Timpendean Tower

Timpendean tower sits on the western slope of Lanton Moor, about a mile and a half North West of Jedburgh. The ruin of the 16th century tower stands about 15 yards North East from an earthwork. This is obviously of an earlier but unassigned period. The tower is oblong in shape 29 ft by 24 ft.This tower was originally part of the estate of the Douglas Lairds of Bonjedward. In 1479 George Douglas 4th of Bonjedward, with the agreement of his heir made Timpendean over to his younger son Andrew. In 1540 William Douglas heir of the late George Douglas received a charter from James v which included the lands of Timpendean with tenants along with the manorial lands of Bonjedward with the tower and woodland thereof, the estate and fields of Bonjedward. In 1545 Timpendean tower was burned by the Earl of Herefords men during the nine years war.

In the 17th century it was extended in the direction of the earthwork, the uppermost of its four storeys being partly reconstructed at the same time, but at a later time the addition was completely demolished, with the result that the present extent of the building is the same as the original structure. The original entrance, which had a semi-circular arch checked for an outer door faces North West but another entrance was made in the North East gable in the 17th century and shows a back- set margin of that period. The lower storey seems to have been lit originally by a single oval gun-loop in each wall. Of these only 2 remain. The original entrance opened into a vaulted lobby on one side of which lies the access to the original newel-stair, on the other there was a locker. While a doorway which was immediately opposite opened into the lowest storey of the tower. In 1843 the lands of Timpendean were along with Broomhall and Langton sold off by George 12th of Timpendean to William 8th Marquess of Lothian. It now forms part of Lothian Estates.