April 2012.Indd
May 2012 £1 The Bridge The Community Newsletter for Doune & Deanston Gartincaber Tower Toppled Bad weather and human neglect have combined to cause the destruction, recently, of a signifi cant local landmark erected more than two centuries ago to mark the centre of Scotland. Anyone travelling along the B826 between Deanston Toll and Thornhill and looking to the north cannot fail to have noticed Gartincaber Tower, standing on the skyline. The isolated landmark was built in 1790 for the owners of Gartincaber House; an elegant folly, the tower was said to mark the geographical centre of Scotland on the east-west axis. Long neglected, the building was of octagonal plan, rising two storeys to a battlemented platform and accessed from ground level by an external cast iron circular stairway. The fi rst fl oor had large, pointed, church-style windows on each side, giving all-round views, but those energetic enough to climb to the top would have enjoyed a wonderful panorama, encompassing the Forth valley, Carse of Stirling, Gargunnock Hills, the Trossachs and the southern Highlands. Over the years rain and frost have weakened the structure and recent severe gales fi nally caused the collapse of most of the walls, leaving only a forlorn fi nger of stone pointing skywards to mark the spot. Although designed solely as a “folly” and viewpoint, a remarkable building that stood on the spot for 220 years has met an Scene of desolation: the once elegant folly, Gartincaber ignominious end; it will be missed by many. Tower, fallen victim to neglect. Colin Graham Woodlane Has Spring in its Step Ali Hutchison was delighted to be invited to write another review of the Woodlane Fashion Show, held in late March, an evening now considered to be a staple of the Doune calendar.
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