Buckholm Tower – The Ghost Story

Buckholm Tower – Galashiels

If you live in Galashiels or frequent the town is hard to miss the ancient ruins that over looks the town from Buckholm hill.

Growing up in the Borders we generally accept that Peel towers from the “days of unrest” from reivers exists and are common landmarks and monuments to what went on in a time before us.

But, there is one tower perched in the valley of the river Gala that has a gruesome story that possibly still haunts the communities to this day:

Pringle of Buckholm Tower

James Pringle was a former laird of Galashiels who stayed  in the tower in the later part of the 18th century. He was said to be an evil man who ill-treated his wife and son – so much so they left him in years to come. He was known to hunt covenanters as a past-time with packs of dogs specifically trained to gouge them to death in a bloody display.

Pringle was a loyal Government supporter where he was called upon by the captain of a troop of Dragoons to aid in the taking down of an assembly of covenanter’s which was regarded as unlawful by the government, these covenanter’s were know to carry out meetings on the adjoining Ladhope Moor.
Of course Pringle jumped at this request and set out on his hunt scouring the area and pre-guessing where these religious practitioners were  performing their ceremonies.

As an advisor to the troop of Dragoons he led them to the area, however the unlawful assembly were tipped-of of the search and the incoming troop of men and had dispersed the area to avoid capture or conflict. Unfortunately 2 men stayed behind, possibly to divert the troop, or thought they could distract Pringle as these men were known to be in employment by Pringle. Old Geordie Elliott and his son William, were the men – In the small conflict, Old Geordie (Pringle had suspicions that they were practising covenanter’s for a while) was thrown from his horse and badly injured –  instead of retreating, his son William stayed by his fathers side to treat him.