Berwick Castle

The surviving ruins of Berwick Castle can be seen adjacent to the railway station which was built upon the site after substantial demolition in the 19th century. These, and the impressive town walls, are managed by English Heritage.

The castle is first mentioned in the reign of King David I of Scotland, but the borough already existed before his time, and it is clear that the castle was older than this. It was a royal castle throughout the 12th and 13th centuries, and one of the most important in Scotland, protecting Scotland’s most important trading town. The castle was a walled courtyard in top of a prominent hill on the outskirts of the town, and today two walls of this courtyard mostly survive, together with a wall leading down to the river below.

The castle suffered repeatedly during the wars with England, and was handed over to Henry II in 1174. Returned to the Scots by King Richard, trading privileges were threatened by King John who erected a new castle on the south bank, leading to another war. When the Wars of Independence broke out, the castle was taken and the town burned by King Edward I, and it changed hands repeatedly. Held by the English from 1340 to 1461, it returned to Scots control briefly before the future Richard III captured it in 1482. It was never recaptured, but maintained in various states of repair as a border stronghold up to the start of the 17th century, after which is was allowed to fall into ruin.

English Heritage web page for Berwick Castle and Ramparts