Clan Armstrong Centre

Museum | Canonbie | Scotland | United Kingdom

Historical background Clan Armstrong

The Clan Armstrong Centre in Canonbie, Scotland, is located in the historic Gilnockie Tower, the ancestral seat of the Clan Armstrong. The tower was built around 1520 and served as the residence of Johnnie Armstrong, a notorious Border Reiver. After centuries of decay, the tower was extensively restored and opened to the public in 2018.

Tours at Clan Armstrong Centre

Inside the tower is the Clan Armstrong Centre, which houses an extensive collection of artifacts and archives of the clan. This includes historical documents, photographs, and personal items that illustrate the life and history of the Armstrongs. A special area is dedicated to astronaut Neil Armstrong, a famous bearer of the family name.

Historical artifacts Gilnockie Tower

The tower itself consists of five floors, including a vault, a great hall, and a spiral staircase. Visitors can explore the restored rooms and gain insights into the lives of the Border Reivers and the Armstrong family. From the top of the tower, there is an impressive 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape.

Contact details

Web

https://www.gilnockietower.co.uk

Phone

+441387371373

Address

Gilnockie Tower

DG14 0XD Canonbie

Map view

Opening hours

Sunday	10:00 - 16:00
Monday	10:00 - 16:00
Tuesday	10:00 - 16:00
Wednesday	10:00 - 16:00
Thursday	10:00 - 16:00
Friday	10:00 - 16:00
Saturday	10:00 - 16:00

Reviews

22 Reviews

Dave Armstrong

15.03.2024

The place will be closed until 29 3 24 for building works.

Maxine Blaylock

12.06.2023

It was a brilliant visit today.

Billy Armstrong

12.06.2023

I recommend this fascinating insight into life in the 16th century.

alan armsrong

11.06.2023

I would recommend visiting this excellent place.

Lindsay Armstrong

09.05.2023

It's a lovely little place to visit with welcoming and knowledgeable staff. The pre-recorded tour of the tower allows you to explore at your own pace and learn all about the history. The coffee is lovely and the gift shop has some cute items. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit.

Katy vdB

01.04.2023

This is an interesting small museum inside a pele tower associated with Johnny Armstrong. It's a good visit for those interested in the history of the reivers. They offer tea, coffee, and biscuits, but for a larger meal, you may need to go to Newcastleton or Langholm.

Brian Mcc

12.03.2023

After a long journey, we were disappointed to find the centre closed. Conflicting information on the website led us to believe it would be open.

Michael Harker

23.02.2023

Unfortunately, the tower was closed when we visited. However, we met a very nice man named Ian who informed us about the planned renovation work. There are some wonderful walks in the beautiful countryside around which I highly recommend.

Pattie A

24.09.2022

Delightful place steeped in history. The audio tour is very informative.

Les Armstrong

14.04.2022

A great historic place for us Armstrongs 👍

peter robert

11.04.2022

Lovely little museum with very informative staff and a great view.

Darrin Armstrong

05.04.2022

A great place to explore reiver life and family history.

Alex Rouch

15.12.2020

Just learned that a peer is an Armstrong, feeling disappointed.

Alex Rouch

15.12.2020

Cobblestone blob

Helen Smith

16.09.2019

So much work has been put into this building since it was a ruin in 2003. As an Armstrong, I may have a special connection, but I found it very interesting and would love to visit again.