Caerlaverock Castle

Situated at the mouth of the river Nith on the Solway Firth, Caerlaverock was long recognised for it's strategic military position. Indeed it is believed that the Romans landed a sea-borne invasion nearby in AD82.

The present castle, construction of which is thought to have started in 1277 by Herbert de Maxwell to replace his Uncle's original castle which was sited some 200m away next to the Caerlaverock burn and prone to flooding. It's curtain wall, triangular in shape protected at each point by round towers (a double tower at the gatehouse) was and remained unique for Scottish castles and was said to be impregnable.

Many nobles swore loyalty to Edward I following his invasion of 1296, the Maxwell's among then. However, when continued and increasing unrest resulted in a subsequent invasion in 1300 the castle became one of the target's of Edward's wrath and was besieged in 1300. Some 3,000 English troops took up the challenge but the tiny garrison of 60 men withheld the onslaught for two days. When they finally surrendered their vanquishers were so astonished that with the exception of a few examples who were hung from the battlements, the majority of the garrison were allowed to walk free.

The castle remained in English hands until 1312 when, feeling the tide change in the Scot's favour, Eustace Maxwell changed sides, declaring fealty to Robert Bruce. The castle was once again besieged but this time held out, only for Maxwell to be ordered to demolish it to prevent it from being used by the English in any subsequent invasion. However, when Edward Balliol was crowned king at Scone in 1332, the Maxwell's changed loyalties again, repairing and restoring the castle for their new masters. The castle was once again partially demolished when it was retaken for the Scottish Crown in 1356 but was subsequently rebuilt and strengthened in a lengthy process which lasted from the 1370's until the late 15th century.

Throughout the ongoing wars with England in the 16th century, the castle passed hands several times. James V visited the castle prior to his defeat at Solway Moss in 1542 and the castle fell into English hands when Robert, 5th Lord Maxwell was captured in 1544. Recaptured, the castle once again taken by an English army in 1570. The castle, once again in Maxwell hands was further strengthened in 1593 with the inclusion of an outer moat, gun emplacements and a parapet fenced palisade.

With the accession of James VI to the English throne in 1603 peace briefly returned to the border country and by 1634 an extravagant renaissance mansion was being built by the new earl of Nithsdale (1620) to reflect his esteemed position. However, when that peace was shattered in 1640 and the Covenanting army besieged the castle once again, the earl could only hold out for 13 weeks before being forced to surrender. The castle was partially (and finally) destroyed again and rapidly fell into decay.