Berwick Castle (Berwick upon Tweed)
[NT 993534] Castle [LB] (remains of) [TI]. (1)
The castle was originally built in the 13th century and continued to be garrisoned until 1603. It was partly demolished in 1641 and finally cleared in 1843 to build the railway station. All that remains in the western flanking wall and three towers. Scheduled. (2)(3)(4)
Published Survey 1/2500 revised. See Map Diagrams. (5)
840 Berwick Castle (fragments, including towers and walls and steps)
NT 9953E 10/261 1.8.52
Grade I
There was a fortress here in the 12th century, but it was often beseiged, attacked and altered. In the beginning of the 17th century a large town house was begun on the site, but after 1611 the castle was left to decline. A large part of the stonework was removed for building Holy Trinity Church, and later the greater part of the remains were swept away for the railway station on the site. The west curtain wall survives in part, with steep steps down to the river (end of 13th century), and fragments of towers of the 16th century. AM.
840 Ruins of the Constable Tower (Part of Berwick Castle)
NT9953E 10/172 1.8.52.
Grade I
The Constable Tower (probably 13th century) exists fragmentally in the grounds of Castle Vale Hotel. AM.
840 Wall of Berwick Castle to North of the ruins of Constable Tower
NT 9953E 10/172
Grade I
Ruined wall to North of the ruins of Constable Tower. AM. (6)
Maintenance work carried out on the White Wall by English Heritage in June 1989. Medieval and Tudor work was examined. (7)
Scheduled. (8)
A substantial masonry structure was revealed in a watching brief in the station car park in August 2002. Although it could not be conclusively dated to the medieval period, it was considered most likely to be part of the castle or an associated feature. The remains lay 0.5m below the present ground surface and was greater than 0.9m thick, although its full thickness was not established. (9)
A ground penetrating radar survey in October 2002 found many features which could potentially be buried foundations. However, the recent history of the site, from the building of the railway, means it is likely that most can be attributed to relatively recent structures. (10)
Ground penetrating radar survey revealed two possible lines for the northern wall linking the castle and town. The northern line corresponds with the sandstone masonry found in a previous evaluation, which was interpreted as a medieval wall. The GPR survey also revealed the edge of a tower at the southern end of the modern ramp into the station. It appears to be one of two that guarded the causeway entrance of the castle from the town. (11)
Twelve evaluation trenches were excavated in April and May 2003. They revealed evidence from the medieval and post-medieval periods. The medieval remains included a substantial sandstone wall that may have formed part of the curtain wall, linking the castle to the medieval town walls across Gillies Brae. The post-medieval remains comprised 19th century levelling associated with the construction of the railway station as well as walls of the former goods and coal yards and demolition rubble.
The medieval wall survived at a depth of betweem 0.5m and 0.7m below existing ground surface. The curtain wall linked the north-eastern tower of the castle (Gunner's Tower) to St Mary's Gate on the medieval town wall. No further medieval remains were revealed within the present station car park area.
