Alloa Tower in Alloa, Clackmannanshire is a 14th century tower house that served as the medieval residence of the Erskine family, later Earls of Mar. Retaining its original timber roof and battlements, the tower is one of the earliest, and largest, of the Scottish tower houses. It was designated as a scheduled monument in 1960 and is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
The four-storey tower is 68 feet high, excluding the attic. The building is made from coursed rubble. It was originally built as part of a line of fortifications defending the north shore of the river Forth. Several 19th century publications, including Groome's Gazetteer, date the tower to the year 1223. Archaeological investigations from the early 1990's date the original fortified house to the early 14th century, where it had a cellar that sometimes served as a pit prison. By the mid-14th century, it had been enlarged with a great hall and rose to three storeys in height, with the entrance on the first floor. In the 15th century it was further enlarged to four/five levels while retaining its first-floor access. The tower bears external marks of many modifications carried out over the years.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Alloa Tower was the home of the Erskine family, Earls of Mar, from the 15th century until around 1800. By the late 17th century, a mansion house (Alloa House) and other buildings had been added. John, 6th Earl of Mar, made more changes, both modernising and preserving the tower and mansion to complement an ambitious and extensive planned landscape around his home and stretching down to the River Forth. It was at this time the domed staircase leading to the Great Hall was added. The house burned down in 1800 and was rebuilt by George Angus in 1834–1838 for the 9th Earl. It was demolished sometime after 1868.
Alloa Tower Building Preservation Trust restored the tower carefully to its likely appearance in 1712, by which time many of the 6th Earl's improvements had been completed. The interior is splendid and there is a fine collection of Erskine family portraits and memorabilia on display. The tower was opened to visitors in 1997.
The Erskines were custodians of the young Mary, Queen of Scots; the 1st Earl was Regent of Scotland; and the 6th Earl was involved in the 1715 Jacobite Uprising. The Erskine family of Alloa Tower were, as Earls of Mar, guardians of the Stuart heirs in the 16th century; the present Earl of Mar and Kellie is still hereditary keeper of Stirling Castle.