Ardmore Tower

Heritage listing

Category C Date Added 14/05/1971 Last Date Amended 25/08/2017 Local Authority Argyll And Bute Planning Authority Argyll And Bute Parish Cardross NGR NS 31582 78569 Coordinates 231582, 678569 — A red sandstone rubble, D-plan tower of possible early 19th century date, built against the base of a steep cliff. There is a rectangular entrance opening at ground level on the southwest side and another rectangular opening is situated on the upper level on the east side. There are some other small, narrow, slit openings. The roof is incomplete and the tower is partially covered by ivy. The interior was seen in 2016. It is circular in plan with some remains of former timber flooring, which was inserted in the 1980s. — This red sandstone tower is likely to have been built at the beginning of the 19th century to provide a link between the lower and upper parts of the garden at Ardmore House. Its height and narrow slit windows give the tower a defensive appearance and this adds to its interest as both a decorative and functional garden building. The tower repeats a circular form found elsewhere at Ardmore. As part of a collection of ancillary buildings associated with Ardmore House, it is an important feature in understanding the wider estate landscape. Age and Rarity The exact date and function of Ardmore Tower is unknown. It has previously been interpreted as a defensive structure dating to the 16th-17th century (Canmore, Walker 2000). However, it is more likely to be a building associated with the designed estate grounds developed on the Ardmore peninsula from 1798 onwards. Ardmore Tower lies within the grounds of Ardmore House, located on a peninsula that juts out into the Clyde Estuary. Ardmore House dates to 1806 and is listed at category B, (LB1159). The tower sits immediatel

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.