High above the Gala Water near Galashiels, the ruined walls of Buckholm Tower are a reminder of the violent and mysterious past of the Scottish Borders. Built in 1582 by the Pringle family during the turbulent era of the Border Reivers, this fortified tower house served as both residence and refuge. In this episode of Hidden Histories of the Scottish Borders, we explore the origins of Buckholm Tower, and its connection to the powerful Pringle family.

But Buckholm’s story takes a darker turn in the 17th century during the persecution of the Scottish Covenanters under Charles II.  Blending history, folklore, and the dramatic religious conflicts of the Killing Times, this episode uncovers one of the Scottish Borders’ most chilling and little-known stories.

Music credits

Eight Mountains by Savfk https://www.youtube.com/savfkmusic

Hymn To The Dawn by Scott Buckley https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Relaxed Walk by Vitaliy Hryshko https://pixabay.com/music/search/vitaliy_hryshko/