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Cessford Castle

Kelso, TD5 8EG, United Kingdom

Cessford Castle
Historical landmark
4.5
48 reviews
8 comments
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GH5M+3F Kelso, United Kingdom
borderarchaeology.co.uk
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Jim
Jim
I am ticking off a bucket list of Castles so i would enjoy visiting even if it is only to get some pictures. there is not much to do at Cessford as the castle interior is closed so you can look around the exterior. you can still get a couple of nice pictures just watch out for all the sheep droppings
Patricia Archibald
Patricia Archibald
Beautiful views and very interesting to look round
Joshua Tann
Joshua Tann238 days ago
Fantastic castle, visited on a hot day, but the shade provided by the remaining castle was glorious. There is an interesting information board, albeit weathered. Single space car park. Worth a look at.
Nursey Williamson
Nursey Williamson330 days ago
Great castle to visit. Can park very close. Views from here are amazing.
Steven Porteous
Steven Porteous361 days ago
Cessford Castle is a large ruined mid-15th century L-plan castle near the village of Cessford, midway Jedburgh and Kelso, in the historic county of Roxburghshire, now a division of the Scottish Borders. The Castle is caput of the Barony of Cessford, and the principal stronghold of the Kers/Kerrs, notorious Border Reivers, many of whom served as Wardens of the Middle March.

Cessford was built around 1450 by Andrew Ker, an ancestor of Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe, and of the Dukes of Roxburghe. It is from this place that the Duke takes his subsidiary titles: Baron Ker of Cessford, and Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford. It is possible that the castle incorporates parts of an earlier structure. The fortalice was built on an L-plan, with a main keep with a wing of almost the same magnitude. With up to six storeys, two of which were barrel vaulted, and with walls up to 13 feet (4.0 m) thick, it was a formidable place of defence. The angle of the building was enclosed by a single-storey defensive gatehouse, and the whole was surrounded by a barmekin and defensive earthworks, a fact that is corroborated by the record of English troops having to use an escalade to gain access to the castle courtyard during the siege of 1523. The castle was besieged in 1523 by the Earl of Surrey who remarked: "It might never have been taken had the assailed been able to go on defending". The castle was abandoned in 1650.
Louise Cessford
Louise Cessford2 years ago
Near jedburgh a rustic remain but impressive castle ruin ..being of the family name had to investigate ..it has some connection to sir John cessford friend of Marie queen of scots and thier is a letter in local museum from him to Mary.the casle was then connected to the kerr family through marriage .as wss known the kerrs of cessford.but we wernt there so who knows but it s grest to have a look and walk round and imagine bygone ..landscape pretty not so much left of castle
Dekany Peter
Dekany Peter2 years ago
Hidden gem - definitely worth to stop and look around!
Kirsty Anderson
Kirsty Anderson2 years ago
What a beautiful hidden treasure
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