Archaeology Notes

Event ID 721846

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/721846

NT75SE 1 7703 5444.

(NT 7703 5444) Borthwick Castle (NR) (Remains of)

OS 6"map, (1957).

Borthwick Castle is described by the RCAHMS as being a complete ruin, only a few feet of walling remaining at the E end, and two or three courses of masonry on the N.

Traditionally, it was a small residence and watch tower, not a place of strength, belonging to the Cockburns (Name Book 1857), who owned Langton estate 1314 - 1758.(New Statistical Account [NSA, J Brown] 1845).

RCAHMS 1915, visited 1908.

Although the remains are obscured by debris, the original Borthwick Castle appears to have been an L-shaped tower measuring about 17.0m by 11.0m over walls 2.4m wide, occupying the NE corner of a court. On the S side of the court are the remains of a house standing to gable height. It is generally built of mortared stone but incorporates narrow brick in the fireplace and window openings.

Attached to it are the ruins of three other buildings and nearby are two stone-walled enclosures.

Visited by OS(RD) 21 July 1970.

Excavation carried out prior to the removal of the remains of Borthwick Castle by quarrying showed it to have been an L-plan tower-house, probably of late 16th century date.

RCAHMS 1980, visited 1979; A M T Maxwell-Irving 1982.