Cavers Castle
Cavers Castle Details
Cavers Castle, a ruined C16 tower and fragmentary C17 mansion of the Douglases. Remodelled C18 and again with large extensions C20, was blown up in 1953.
- Closest To: Hawick
- Access: No Access
- Grid Reference: NT540154
The ruins of Cavers Castle lie within former plantation land to the east of Hawick, and are fenced off for safety reasons. It was for long the seat of a family of Douglases, but was abandoned and partly demolished in the 1950s. Today it can be seen from the nearby core path, and plans are in development for its restoration.
The site was described as “the old manor” in 1432, and although a castle of Cavers is mentioned during the Wars of Independence it may not have been on this site. The tower was in place in the early 16th century, and was repeatedly burned, repaired and extended in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Douglases of Cavers, an illegitimate branch descended from the 2nd earl, were sheriffs of the county and vied with the Kerrs for local dominance, but were also subject to the fortunes of war on the Borders. After 1603, Cavers lost any remaining military function and subsequent extensions and remodelling were domestic. Eventually a rambling baronial mansion, the impact of the two world wars caused the financial failure and break up of the estate.
Official Cavers Castle Website
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