Fatlips Castle

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Early photograph of Fatlips, showing the work of Lorimer, around the castellation

Fatlips Castle is a Pele Tower in Roxburghshire, in the Scottish Borders.

Situated on the present day Minto Crags, above the River Teviot, it was built in the 16th c. by the Turnbulls of Barnhills, notorious Border reivers, and owners of nearby Barnhills Tower and farm.

The castle is said to have obtained its unusual name from the habit of the members of the house to greet guests with less discretion than was considered decent at the time. One of the pleasures of a visit to Fatlips used to be that "every gentleman, by indefeasible privilege, kisses one of the ladies on entering the ruin"

The castle was acquired by Sir Gilbert Elliott in 1705, whose family eventually became the Earls of Minto.

It was extensively restored by Sir Robert Lorimer in 1857 for use as a shooting lodge, and was in use as a museum until the 1960's. It is now however, again in a parlous state, although there are proposals for the future, notably through the Landmark Trust.

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