Gilnockie Tower in Dumfries and Galloway (southern Scotland) is home to the Armstrong Clan, but there are many reasons to visit the tower. The tower dates from the 16th century and was a fortified home and thought to be owned by the Armstrongs, a family who were border raiders. The northern part of England and the southern part of Scotland were areas of conflict rife with outlaws and with rival families conducting raids. Visitors can learn about the border raiding family, see this re-constructed fortified home, and see an exhibition for astronaut Neil Armstrong, who visited the site.
The name "Gilnockie" comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "little white hill". The tower was built around 1520 by Johnnie Armstrong, and was burned not long after. Johnnie and fifty of his followers were tricked into joining a hunting party and killed by James V, and there is a ballad named "Johnnie Armstrong" that details this event. The tower was rebuilt in the 1540s. It was reconstructed in 1978 and repairs completed in 2018.
The Armstrongs were a raiding clan. The raiding season took place from spring to autumn when the nights were longer.
The ground floor of Gilnockie Tower contains the shop; this is where the animals were traditionally kept. Up the stairs are reconstructed rooms of the Great Hall and a bedroom. A further exhibition area is on the top floor before the stairs can be climbed again to go to the rooftop level. The Great Hall and bedroom contain some information about the tower and additional information about the clan and other clans.
The top floor is an exhibition area with items discovered at or near the tower and other Armstrong items, such as bottles with different brands of the name "Armstrong". A corner of the room and one wall is dedicated to Neil Armstrong. When Neil Armstrong visited the tower in 1972, he climbed to the top. There is a photograph of him at the tower.
There is also the story of a bull who decided to climb the stairs of the tower to have a look around. The tower did not have floors at this time, and by the time the bull got to the top, there was no way for it to turn around and go back to the bottom. It ended up either jumping or falling off the tower.
At the top of the tower before the exit onto the roottop is a stone on display called "the weeping stone", and this stone had to be removed as it was causing the building to decay. The stone is porous and let water inside the building.
Visitors to Gilnockie Tower can see the reconstructed tower and learn about Neil Armstrong and the history of raiders; those whose surname is "Armstrong" will get an additional family ancestoral history from it, but the tower can be enjoyed by anyone.
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