Archaeology Notes

Event ID 723380

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/723380

NT64SW 1 60756 43842.

(NT 6075 4383) Corsbie Tower (NR) (Ruin)

OS 6" map, Berwickshire, 2nd ed.,(1908).

The fragmentary remains stand on high ground surrounded by bog. The castle has been oblong on plan, some 40 x 27ft. over walls averaging 6ft. in thickness. Only the south and east walls remain, rising to a height of fully 50ft. The masonry consists of coursed rubble, excepting at the angles, which are rounded and built with dressed ashlar.

Corsbie is said to have been the property of the Cranstouns of Oxenford from an early period till the middle of the 17th century. The ruins of the existing building date from the 16th century.

RCAHMS 1915.

The remains of the tower are situated on a raised piece of ground, and surrounded on all sides by a bog.

A series of ramparts and ditches have enclosed the site.

Visited by OS (JD) 20 May 1955.

Only the SW and NW walls of the tower remain. The raised ground on which it stood is defended by a rampart and ditch at the base of the slopes on the SW side; and the tower itself appears to have been surrounded by another rampart with inner ditch, of which only stretches to the south and west remain. The area surrounding the tower is much mutilated and may contain the remains of ramparts too vague for identification. Immediately to the SW of the west angle of the tower is the outline of a possible outbuilding. The only approach to the tower is from the north where a causeway leads across the marshy ground up on to the raised ground.

Revised at 1:2500. (earthworks).

Visited by OS (WDJ) 18 November 1963.

Corsbie Tower is situated on a prominent knoll in marshy ground. The immediately-surrounding area has been cultivated and contains several stone-dumps (presumably from the robbing of the tower). The slight earthworks that formerly surrounded the tower are best preserved on the SW, where they comprise inner and outer banks and a medial ditch.

Visited by RCAHMS (RJCM, JRS) 30 September 1993.