Gilnockie/Hollows is one of the finest and best-preserved examples of a reiver’s tower house or ‘pele’. It is now cared for by the Clan Armstrong Centre but was once a fortified home with narrow windows through which shots could be fired. When under attack its inhabitants could retire to the roof and throw down unpleasant things on would-be invaders.

The tower was normally a chief’s house. When not under serious threat, he and his followers tried to live as normal a life as possible, with good food and entertainments like music and story telling. In decent weather, they might go hunting with hounds or hawks. Horse racing was popular, as were ball games. In one football match between rival families, the final score was two dead and 30 taken prisoner!

In the tower, the animals were kept in the basement. There was a fireplace on the first floor and herbs and flowers were strewn on the ground to keep the air fresh. When other reivers raided, they tried to break in by ‘scumfishing’, which involved piling straw around the door and smoking the family out. If they did get in, there were other obstacles to overcome. Some towers had a clockwise spiral staircase up to the roof, with hidden trip-steps to catch the invaders.

Did you know?
One of the most famous border reivers, Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie, lived in his tower on the banks of the River Esk. Historians have argued for years over its location. Many local people call this tower Gilnockie. Others say this was built after the original Gilnockie was destroyed. Whatever, it’s a place that has inspired paintings of Johnnie, who is shown riding out from here for the last time in 1530. He was on his way north to meet King James V of Scotland who would kill him. Carlenrig, the place where he died, is also part of our Border Reiver Trail.

‘They have a persuasion that all property is common by the law of nature
and is therefore liable to be appropriated by them in their necessity’

Raids
The season for raiding was autumn to spring, when nights were long - and towers were perfect places from which to set off. Raids varied from a quick moonlight plunder to a foray that lasted days. The aim was to ‘intake goods and chattels’, destroy property and return with as many cattle as possible. But even if the raid was successful, the journey home, driving large numbers of stolen animals, meant riders were vulnerable to attack.

Beacons were sited on towers and hillsides. A single fire signalled raiders approaching; four fires, that they rode in great numbers.

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