Researching historic buildings can provide clues to help in repair and restoration, as with the ruined Denmylne Castle, below. A noble 16th century Scottish tower house, once the home of the early Scottish historian, Sir James Balfour (1604-1657), as well as Dr Andrew Balfour (1630-1694), a founder of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, it fell into ruin after the bankrupcy of the family in 1750. The remains of the caphouse and fine corbelled wallhead provided us with valuable evidence for our conjectural reconstruction (below, right).

Many ruined Scottish tower houses have been restored. While historic buildings are always preserved best by being used, the decision as to whether to restore or merely to stabilise such buildngs as picturesque ruins in the landscape must always be based on thorough, objective research to establish their individual significance and value. Whichever approach is adopted, the first requirement is to clear encroaching vegetation and this should be carried out with great care as the walls may be held together, or even supported by, the trees and ivy growing on them, so that structural intervention may also be needed. Here, we gained grant support for a phased project of treating and clearing vegetation and propping the structure to preserve it while the long term future of the castle is considered.