Almost one mile
west of the Border town of Peebles, on a high ridge above a loop in the river
Tweed, stands the peaceful looking L-plan keep of Neidpath castle (originally
called Jedderfield) held by the Earls of Wemyss and March. The castle site dates
back to the late13th century when a tower was raised here by the Fraser family,
in their role as sheriffs of Tweeddale. The Frasers were originally Norman
importees invited into Scotland by King David I (1124-1153) of Scots to maintain
order in the region through their well known ruthless Norman efficiency.
Today the Frasers
are thought of as an ancient 'Highland' Clan. But like several other Highland
Clans of note ie the Hays of Slains, the Gordons of Huntly and the Keiths of
Dunnottar, they all had their roots in the Lowlands, then migrated north through
marriage, deceit and violence. Inheriting and seizing lands in the Highlands,
eventually establishing themselves as 'Highlanders'.
The present
semi-intact tower of Neidpath has no vestiges of the original Fraser castle. But
likely the 14th century work of the Hay family of Yester is directly ontop of
the original Fraser site. The most famous Neidpath Fraser was Sir Simon who,
during the siege of Caerlaverock castle in 1300,stole horses and armour from
King Edward I (1272-1307) of England, while actually in his service. Simon then
joined William Wallace in rebellion and defeated the English army three times on
the same day at Roslin. In retaliation the Fraser lands of Neidpath were burnt
by the English.
Sadly though
Wallace was eventually betrayed, captured and horrifically executed for treason
by King Edward. Sir Simon like so many other Scots 'rebels' returned to King
Edward's 'peace' and was forgiven. He then served as a soldier in France on
behalf of Edward. But on his return to Scotland he again rebelled this time with
King Robert the Bruce. After the defeat of the Scots at the battle of Methven in
1307 Sir Simon was captured and taken in chains to London.
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Where he was tortured
then executed in the same manner as Wallace. Being castrated, disembowelled
having his entrails burnt before him while still alive, then hung drawn,
quartered and decapitated. With his head placed on a stake above London bridge
beside the rotting skull of William Wallace. Given King Edward's accolade the
'Hammer of the Scots' and the manner in which his Royal wrath was vented on Sir
Simon. Its unlikely that he treated the Fraser tower at Neidpath any better and
this goes some way to explain why there are no traceable remains today.
The Hay family
(also of Norman descent) inherited the estate of Neidpath through marriage to
Sir Simon's only daughter around 1312 and probably built the L-plan keep in the
early 14th century. The late 17th century re-working of the upper battlements of
Neidpath are very misleading and give a false 'folly like' appearance.
Originally the battlements probably had simple bartizans (roofless turrets).
Also the main enrty to the castle was within the re-entrant angle between the
two towers of the L-plan facing the Tweed. Reached by way of a detachable/collapsible
wooden staircase, adding to the castle's inaccessibility during times of siege.
And not by the present modern entry at courtyard level. Although this may be
part of an earlier postern gateway. But because of the jumbled late 17th century
re-workings this is difficult to ascertain.
The ornate
courtyard gateway wall and outer buildings are also of a late 17th century
period but contain fabric from earlier 16th century Hay buildings. Also
pre-dating even these was probably a wooden palisade to protect the cluster of
wood n' wattle construction buildings that appeared beside such great keeps in
the 14th century. But as time progressed this would have been replaced by a
stone Barmkin wall in the 16th century with cannon loops for small arms fire to
add to the courtyard's defenses.
The lowland Hays
resided at Neidpath as their chief residence until 1357 when they obtained the
East Lothian estate of Yester through marriage, building a courtyard castle
astride the ruins of the famous subterreanal 'Goblin Hall'. Yester castle then
became their principal seat, with Neidpath retained as a second home in their
role as Sheriffs of Peebles.
The Hay family had
two main branches of note, the Hays of Yester and Neidpath in the Lowlands.
