Pringle Coats of Arms on Buildings

Pringle Coats of Arms on Buildings

The Arms of John Hoppringill of Buckholm
on a panel from the wall of Buckholm Tower, dated 1582
[stone panel is in Torwoodlee House]
The Arms of Andrew Pringle of Smailholm and Gala
and his wife Mariotta Borthwick
on a panel from the wall of Old Gala House, dated 1583.
The Arms of Sir James Pringle of Smailholm and Gala
and his wife, Jean Ker of Linton, on an old fireplace lintel in Old Gala House, dated 1611

Arms: Argent, on a saltire engrailed Sable five escallops Or [Pringle of Gala].

Crest: A unicorns head, couped proper.

Mottos on the lintel:

  • Nisi Dominvs Frvstra (from Psalm 127 – ‘Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.’ [Also the motto of the city of Edinburgh]).
  • Virtvs Svb Vmbra (Virtue in the shadow)
  • Devs Facit Omnia (God made all)
  • Spes Vitae Altera (hope of another life)
The Arms of James Pringle of Torwoodlee
on the top of Torwoodlee House
The Arms of George Pringle of Torwoodlee
From Old Torwoodlee Tower
The Arms of Pringle of Stitchill
on the side of Stitchill kirk, dated 1783

Melrose Abbey – the Pringle of Gala (and Whytbank) Aisle

Morebattle Kirk – the Pringle of Clifton Aisle

Haining House – Pringle of Clifton and Haining Arms over the Gateway

Abbotsford – Pringle Arms

Muirhouse Tower

The remains of Muirhouse Tower, a square tower, were removed by Mr Blackie, of Muirhouse, who ploughed up the land about 1832. No traces of the tower remain, but a red freestone, apparently from its entrance, is built into the garden of the present farmhouse. It is inscribed I. P. M. P. In Te Domine Speravi 1626. ‘In Thee, Lord, I have hoped.’ [James Pringill of Mitchelston and is wife Margaret Pringill, who was granted sasine of Muirhouse, Caldrope and Pirn in 1625.]

The Yair

According to the Book ‘Borders: The Buildings of Scotland’, by Cruft, Dunbar and Fawcett (Yale University Press) states on page 765, ‘Above a rubble-built archway to the courtyard is a sundial with a ogival top. Three faces have dials, the fourth some heraldry; what can be read suggests  it belongs to Pringle of Whytbank.’

Page 767 states, ‘Built into the upper terrace is preserved a stone dated 1661, and inscribed ‘All is vanity one thing is needful’; formerly at Whytbank Tower.’