The Burning Beacon

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Fatlips Castle

******PLEASE NOTE:  FATLIPS CASTLE IS NOW OFFICIALY CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE *****

Fatlips Castle has this week had a Sealed Door installed in the entrance.  Please do not attempt to enter the castle. It has been inspected by a Structural Engineer and it has been deemed too unsafe for entry.  You can see images of inside the Tower using the Gallery on this site, and there is a Video on Youtube of a tour of the Crags. People are still welcome by the land owner to visit the tower and enjoy the wonderful views and architecture from the outside. This is for your safety - the roof is coming down, its a matter of when bits happen to fall down, and no one should be inside it when that happens.  It will not be closed forever, please be patient.  July 2010.

This is the much loved wee tower that sits high on a rocky hill in the Scottish Borders known as Minto Crags. Renovated as recently as 1897, the roof has now all but gone.

Known under various guises such as Fatlips Castle, Minto Castle, Mantoncrake Castle, Catslick Castle, the Tower was once a Turnbull Clan Stronghold, before it came to belong to the current owners, descendents of the Elliot family.  The Turnbulls and Elliots are thriving Clans to this day.  Please see the links page to find more information on the Turnbulls. 

The crags themselves have been in use for many years - evidence is recorded of an older Fort nearby to the existing tower possibly from the Bronze Age.

Renovated by Robert Lorimer in the 1890's the Tower became a Shooting Lodge and Gallery.  The crags themselves featured walks and pathways for people to explore and have picnics, which were a popular past-time in the Victorian era.  The pathways are now overgrown but they do take you on an adventurous exploration round the hillside.

Thanks goes to John Rogerson, of Ancrum, for sharing with me an image of the crest and panelling of the ceiling of the main hall, thought to be the only image of it in existence.  The ceiling of the main hall is now completely gone, so this image is of great importance, and will be online for your prerusal shortly!  John remembers going up there in the 1970's and seeing the cannon guns outside the castle and the yett in place in the doorway. 

John also tells of a shed on the far side of the hill that housed horse-sleighs that possibly originated from Canada, which is where the late Lord Minto's first wife was from.  One of these was a fine example of a trap made by Crole and Crole of Canada, with its only injury being one rotted shaft from a hole in the roof. The shed also housed a Native American canoe which had fallen into disrepair due to a leak in the roof and water running onto it.  John used to climb the crags, and on one occassion came across an ornamental spear at the bottom of his climb, where someone had tossed it from the top of the crags!  The spear's location is now unknown, but it is believed to have come from Fatlips when it was in use as a museum.

He reminded me that there used to be a wooden chalet on the left side of the hill, which was used by the late Lord Minto's wife as a place for picnics.  I believe it burned down, and no trace of it now exists.

 

Fatlips has been called an icon of the Borders, resting on its rocky perch watching and protecting the valley below.  It is a shame it cannot protect itself from the vandalism it has suffered over the years.  I know so many more people love the place from the welcome emails and comments you have left over the years this site has been up and running.  Keep them coming in!

Fatlips is such a brilliant place both historically and to the present-day visitor, and it is worthy at least of having a weather-proof roof over it's head to protect it for us and for future generations of Border explorers.

Plese feel free to contact me if the site doesn't answer your questions and I'll see if I can help.  I am not a historian as such, but will endeavour to help.

 

 

If you would like to add your name in support of this castle being preserved or restored, please visit the 'Friends of Fatlips' page of this site. 

Visit the Burning Beacon Forum, where you can add your thoughts and comments on the plight of Fatlips Castle

I would like to extend a huge WELL DONE to all the members of the Turnbull Clan who made the climb to the top of the hill on Thursday 14th June (photo below).  It was great to meet you all and an honour to be included!

FATLIPS IS ON FACEBOOK!!  here

There are images on the Group page contributed by lots of people who have visited the castle.  Many thanks for the contributions.

Virtual Tour of Fatlips Castle should appear below, many thanks to the contributor.