Probable medieval remains were encountered at the north-east corner of the car park, at the base of the pedestrian access. Here, four phases of building activity lay from about 0.5m below the ground surface, possibly representing four different, sequential buildings in the area. No remains of the medieval town wall were found in either of the trenches located along Railway Street, but probable medieval remains were found in a trench on the pavement of Railway Street. These comprised a short length of wall from a building. (12)
A watching brief of new water pipelines and manholes at the western part of the station car park in 1998-99, revealed a medieval structure. It lay in the trench which ran across the access road to Castle Vale House and comprised a small collection of randomly coursed boulders, strongly bonded with very hard yellow mortar. Only the northern edge of the feature was visible in the trench. Its construction and orientation towards the castle entrance suggests it may form part of the causeway that ran across the defile of Gillies Brae and into Berwick Castle. (13)
Two 10m core samples were taken prior to excavation of two lift shafts. These revealed strong evidence for the presence of substantial undisturbed archaeological deposits associated with the medieval castle. One sample taken on the putative line of the east curtain of the castle met with nearly 3m of sandstone and mortar. The second sample was taken within the castle precinct and encountered 3m of stratified organic deposits. (14)
Summary of watching brief by Pre-Construct Archaeology in 2002. (15)
The standing remains of Berwick Castle which includes the west wall of the castle, the south east angle tower known as the Constable Tower and a length of curtain wall adjacent to it, as well as the flanking wall known as the White Wall. A castle at Berwick is first mentioned in documents dating to the 12th century, although most of the remains which are visible today date from a re-modelling of the structure in the late 13th and subsequent centuries. When Edward I captured the town of Berwick from the Scots in 1296 the existing castle was strengthened. At this time an additional length of wall known as the White Wall was constructed. Large sections of this wall have been levelled and survive as foundations however the west wall and parts of the east wall of the castle survive as standing structures. Attached to the southern end of this wall is the south east angle tower, known as the Constable Tower. The upper courses of this tower are constructed of weathered ashlar blocks and are equipped with arrow slits suggesting a late 13th century date. The lower courses of the tower are rougher and less regular and are thought to represent the base of an earlier 12th century tower. At the northern end of this length of wall is a second tower standing to a height of six courses above the raised ground level. The west wall of the castle is also visible above ground standing to a maximum height of 6 metres and up to 4 metres thick. At its northern end are the remains of a semi-circular tower visible as rubble core 12 metres high. This tower is known as Barmekin Tower. At the southern end of the west wall there is a semi circular mid 16th century gun turret. Attached to the south west angle of the castle, the White Wall descends the steep slopes of the Tweed where it terminated at a large wooden gate. A tower constructed at the same time on the site of its medieval predecessor survives well at the present edge of the river. Scheduled (16)
Further article presents and summarises the range of written and drawn evidence of documentary sources regarding the castle. The article highlights the unusual nature of the castle in always being a residence for a garrison, rather than a home, and speculates that the site was occupied by a timber castle. Documents of 1292, 1344, 1367, 1368, 1371-72, 1538-39, 1745 and 1790 are used to detail the buildings and structures, rooms and items present - as well as the necessary improvements and repairs. A broadly-phased plan of the castle has been created indictated the main part of the castle 14th century or earlier, with additions. An artist's impression of the castle for the 14th century is also presented. (17)
Monitoring of geotechnical test pits in the station car park in 2019 recorded remains associated with the castle. The earliest deposit, an organic-rich horizon, was seen in two pits and produced sherds of 13th to 14th century green-glazed medieval pottery, and fragments of animal bone. Rubble in the base of one test pit (TP6) may represent the demolition of part of the castle wall in the Victorian era. (18)
Additional bibliography. (19a-b)
NT 9945 - NT 995531. Old castle wall remainder of Elizabethan ramparts, scheduled. (19c)
NT 993 534. Berwick Castle and White Wall. The visible remains are as follows: The west wall of the 13th century castle and 16th century guntower on the west side. The stepped wall running south from the castle to the water tower with 16th century guntower. The polygonal tower at the SE angle of the castle and to the north an earthern bank covering the surviving part of the twin-towered castlegate. To the west of the polygonal tower a length of curtain wall has been partly rebuilt in the 19th century. The schedule includes the area of Berwick Castle below the railway station and goods yard. (19d)
Full bibliography (19e).
NT 993 534. All that remains of the castle is the west wall forming the west boundary of the railway property, with a spur-wall running down to the river, and to the east of the railway in the grounds of Castle Vale House, fragments of a polygonal tower and traces of the castle wall leading north from it. Surveyed by RCHME at 1:1250. (19f)
NT 994 533. Berwick castle. Scheduled No ND/16A. (19g)
The remains of a medieval castle are visible as a structure on air photographs centred at NT 9932 5340. The remains of Berwick Castle consist of the western wall and three towers. (19k)
Listed by Cathcart King. (19e)
Listed. (19l)
Despite the Henrician modifications to the castle to accommodate artillery, the survey of Berwick's defences in 1533 had concluded that if the town fell to Scottish or rebel hands, the castle was ill-equipped as a place to retake it, and the town was well-positioned to theaten a loyal garrison in the castle. A further survey of 1550 reached the same conclusion, and the remedy decided on was to create a defendable citadel within Berwick's walls, and the abandonment of the castle as a defensive structure. (19m)
An accessible publication containing an overview of the development of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle. (19n)
The castle is discussed in the context of the development of the defences and the town in general. (19o)
The castle features in an English Heritage guide to the fortifications of Berwick published in 2011. The guide in particular notes the high level of warlike activity involiving the Castle during the medieval period, including 14 major attacks or seiges between 1216 and 1481, particularly in 1318 following the Scottish victory at Bannockburn.
