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Blanerne Castle

Castles in the Scottish BordersCategory B listed buildings in the Scottish BordersListed houses in ScotlandScheduled monuments in the Scottish BordersUse British English from March 2025
The remains of Blanerne Castle near Edrom geograph.org.uk 1288674
The remains of Blanerne Castle near Edrom geograph.org.uk 1288674

Blanerne Castle is the remains of a 16th-century fortified house, located in the grounds of Blanerne House, an 18th-century country house between Chirnside and Preston in the Scottish Borders. The house and castle sit on the north bank of the Whiteadder Water, around 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north-east of Duns. The castle was the historical seat of the Lumsdaine family for over four centuries. The surviving remains are dated to the 16th century, although the site may have been occupied as far back as the 12th century. The remains include a keep or kitchen block, with a detached guard house to the west. The castle is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. A popular Berwickshire rhyme refers to the medieval strengths of Blanerne and the nearby fortresses of Billie Castle, and Bonkyll Castle referring to their construction in the time of David I and their destruction following the Rough wooing: Bunkle, Billie and Blanerne Three castles strong as airn Built when Davie was a Bairn Theyll all gang doon, Wi Scotland's Croon An ilka ane shall be a cairn

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Blanerne Castle (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 55.8002 ° E -2.2701 °
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Blanerne Castle

B6355
TD11 3QB
Scotland, United Kingdom
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The remains of Blanerne Castle near Edrom geograph.org.uk 1288674
The remains of Blanerne Castle near Edrom geograph.org.uk 1288674
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Nearby Places

Battle of Nesbit Moor (1402)

The Battle of Nesbit Moor (or Nisbet Muir) was a small but significant clash between Scottish and English forces in the borders area north of the River Tweed. Specifically this clash took place on the Kimmerghame Estate in a field now named Slaughter Field. The estate is in the possession of the Swinton Family. In 1402, Scottish nobles launched a coordinated invasion of Northern England. In the initial foray, some 12,000 Scottish troops crossed into Cumberland and looted areas near Carlisle. On 22 June at Nisbet, Berwickshire, the forfeited George de Dunbar, 10th Earl of March successfully led 200 English soldiers, mainly drawn from the garrison at Berwick-upon-Tweed, against 400 Scots returning from a raid on Northumberland. Henry IV of England was given news of the skirmish while at Harborough on 30 June, and delayed plans to suppress a Welsh rebellion so that he could deal with the large-scale Scottish invasion that was then imminently expected. In the autumn a large army of Scots led by Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas harassed the English countryside as far south as the River Wear, and were engaged and defeated in the battle of Humbleton Hill. The Scottish casualties at Nesbit Moor included the death of Sir Patrick Hepburn younger of Hailes; and the capture of Sir John Haliburton of Dirleton, Robert de Lawedre of Edrington, Sir John Cockburn, and Sir Thomas Haliburton. The date of Sir Robert Lawder's liberation does not appear to be on record but as there is a charter in The Great Seal of Scotland (number 934) confirmed at Falkland Palace in May 1411, which mentions him being "present", we might safely assume that he was freed before that date. Certainly on 15 June 1411 "Robertus Lawedyr, miles" has a safe-conduct from Henry IV.