Roxburgh Castle

So, here is a condensed version of the history of Roxburgh to see what all the fuss is about. The castle was originally founded by King David I of Scotland in around 1128 as a wooden castle. The site was chosen for it's position on a hill, overlooking both the River Tweed and the River Teviot. It was expanded and modified by subsequent generations of kings over many years.

The castle changed hands several times over the next few centuries, during the skirmishes between the English and the Scots. Throughout the 14th century, it was hard to keep up with who the castle belonged to, as it swapped hands 6 times.

It was the 15th century when some of the most significant moments in history happened at the castle. At the end of the 14th century, the English had control over the castle again and there were a number of unsuccessful attempts by the Scots to regain power there. In 1417 King Henry V made extensive repairs to the castle, which probably had a few holes in at this point.

In 1460, there was another siege on the castle by the Scots. King James II of Scotland tried to regain control again, however, a cannon used to destroy the castle walls exploded close to him and he was killed. His son James III was quickly made king and the Scots attacked Roxburgh again. This time the entire English garrison was killed. Presumably both sides were exhausted at fighting over the castle at this point, and the castle was slighted (deliberately destroyed).

The castle was then left to ruin for nearly 90 years. The English later reoccupied the castle, but in 1551 at the Treaty of Norham, a clause stated that the rebuilt castle should be demolished. After 1560 it was never rebuilt.