Johnnie Armstrong and the day we nearly bought a tower!

 

Johnnie Armstrong and the day we nearly bought a tower!

 

We won’t be the first family of Armstrongs to try and find a genealogical link to the notorious Border Reiver, Johnnie Armstrong, and I’m pretty sure we won’t be the last but back in 1990 we nearly bought one of his towers!

 

Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie was a famous Scottish Border Reiver, or raider, in the early 16^th century who was eventually captured and hanged by King James V at Caerlanrig along with 36 of his men. There are a number of legends associated with Johnnie including one that he inspired the term ‘blackmail’ due to his black chainmail which he wore. Johnnie would capture livestock and people from the English and then ransom them back.

 

Memorial at Caerlanrig Chapel

There is a romanticised version of Johnnie Armstrong promoted by the writings of the like of Sir Walter Scott and Herbert Maxwell and he is immortalised in the ‘Ballad of Johnnie Armstrong.’ In reality Johnnie was a ruthless plunderer and raider who led about 160 men at any one time and operated in and around Canonbie and Langholm on the border with England. Not that he was particularly bothered about which side he was on and would change allegiance on a number of occasions.

19th Century painting of Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie in Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle

 Standing on the banks of the River Esk just north of the village of Canonbie stands Gilnockie, or Hollows, Tower, reputedly one of the towers owned by Johnnie Armstrong. Now a visitor centre and the headquarters of the Armstrong Clan Association, in the late 1980s and early 1990s it was a private residence having been restored and renovated in the late 1970s.

 

Gilnockie, or Hollows, Tower

On a summer holiday with my Dad spent at Otterburn, Northumberland, we came across the tower on a grey, drizzly Borders day after a driving tour which had taken in Kielder, the Border country and Hermitage Castle. We had stopped in Newcastleton, further up Eskdale and were heading back to Otterburn when we saw the tower and went to have a look.

 

We were met by a woman who asked if we would like to have a look around. She described the tower as Gilnockie Tower and said that it had been owned by Johnnie Armstrong. We had already visited the memorial that day. As we stood on top of the tower she happened to mention that the tower was for sale. I remember Dad’s ears pricked up at this as he had been thinking about buying a second property in the Borders and wouldn’t it be great to own your own 16^th century peel tower. I told him not to be daft and that Mum would never agree.

 

Upon our return home, Dad was quick to tell Mum all about Gilnockie and the tower. Before long they had returned together to have a look and then an offer was made to buy! Unfortunately it was not to be. Apparently a Swedish millionaire who already had property in Sutherland put in a much higher offer so the opportunity was lost. What might have been!!

 

I am happy to say that the tower has returned into the possession of the Armstrong Clan Association and after recent renovations is now a visitor centre and attraction.

 

As for the link to Johnnie Armstrong, I haven’t got that far back but you never know!