Caerlaverock Castle, Scotland

The castle we see at Caerlaverock today was built by the Maxwell (Maccuswell) family in the second half of the 13th century.  Having been granted the lands by Alexander II of Scotland. The castle remained in the family until 1640, an accomplishment in itself when you consider its location near the border. 

It was not without incident however as the castle walls were rebuilt 100 later after it was sieged by Edward I.  Edward I laid siege to the castle in 1300 and it is one of the most well documented operations of the wars, as it was written into a poem, by a herald, in Edward’s army. He state’s in part

 ‘the castle will not be taken by check with a rook, but there will be projectiles thrown and engines raised and poised’.

Edward brought with him 87 knights and 3,000 men to Caerlaverock where the castle itself was held by 60 men.

What you first notice about Caerlaverock Castle is its unique form, it is triangular and the only castle of its type in Britain.