Thomson's Tower is a unique octagonal building located on the shore of Duddingston Loch. It was designed by William Henry Playfair (1789-1857), the famous Edinburgh architect and built by the Duddingston Curling Society whose members first wrote down the rules of curling, which led to the standardisation of the game throughout the country. The Tower was a curling house for the Society where they could meet and store their curling stones.

During the early part of the 19th Century, the loch tended to freeze over in winter and was used for skating and curling. In 1825 the Duddingston Curling Society built the Tower.

Duddingston Curling Society was one of the foremost societies of its time, having a membership of eminent men of the day including peers, baronets, judges, advocates (the Scottish terms for barristers) and Writers to the Signet (solicitors belonging to the world's oldest law society). In 1804 the society drew up a Code of Laws by which play was to be regulated. These eventually formed the basis for the rules of modern curling used throughout the world.

In 1805 the then factor of Duddingston Estate, Thomas Scott, the brother of Sir Walter Scott, was influential in bringing the Rev. John Thomson (1778-1840) to be minister at Duddingston Kirk and the minutes of the Kirk Session of March 1806 show that Walter Scott, Advocate (as he then was), was ordained as an elder the following year.

John Thomson was a well known Scottish landscape artist and entertained a wide circle of friends in the manse at Duddingston including the celebrated artists J. M. W. Turner and Henry Raeburn, amongst whose works is the famous painting of the Rev. Walker skating on Duddingston Loch. Turner, Thomson, and other artists collaborated to illustrate Scott's The Provincial Antiquities and Picturesque Scenery of Scotland, published in ten parts 1819-1826.

In March 1823 Duddingston Curling Society was seeking new accommodation, as their existing premises were too small for the growing membership. Playfair agreed to produce a design and the result was a new curling house consisting of two unconnected chambers. The lower room was used to store the members' curling stones, with access direct to the loch, while the upper room served as a meeting room for the members. This room afforded a spectacular view of the loch and beyond.

In 1853 Duddingston Curling Club ceased playing here on the loch, and the curlers moved away to Coates, to the north west of Princes Street. A revived Duddingston Curling Club was formed in the 1890s and still exists today; they now curl at Murrayfield Ice Rink.

The Tower was completely derelict and roofless in 1978 when it was re-roofed by the Duddingston Village Conservation Society, with donations received from various interested associations, particularly the Rotarian Curling Society of Canada. During 2008-09, Dr Neil's Garden Trust restored the Tower - with grant aid from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland, and it now contains fascinating exhibitions about Curling past and present, Playfair, Thomson, and the garden.

Dr Neil's Garden is open every day including weekends from 10 am till Dusk.

Entry is free of charge (except during advertised events) but a donation of at least £1 per person would be greatly appreciated.

Group visits and tours must be pre-booked. Please contact 07849 187 995 (available 10 am till 6pm, Monday to Friday)

Thomson's Tower will be open to the public every Saturday & Sunday during July & August from 1 pm till 4 pm.
Entry: Adults £2, Children £1 (age 5 & under free), Family Ticket £5 (up to 2 adults & 3 children).

On Saturday 26 Sept 2009 the Dr Neil's Garden Trust will open Thomson's Tower free of charge as part of Edinburgh Doors Open Day.

Dr Neil's Garden, Old Church Lane
Duddingston Village, Edinburgh
EH15 3PX

Info@DrNeilsGarden.co.uk

07849 187 995
(available 10 am till 6pm, Monday to Friday)