Bothwell Castle
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2014) |
Bothwell Castle | |
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Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, Scotland grid reference NS688593 | |
Coordinates | 55°48′34″N 4°05′42″W / 55.8094549°N 4.0950432°W |
Type | Castle of enceinte |
Site information | |
Owner | Historic Environment Scotland |
Controlled by | De Moravia family England Earl of Douglas Earl of Angus |
Open to the public | Yes |
Condition | Ruined |
Site history | |
Built | Begun 13th century |
Built by | Walter de Moravia |
Materials | Coursed red sandstone rubble |
Bothwell Castle is a large
The huge cylindrical
History
King David I granted the barony of Bothwell to David Olifard (or Olifant), Justiciar of Lothian, in the mid 12th century. The lands passed to his descendants including his daughter who had married William de Moravia son of William son of Freskin, who was deceased by 1226 circa. Then by 1252 the barony became the property of their son Walter de Moravia, or Walter of Moray He began construction of the castle, but by the start of the Wars of Scottish Independence in 1296, only the main donjon, the prison tower, and the short connecting curtain wall were completed. Foundations of the remainder were probably in place, and would have been defended by a wooden palisade.
Wars of Scottish Independence
The forces of King Edward I of England invaded Scotland at the start of the war, and seized Bothwell. The castle was at this time held by Walter's son, William Moray of Bothwell. The English garrison holding the castle was besieged by the Scots for 14 months in 1298—1299, and eventually capitulated. Edward I returned in 1301, capturing the castle once more with a force of 6800 men, and specially constructed siege engines. Bothwell became the headquarters of Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, Edward's appointed Warden of Scotland, and remained in English hands for several years.
Following
In 1336 the English returned again, this time under Edward III. The English king had the castle repaired, and again made it his headquarters in Scotland. The following year, however, Sir Andrew Murray, great-nephew of Sir William and the rightful owner of Bothwell, recaptured the stronghold, again using siege engines. Following his victory he slighted the castle once more, pulling down the west side of the donjon and tumbling it into the Clyde, in order that it could not be reoccupied by the enemy. The castle remained derelict until the 1360s.
Douglas
In 1362, Joan Moray of Bothwell, heiress of the Morays, married
The "Black" Douglases were forfeited in 1455, and their lands returned to the crown. James III granted Bothwell to Lord Crichton, and then to Sir John Ramsay, who were both forfeited in turn. In 1488 Bothwell was granted again to Patrick Hepburn, 2nd Lord Hailes, and the Earldom of Bothwell was created for him. Hepburn did not retain Bothwell Castle for long, however, exchanging it with Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus, known as "Bell-the-Cat", in return for Hermitage Castle in Liddesdale. James IV visited Bothwell in 1503 and 1504.
Bothwell thus reverted to the Douglases, and descended through the Earls of Angus and Marquesses of Douglas to the
Design
While the castle was never completed to its original design, its design is similar to the strongholds of
Popular culture
The castle features in The Scottish Chiefs.[5]
References
- ^ Rutherford & Malcolm 2011, p. 189
- ^ ISBN 9781859373231.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "BOTHWELL CASTLE (SM90038)". Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ISBN 9780749510480.
- ISBN 9780684193403.
- Mason, Gordon The Castles of Glasgow and the Clyde, Goblinshead, 2000
- Rutherford, Allan; Malcolm, John (2011), "'That stalwart toure': Bothwell Castle in the Thirteenth and Early Fourteenth Centuries", in Audrey Dakin; Miles Glendinning; Aonghus MacKechnie (eds.), Scotland's Castle Culture, Berlinn, ISBN 978-1-906566-33-3
- Salter, Mike The Castles of South West Scotland, Folly Publications, 1993
- Tabraham, Chris (1994). Bothwell Castle: Official Souvenir Guide (2009 Revised ed.). Historic Scotland. ISBN 978-1-84917-021-5.
External links
- Historic Environment Scotland: Visitor guide
- Engraving of Bothwell Castle in 1693 by John Slezer at National Library of Scotland
- Video footage of Bothwell Castle