The role of the castle was superseded from the mid 16th century onwards by developments in town artillery defences and it was then effectively used as a barracks.
In 1641 the castle was sold to the town and used for quarrying stone. It was also subsequently pillaged by soldiers in the Civil Wars of the 1640s. Part of its ruins were flattened by the railway and associated station from 1844. The guide contains a full tour of the town's fortifications, with plans, maps and historical images. (19p)
A wreck of a victualling ship bound for the castle took place on 4 June 1318, between the town's capture by the Scots on 8 April and the surrender of the castle itself for want of provisions in late June 1318, thus this wreck (1445730) had a direct impact on the castle. (19q)
General association with Berwick Town Defences (HER 2426), The Main Guard (HER 2477), Berwick Town Defences (HER 30161), medieval town defences (HER 30162), and Lords Mount (HER 30163). (19)
The castle was originally built in the 13th century and continued to be garrisoned until 1603. It was partly demolished in 1641 and finally cleared in 1843 to build the railway station. All that remains in the western flanking wall and three towers. Scheduled. (2)(3)(4)
Published Survey 1/2500 revised. See Map Diagrams. (5)
840 Berwick Castle (fragments, including towers and walls and steps)
NT 9953E 10/261 1.8.52
Grade I
There was a fortress here in the 12th century, but it was often beseiged, attacked and altered. In the beginning of the 17th century a large town house was begun on the site, but after 1611 the castle was left to decline. A large part of the stonework was removed for building Holy Trinity Church, and later the greater part of the remains were swept away for the railway station on the site. The west curtain wall survives in part, with steep steps down to the river (end of 13th century), and fragments of towers of the 16th century. AM.
840 Ruins of the Constable Tower (Part of Berwick Castle)
NT9953E 10/172 1.8.52.
Grade I
The Constable Tower (probably 13th century) exists fragmentally in the grounds of Castle Vale Hotel. AM.
840 Wall of Berwick Castle to North of the ruins of Constable Tower
NT 9953E 10/172
Grade I
Ruined wall to North of the ruins of Constable Tower. AM. (6)
Maintenance work carried out on the White Wall by English Heritage in June 1989. Medieval and Tudor work was examined. (7)
Scheduled. (8)
A substantial masonry structure was revealed in a watching brief in the station car park in August 2002. Although it could not be conclusively dated to the medieval period, it was considered most likely to be part of the castle or an associated feature. The remains lay 0.5m below the present ground surface and was greater than 0.9m thick, although its full thickness was not established. (9)
A ground penetrating radar survey in October 2002 found many features which could potentially be buried foundations. However, the recent history of the site, from the building of the railway, means it is likely that most can be attributed to relatively recent structures. (10)
Ground penetrating radar survey revealed two possible lines for the northern wall linking the castle and town. The northern line corresponds with the sandstone masonry found in a previous evaluation, which was interpreted as a medieval wall. The GPR survey also revealed the edge of a tower at the southern end of the modern ramp into the station. It appears to be one of two that guarded the causeway entrance of the castle from the town. (11)
Twelve evaluation trenches were excavated in April and May 2003. They revealed evidence from the medieval and post-medieval periods. The medieval remains included a substantial sandstone wall that may have formed part of the curtain wall, linking the castle to the medieval town walls across Gillies Brae. The post-medieval remains comprised 19th century levelling associated with the construction of the railway station as well as walls of the former goods and coal yards and demolition rubble.
