Branxholme Castle

Branxholme Castle is a much refurbished castle/tower house founded by the Scott family just west of Hawick. It occupies a spur of land projecting towards the River Teviot a couple of miles upstream of Hawick, with the Branxholme Burn running to the north. Parts of the castle can be seen from the A7 above and between the trees.

The Scott family had held the lands of Buccleuch since at least the start of the fourteenth century, and Sir Robert Scott acquired half the lands of Branxholme by purchasing it in 1420 from the Inglis family of Menar, and his son Sir Walter the second half from the same family in 1446. Scott was rewarded for his support against the Black Douglas rebellion in the 1450s by having Branxholm erected into a free barony for his son Sir David, who became the first baron of Branxholme, but bore the designation “of Buccleuch”. He died in 1492 and was succeeded briefly by his grandson another Sir Walter, and then a second Sir Walter who had a long, violent, and prosperous career of nearly fifty years.

Branxholme Castle consisted by the end of Sir Walter’s career of a great tower and walled courtyard, but this was repeatedly attacked in the 16th century and blown up by the English army in 1570 as Buccleuch was one of the chief lords opposing them in the Borders. It was rebuilt but it is far from clear how much of the original building survived – much of the main range of buildings dates to 1571-74 – the ground floor does, at least. The squarish tower is from the original building, and part of another building survived – but the whole was then rebuilt again in the 19th century before abandonment. There is nothing left at East Buccleuch, the location for Buccleuch Castle.

During the latter 16th century, King James VI turned a largely blind eye to Buccleuch’s warfare against his future kingdom of England, as it strengthened his negotiating position whilst he claimed to be doing everything he could to restrain him – but this policy changed as the years passed. Eventually Buccleuch was given token punishments, eventually being rewarded after King James inherited England. He was ennobled, first as Lord Buccleuch, then as Earl and finally Duke of Buccleuch in 1663. The castle was remodelled in 1836, but abandoned in favour of Bowhill House, built at about the same time. The castle is now inhabited again, and available as a venue.

Official Branxholme Castle website