While in the Highlands were the more powerful Hays Earls of Erroll of Slains and
Delgatie castles. Though like so many other Scottish families, there were many
more sub-branches both legitimate and illegitimate, interlinked through marriage
and vassaldom to other Clans. With reference to the Highland Hays they were
tenuously allied militarily to the Gordons of Huntly castle and at times to the
Keiths of Dunnottar. While the Lowland Hays were allied to the Douglases,
originally through vassaldom to the 'Black' Douglas but then by marriage to the
'Red' Douglases. Who in turn routed the 'Black' Douglases on behalf of King
James II (1437-1460) of Scots. This destruction of the 'Black' Douglases and
their allies the Lyndsays, was also supported by the Gordons and Hays in the
north and both families received rewards from the King for their loyal service.
However, in 1488
the Highland and Lowland Hays along with the Gordons and Keiths appear to have
deserted King James III (1460-1488) of Scots prior to the battle of Sauchieburn
near Stirling. Where he was killed by a rebel Scots army led by his son Prince
James (later King James IV). In 1513 Baron Yester and the Hays of Erroll fell at
the battle of Flodden along with King James IV (1488-1513) of Scots and many
other nobles including the Douglases, Gordons and Keiths.
During the wars of
the 'Rough Wooing' from 1544 to 1549,where by use of castle burning the English
hoped to force the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587) to the English
Prince Edward (later King Edward VI of England 1547-1553) Neidpath appears to
have escaped the wrath of the English while Yester was attacked in 1547 and
1548. In the first assault the castle was stoutly defended by the 4th Baron
Yester and the English withdrew to join their main army at Fawside hill prior to
the battle of Pinkie. During this battle the Scots were routed by combined use
of land and ship based bombardment. Baron Yester while advancing with the 'Red'
Douglas contingent was unhorsed and captured by the English spending four years
in the Tower of London.
In the second
assault in 1548 Yester was eventually taken by the English and local 'Assured
Scots' (who favoured the marriage of Mary to Edward). The English then raised a
fort at Haddington to "insult over and annoy the whole Kingdom". In
desperation the Scots called on French military aid in evicting these unwanted
hostile tenants at Haddington. The French agreed to this in exchange Mary was
sent to France to marry Francis the Dauphin, heir to the French throne. So Mary
could never marry the English Prince Edward, thus symbolically ending the 'Rough
Wooing' wars. But the English continued to burn castles and villages throughout
the Lothians and Borders regardless. Yester was again recaptured by the Scots
but may have been left in ruins while the siege of Haddington continued.
After the end of
the 'Rough Wooing' Yester appears to have been abandoned as a residence and was
replaced by a new Yester tower close to the modern Adam's style Yester House.
But this too appears to have suffered destruction and is untraceable
today, likely due to the Hays association with Mary Queen of Scots. Sadly
when Mary returned to Scotland after the death of Francis she was despised by
are own Lords and people as a foreign whore. Consequently any who sided with
Mary were later punished by the 'King's party' (James VI) having their castles
and lands sacked.
The Hays were among
Queen Mary's most loyal subjects and hospitably entertained her at Neidpath
castle in 1563. They also fielded armies on her behalf at the battle of Carberry
Hill in 1567 against the 'King's party' and at Langside in 1568. Prior to her
exile in England where she was executed by Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) of
England in 1587. Surprisingly, King James VI (1567-1603) of Scots and King James
I (1603-1625) of England held a Privy Council at Neidpath in 1587. Wither the
Hays were back in Royal favour at this point or not isn't clear. In 1646 Hay of
Neidpath was created 1st Earl of Tweeddale by King Charles I (1625-1649) and
commanded a Royal regiment for the King in the confused conflicts with Oliver
Cromwell's Parliament forces.
In 1650 after the
defeat of the Scots army by Oliver Cromwell at the battle of Dunbar, Neidpath
was attacked and after a limited bombardment eventually surrendered. This may
explain some of the damaged on the Tweed side of the Tower, though part of this
fell down due to neglect in 1790. In the 1680's Neidpath was purchased by
William Douglas, Duke of Queensberry for his second son, the Earl of March, from
whom is descended the present Earl of Wemyss and March. In the late 17th and
18th centuries Neidpath was extensively rebuilt with 'modern' folly-like work.
However, despite this it still stands as an impressive example of an L-plan Keep
and a reminder of the Borders warlike past.
Andrew Spratt 1st
March 2001
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