Nation's first smokers unearthed

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A new display of archaeological finds on show in the Borders includes pipes thought to have belonged to some of Scotland's first regular smokers.

The items were found during a 1980s excavation at Smailholm Tower.

Among the discoveries were a number of early 17th Century clay tobacco pipes which were found in the kitchen block.

Experts believe this shows that the Pringle family - which lived there until 1645 - were "among the first in Scotland to take up the habit".

The original excavation was carried out by Chris Tabraham, who is now Historic Scotland's principal historian.

It is the first time many of the objects have gone on show.

Mr Tabraham described the tower as a "fascinating site".

"It would have been a remarkable place to live - on the one hand far more luxurious than the sort of homes most people lived in, but there was often the fear of attacks, mostly from England," he said.

"Some of the most interesting finds we made were the many early 17th Century clay tobacco pipes in the kitchen block.

"These show that the Pringles were among the first in Scotland to take up the habit of smoking which we are now working so hard as a country to discourage."