450 years ago this Wednesday Mary Queen of Scots took her six week old son, James IV (James I of England) to Alloa Tower for safety. She had spent part of her childhood there under the guardianship of the Erskines who in turn looked after her baby son when she was forced to abdicate shortly afterwards..   After the first Regent was assassinated and the second accidentally shot, Erskine became Regent when James was five as he was too young to rule himself.
The tower which dates back to the 14th century belonged to the Erskines who were one of the most influential families in Scotland.  After the adjoining mansion house was burnt down the tower became ruined but has recently been restored and must have been impressive in the landscape but now is surrounded by modern buildings but I think it is still worth visiting.
This is part of my occasional series on places connected with the famous, but tragic, Mary Queen of Scots (see the tags)
(Mary Queen of Scots 13)