Spring Binns Tower West Lothian Scotland

Tour Scotland Spring 4K travel video of Binns Tower on visit to West Lothian. Binns Tower, Dalyell’s Folly and The Wager are all names for the turret located at the top of a steep hill on the House of the Binns Estate by Linlithgow. The 1829 Binns Tower, was built by Sir James Dalyell, 5th Baronet, following an after dinner wager over who could come up with the most frivolous way to waste a load of money, the tower being the winning suggestion. It is said to be visited by a long dead Pictish warrior, the Ghost of Bloody Tam Dalyell and overlooks a pond said to be occupied by a malevolent water spirit known as Green Jeanie. Designed by Alexander Allan in 1826 it is positioned at the highest point of the park and designed to both overlook and be seen by the neighbouring landowners, the Hopes, a family that Sir James Dalyell was quite content to upset.

The surname Dalyellis descended from a Norman noble who entered England in 1066 and was granted lands in England but was invited north by King David of Scotland about the year 1150, who granted him the lands of Dalyell. In Lanarkshire they were officially seated from the year 1259 on the lands of Dalyell meaning the beautiful meadow on the banks of the River Clyde. Spelling variations of this family name include: Dalyell, Dalyiel, Dalzell, Dalziel, Dallyell, Daleel, Dalliel, Dalzel and many more.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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