Tibber's Castle
Encyclopedia
The ruins of Tibber's Castle lie on the west bank of the River Nith
, within the estate of Drumlanrig Castle
. The site is 2 miles north of Thornhill
, Dumfries and Galloway
, south west Scotland
. It occupied a key site, defending Nithsdale, one of the main potential invasion routes into Scotland, and as such played an important role in the Scottish Wars of Independence. The remains of Roman
roads and temporary camps lie nearby, suggesting that the strategic importance of Nithsdale had been long recognised.
of Dumfries
in the late 13th century. It was built on an earlier motte
, known as "Mote de Tibris". In the 1290s the Siwards supported Edward I of England
in his invasion of Scotland. Edward himself stayed here in 1298 following his victory at the Battle of Falkirk
, and in 1302 he granted £100 for strengthening works to the castle.
In 1306 the castle was taken by the Scots under Robert the Bruce
, although it was quickly recaptured by the English, and John de Seton, who had been defending the castle for the English, was hanged for his failings. After the Battle of Bannockburn
in 1314, the castle changed hands again, and the Scots may have partially dismantled the structure after this.
The castle and its lands passed to the Dunbar Earls of March
, then to the Maitlands of Auchen in 1489. The land came into the possession of the Douglases of Drumlanrig in 1592. What was left of the castle in 1547 was burned by another invading English army, along with the original Drumlanrig Castle. Today the ruins stand no higher than 3 metres.
The castle itself is located at the north end of this motte, and is roughly rectangular, measuring approximately 36m by 25m. Circular towers 4.5m across were located at each corner. The gateway and remains of a barbican
are located in the south-east corner, with the south-east tower doubling as a gatehouse. This arrangement is common to other castles in the area, including Morton Castle
, and Caerlaverock Castle
, and shows the influence of Edward I's castles in Wales, exemplified by Harlech
, though on a much smaller scale.
The hall block was located in the north-west corner, with a second block in the south-west corner and a well in the centre of the courtyard. The east wall unusually comprised two walls with a space between, allowing the formation of a dog-leg postern
gate. Excavations were carried out at the castle in 1864. Finds included two coins of Edward II
, and a 15th century dagger, now in Dumfries Museum.
title when William Douglas was created Viscount Drumlanrig and Lord Douglas of Hawick and Tibberis on 1 April 1628; he was later created Earl of Queensberry. These titles are currently held by his descendant David Douglas, 12th Marquess of Queensberry
. Charles Douglas
, future 3rd Duke of Queensberry
, was created Viscount of Tibberis and Earl of Solway on 17 June 1707, but the title became extinct on his death in 1778.
River Nith
The River Nith is a river in South West Scotland.-Source, flow and mouth:The Nith rises in the Carsphairn hills of East Ayrshire, more precisely between Prickeny Hill and Enoch Hill, 7 km East of Dalmellington...
, within the estate of Drumlanrig Castle
Drumlanrig Castle
Drumlanrig Castle sits on the Queensberry Estate in Scotland's Dumfries and Galloway.The Castle is the Dumfriesshire family home to the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry...
. The site is 2 miles north of Thornhill
Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway
Thornhill is a town in the Mid Nithsdale area of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, south of Sanquhar and north of Dumfries.A monument to the explorer Joseph Thomson , who lived in neighbouring Penpont and Gatelawbridge, can be found close to the school...
, Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
, south west Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It occupied a key site, defending Nithsdale, one of the main potential invasion routes into Scotland, and as such played an important role in the Scottish Wars of Independence. The remains of Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
roads and temporary camps lie nearby, suggesting that the strategic importance of Nithsdale had been long recognised.
History
The castle was begun by Sir Richard Siward, SheriffSheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
in the late 13th century. It was built on an earlier motte
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
, known as "Mote de Tibris". In the 1290s the Siwards supported Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
in his invasion of Scotland. Edward himself stayed here in 1298 following his victory at the Battle of Falkirk
Battle of Falkirk (1298)
The Battle of Falkirk, which took place on 22 July 1298, was one of the major battles in the First War of Scottish Independence...
