Liberton Tower

Liberton Tower stands in Liberton, a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland, and was constructed by Scottish builders during the 15th century. This four-storey tower house represents the type of fortified home common to Scotland’s nobility of the time.

The earliest recorded ownership of Liberton Tower dates to the Dalmahoy family, who held the property from at least 1453. The Dalmahoys’ presence is marked by their family coat of arms carved into a panel on the tower’s south wall, serving as a visible reminder of their connection to the site. Following the Dalmahoys, the estate passed to a branch of the Forrester family from Corstorphine, reflecting shifting ownership among local gentry.

In the late 16th century, ownership transferred to William Little, who twice served as Provost of Edinburgh, in 1586 and again in 1591. Little constructed nearby Liberton House and chose to abandon the tower as a residence in 1610. Afterward, Liberton Tower was adapted for agricultural purposes, showing a significant change in its role from noble dwelling to farm storage.

During the mid-17th century, evidence links the tower to the violent episodes of Oliver Cromwell’s invasion of Edinburgh amid the Anglo-Scottish War. Charcoal deposits, damaged structural elements, and cannonballs found in the fields nearby indicate the tower was involved in military action around 1650. The removal of the tower’s parapets likely resulted from this conflict, reflecting the physical impact of the fighting on the building.

In modern times, Liberton Tower has undergone restoration, most notably in 1994, and is recognized as a Category A listed building, a status granted in 1966 that marks it as a site of national historic importance.