Bonshaw Tower
Bonshaw Tower is an oblong tower house, probably dating from the mid-16th century,[1] one mile south of Kirtlebridge, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, above the Kirtle Water.[2] It is adjacent to a 19th-century mansion.[2]
History
Bonshaw belongs to the Irving family. It was held in unbroken succession until the death of Sir Robert Beaufin Irving, a former captain of RMS Queen Mary, in 1954.[3]
Structure
The castle, which is habitable, has three storeys, and a garret,[2] with crow-stepped gables,[1] within a parapet.[2] The north-facing former attic light is now used as an open belfry.[1]
Inside a modern porch is the entrance door, with the motto SOLI DEO HONOR ET GLORIA above.[2] There is a monogrammed pendant boss within the doorway.[1] A vaulted entrance passage in the thickness of the wall leads to a vaulted basement.[2] Each wall has a splayed shot-hole. The south-west angle contains a windowless dungeon, with a ventilation flue. There is a hatch in the vaulting to the first-floor Hall. From the north-east angle of the cellar a turnpike stair leads to all storeys of the tower.[2]
The hall has a wide fireplace and four windows. There are two aumbries in the jambs while a third aumbry has an ogival lintel.[2]
The bedroom, on the second floor, has a wall press and a garderobe. One of its four windows is high in the wall.[2]
There is a machicolated opening about each embrasure of the parapet, which is drained by gargoyled cannon-spouts. The present pitched slate rrof was installed in the early 19th century, as the flagstones of the original roof were removed to floor a farmhouse.[2]
It is a category A listed building.[1]