Tour Scotland video of a Border Stronghold near Kelso on visit to Scottish Borders. The Pringles, who built the tower in the first half of the 15th century, were a prominent Border family. Their position as squires of the powerful earls of Black Douglas brought them the lucrative position of warden of the Ettrick Forest. They suffered from the reivers, as did all people on both sides of the Border. During two raids in 1544, reivers from Northumberland got away with over 700 cattle and 100 horses. The family relocated to Galashiels in the later 16th century, and in 1645 the tower and estate at Smailholm was purchased by the Scotts of Harden, near Hawick.

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