Description
Stapleton Tower, which dates from the 16th century, is a simple oblong tower with three main storeys and a garret. It stands on a former garden terrace with an open prospect across undulating ground to the Solway Firth. In the 19th century, the tower, by then becoming ruinous, was incorporated into a large mansion which enveloped it on the north west and north east which was later demolished. It shares number of features, such as its base course and stair arrangements, with other nearby towers such as Bonshaw, Hollows and Robergill, although Stapleton may be slightly later.
The tower is constructed of roughly coursed sandstone rubble with fine mouldings of late 16th century date. The doorway, which has a segmental head, has a moulded surround with foliate decoration. The larger windows and an amorial panel have nail head mouldings. At the wall head, there is a continuous parapet carried on a corbel table with corner rounds. The crenellated parapet dates from the 19th century restoration. The base of the tower has a splayed base course above which are wide-mouthed gun loops (those on the north-east and south-west elevations were converted to windows in the 19th century).
Internally, the doorway opens into a vestibule and the entrance to a newel stair lies on the right rising the full height of the tower. The basement is vaulted in ashlar, has a mosaic tile floor, and a large 19th-century fireplace. At first-floor level, the tower was provided with opposed window embrasures, aumbries, and, in the south west wall, a fireplace flanked by a pair of windows, which appear to have been created/enlarged in the 19th-century. There was probably also a window in the north east wall but this has been destroyed to create access to the now demolished mansion. The second floor is similarly arranged. On the third floor, the garret, there is a turnpike stair giving direct access to the wall-head and a small fireplace in the north east wall vented through a slab in the wall-walk.
History
The tower is believed to have been constructed by Edward Irving who was designated as 'Of Stapleton' in the late 16th century. After Edward's death the tower was acquired by Fergus Graham of Blawatwood. This was contested by Edward's sons who in January 1626 'suprisit and tane the house of Stabiltoun ... and fortified the said house with men, vittaill, and armour'. This led to a notable siege, with the Privy Council directing the Commissioners of the Middle Shires on more than one occasion to take the castle with force.
By the early 19th century Stapleton had been abandoned as a residence and was drawn by William Graham of Mossknowe in a ruinous condition, lacking its parapet and much of its caphouse. The tower was then restored and incorporated into a large baronial mansion by the Critchley family. In the 1950s the mansion was demolished leaving the tower standing alone in the remnants of the policies.
Status
The tower is intact to the wall head and in a good condition, although there is some vegetation growth within the interior. Although reasonably accessible it is within the heart of a working farm.
Conservation Options
Due to its intact condition, and the fact that it shares a number of characteristics with other related towers, it would be possible to restore it for modern occupation without detracting from its significance. However, it should be noted that the tower is essentially four chambers stacked upon each other served by a single stair, which could place constraints on how it is to be used.
Bibliography
J Gifford, The Buildings of Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway, London, 1996 p 527
A M T Maxwell-Irving, The Border towers of Scotland: their history and architecture: the West March, 2000, pp 238-40
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Eastern Dumfriesshire: an archaeological landscape, Edinburgh, 1997, p 216, 313