Ettleton Kirkyard, Liddesdale The site of Ettleton Church, which stood about a mile south-south-west of Newcastleton in Liddesdale, is known but there are now no visible remains. Its kirkyard contains several fragments of early tombstones,…
Elibank Castle, Selkirkshire Elibank was formerly known as Eliburn and overlooks the River Tweed from a commanding position high on its steep right bank. The late 16th century fortress is rudely built without any dressings…
Dryhope Tower, Site. Scottish Borders, Selkirkshire, Yarrow This strong little tower stands on shelving ground below Dryhope Rigg in the valley of the Yarrow Water and, though the roof has gone, is fairly intact for…
Cramalt Tower The remains of Cramalt Tower lie beneath the new Megget reservoir which now occupies most of the Megget valley in Selkirkshire. It is most fortunate that excavation work was undertaken on the site…
Cessford Castle and the Siege of 1523 The ruin of Cessford Castle, which in 1523 the English esteemed the third strongest in Scotland, stands on high ground overlooking the valley of the Kale Water, six…
Buckholm Tower, Nr Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders Buckholm Tower stands isolated high on an exposed fellside above the valley of the Gala Water about a mile north of Galashiels. The 16th century tower house is…
Branxholm Castle Branxholm is situated about three miles west of Hawick on a bend in the river Teviot. It was once the main stronghold of the great and warlike family of Scott of Buccleuch. The…
Wark Castle, Wark on Tweed Wark Castle was built in the 12th century to guard one of the main fords of the Tweed and the remains overlook the river and village from a gigantic mound.…
Thirlwall Castle, Greenhead, Northumberland Thirlwall Castle stands on high ground above the Tipalt Burn near Greenhead in Northumberland. The building is entirely constructed from Roman stone which demonstrates why the Roman Wall has disappeared in…
Shittleheugh Pele, Pele-House or Bastle, Redesdale, Northumberland The shattered remains of Shittleheugh stand high above the river Rede and are a conspicuous landmark in Redesdale. The side walls have fallen but the gable ends still…
Hole Bastle, Bellingham, Northumberland Hole Bastle stands between Woodburn and Bellingham and is a most interesting example of a fortified farmhouse of a type once common on the Border. In times past the ground floor…
Harbottle Castle, Coquetdale, Northumberland Harbottle Castle, at the western end of a line of strongholds in Coquetdale, was in a position of importance in the defence of the Border. The castle is sited about eight…
Great Tosson Tower, Coquetdale, Northumberland Great Tosson Tower stands close under the Simonside Hills in Coquetdale a mile or so above Rothbury. The tower was one of a series of fortifications guarding Coquetdale where its…
Ford Castle, Ford, Northumberland Ford Castle stands about six miles below the Border in the valley of the river Till, a tributary of the Tweed. William Heron was given a licence to crenellate or fortify…
