garden.
There will be no charge for the visit but attendees are asked to consider donations towards the running costs of the Friends of Preston Tower: either in cash or on-line via a QR code.
Please note that there is no dedicated parking at the Tower. The adjacent car park is private for the housing association. However there is ample on-street parking as well as at the nearby community centre close to the Mercat cross. The nearest public toilets are on Ayres Wynd, just off the High Street: follow West Loan north.
Places will understandably be limited so to reserve a place please contact Elaine Whewell at info@eastlothianantiquarians.org.uk
