The castle is situated near the Solway
Firth,
south east of Dumfries.
This is a truly medieval castle and is unique in that it is
believed to be the only "triangular" castle in the
British Isles. (The photographs shown are as you walk around the
castle clockwise).
Built of red sandstone, in the 1300's (and later),
surrounded by a water filled moat and earthen rampart, it displays
some of the changes induced partly by Edward I of England.
Curiously, neither the identity nor the nationality of the builder
is known.
Caerlaverock Castle
suffered badly in the course of the Anlo-Scottish warfare. Just how
much the castle was rendered unusable, first in 1312 (by the Scots)
and 1356/7 (by the English) it is not clearly known.
It is clear that the defences of the castle were restored and improved
in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Lord Maxwell, whose armorial is
carved above the main gateway.
In 1640 a Royalist garrison under Robert Maxwell, 1st Lord of Nithsdale,
capitulated after a 13 week seige and bombardment by an army of the
Estates, the castle thereafter being partly dismantled to prevent its
further occupation.
The instrument in the foreground of the photograph below, threatening
Caerlaverock Castle, is called a Trebutchet and is the medieval
equivalent of the big guns of today.
There is plenty of facilities present for those less historically
inclined - shop, adventure playground, toilets and more.
It is also close to the Caerlaverock
National Nature Reserve (you may need waterproof footwear -
depending on weather conditions) and not to far away from the
Wildfowl & Wetland's Trust Centre,
there are wardens here to help and give advice and there is other
features available.
ernest.wilson@virgin.net
This is a truly medieval castle and is unique in that it is
believed to be the only "triangular" castle in the
British Isles. (The photographs shown are as you walk around the
castle clockwise).
Built of red sandstone, in the 1300's (and later),
surrounded by a water filled moat and earthen rampart, it displays
some of the changes induced partly by Edward I of England.
Curiously, neither the identity nor the nationality of the builder
is known.
Caerlaverock Castle suffered badly in the course of the Anlo-Scottish warfare. Just how much the castle was rendered unusable, first in 1312 (by the Scots) and 1356/7 (by the English) it is not clearly known.
It is clear that the defences of the castle were restored and improved
in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Lord Maxwell, whose armorial is
carved above the main gateway.
In 1640 a Royalist garrison under Robert Maxwell, 1st Lord of Nithsdale, capitulated after a 13 week seige and bombardment by an army of the Estates, the castle thereafter being partly dismantled to prevent its further occupation.
The instrument in the foreground of the photograph below, threatening
Caerlaverock Castle, is called a Trebutchet and is the medieval
equivalent of the big guns of today.
There is plenty of facilities present for those less historically
inclined - shop, adventure playground, toilets and more.
It is also close to the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve (you may need waterproof footwear - depending on weather conditions) and not to far away from the Wildfowl & Wetland's Trust Centre, there are wardens here to help and give advice and there is other features available.