, and in 1302 he granted £100 for strengthening works to the castle.
In 1306 the castle was taken by the Scots under Robert the Bruce
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
, although it was quickly recaptured by the English, and John de Seton, who had been defending the castle for the English, was hanged for his failings. After the Battle of Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
in 1314, the castle changed hands again, and the Scots may have partially dismantled the structure after this.
The castle and its lands passed to the Dunbar Earls of March
Earl of March
The title The Earl of March has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of England. The title derived from the "marches" or boundaries between England and either Wales or Scotland , and was held by several great feudal families which owned lands in those border...
, then to the Maitlands of Auchen in 1489. The land came into the possession of the Douglases of Drumlanrig in 1592. What was left of the castle in 1547 was burned by another invading English army, along with the original Drumlanrig Castle. Today the ruins stand no higher than 3 metres.
The castle
The "Mote de Tibris" is an elongated, partly artificial mound, with a conspicuous rampart and ditch forming a bailey approximately 60m by 90m (200 by 300 ft). Part of this ditch is rock cut, with some evidence of a causeway.The castle itself is located at the north end of this motte, and is roughly rectangular, measuring approximately 36m by 25m. Circular towers 4.5m across were located at each corner. The gateway and remains of a barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
are located in the south-east corner, with the south-east tower doubling as a gatehouse. This arrangement is common to other castles in the area, including Morton Castle
Morton Castle
Morton Castle is located by an artificial loch in the hills above Nithsdale, in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. It lies 2.5 miles north-east of Thornhill, and once formed part of a chain of castles along the strategically important Nith Valley, which runs from the Solway Firth north to...
, and Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle is a moated triangular castle, built in the 13th century, in the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve area at the Solway Firth, south of Dumfries in the southwest of Scotland. In the Middle Ages it was owned by the Maxwell family. Today, the castle is in the care of Historic...
, and shows the influence of Edward I's castles in Wales, exemplified by Harlech
Harlech Castle
Harlech Castle, located in Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales, is a concentric castle, constructed atop a cliff close to the Irish Sea. Architecturally, it is particularly notable for its massive gatehouse....
, though on a much smaller scale.
The hall block was located in the north-west corner, with a second block in the south-west corner and a well in the centre of the courtyard. The east wall unusually comprised two walls with a space between, allowing the formation of a dog-leg postern
Postern
A postern is a secondary door or gate, particularly in a fortification such as a city wall or castle curtain wall. Posterns were often located in a concealed location, allowing the occupants to come and go inconspicuously. In the event of a siege, a postern could act as a sally port, allowing...
gate. Excavations were carried out at the castle in 1864. Finds included two coins of Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
, and a 15th century dagger, now in Dumfries Museum.
Use as a peerage title
The castle's name was used as a peeragePeerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
title when William Douglas was created Viscount Drumlanrig and Lord Douglas of Hawick and Tibberis on 1 April 1628; he was later created Earl of Queensberry. These titles are currently held by his descendant David Douglas, 12th Marquess of Queensberry
David Douglas, 12th Marquess of Queensberry
David Harrington Angus Douglas, 12th Marquess of Queensberry is a Scottish nobleman.Queensberry is the elder son of the 11th Marquess, and his only son by his second wife, artist...
. Charles Douglas
Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke of Queensberry
Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke of Queensberry, 2nd Duke of Dover, PC was a Scottish nobleman.The son of James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry, 1st Duke of Dover, and Mary Boyle, daughter of Charles Boyle, 3rd Viscount Dungarvan, was a Privy Counsellor and Vice Admiral of Scotland.He took up the cause...
, future 3rd Duke of Queensberry
Duke of Queensberry
The title Duke of Queensberry was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1684 along with the subsidiary title Marquess of Dumfriesshire for the 1st Marquess of Queensberry...
, was created Viscount of Tibberis and Earl of Solway on 17 June 1707, but the title became extinct on his death in 1778.