The medieval wall survived at a depth of betweem 0.5m and 0.7m below existing ground surface. The curtain wall linked the north-eastern tower of the castle (Gunner's Tower) to St Mary's Gate on the medieval town wall. No further medieval remains were revealed within the present station car park area.
Probable medieval remains were encountered at the north-east corner of the car park, at the base of the pedestrian access. Here, four phases of building activity lay from about 0.5m below the ground surface, possibly representing four different, sequential buildings in the area. No remains of the medieval town wall were found in either of the trenches located along Railway Street, but probable medieval remains were found in a trench on the pavement of Railway Street. These comprised a short length of wall from a building. (12)
A watching brief of new water pipelines and manholes at the western part of the station car park in 1998-99, revealed a medieval structure. It lay in the trench which ran across the access road to Castle Vale House and comprised a small collection of randomly coursed boulders, strongly bonded with very hard yellow mortar. Only the northern edge of the feature was visible in the trench. Its construction and orientation towards the castle entrance suggests it may form part of the causeway that ran across the defile of Gillies Brae and into Berwick Castle. (13)
Two 10m core samples were taken prior to excavation of two lift shafts. These revealed strong evidence for the presence of substantial undisturbed archaeological deposits associated with the medieval castle. One sample taken on the putative line of the east curtain of the castle met with nearly 3m of sandstone and mortar. The second sample was taken within the castle precinct and encountered 3m of stratified organic deposits. (14)
Summary of watching brief by Pre-Construct Archaeology in 2002. (15)
The standing remains of Berwick Castle which includes the west wall of the castle, the south east angle tower known as the Constable Tower and a length of curtain wall adjacent to it, as well as the flanking wall known as the White Wall. A castle at Berwick is first mentioned in documents dating to the 12th century, although most of the remains which are visible today date from a re-modelling of the structure in the late 13th and subsequent centuries. When Edward I captured the town of Berwick from the Scots in 1296 the existing castle was strengthened. At this time an additional length of wall known as the White Wall was constructed. Large sections of this wall have been levelled and survive as foundations however the west wall and parts of the east wall of the castle survive as standing structures. Attached to the southern end of this wall is the south east angle tower, known as the Constable Tower. The upper courses of this tower are constructed of weathered ashlar blocks and are equipped with arrow slits suggesting a late 13th century date. The lower courses of the tower are rougher and less regular and are thought to represent the base of an earlier 12th century tower. At the northern end of this length of wall is a second tower standing to a height of six courses above the raised ground level. The west wall of the castle is also visible above ground standing to a maximum height of 6 metres and up to 4 metres thick. At its northern end are the remains of a semi-circular tower visible as rubble core 12 metres high. This tower is known as Barmekin Tower. At the southern end of the west wall there is a semi circular mid 16th century gun turret. Attached to the south west angle of the castle, the White Wall descends the steep slopes of the Tweed where it terminated at a large wooden gate. A tower constructed at the same time on the site of its medieval predecessor survives well at the present edge of the river. Scheduled (16)
Further article presents and summarises the range of written and drawn evidence of documentary sources regarding the castle. The article highlights the unusual nature of the castle in always being a residence for a garrison, rather than a home, and speculates that the site was occupied by a timber castle. Documents of 1292, 1344, 1367, 1368, 1371-72, 1538-39, 1745 and 1790 are used to detail the buildings and structures, rooms and items present - as well as the necessary improvements and repairs. A broadly-phased plan of the castle has been created indictated the main part of the castle 14th century or earlier, with additions. An artist's impression of the castle for the 14th century is also presented. (17)
Monitoring of geotechnical test pits in the station car park in 2019 recorded remains associated with the castle. The earliest deposit, an organic-rich horizon, was seen in two pits and produced sherds of 13th to 14th century green-glazed medieval pottery, and fragments of animal bone. Rubble in the base of one test pit (TP6) may represent the demolition of part of the castle wall in the Victorian era. (18)
Additional bibliography. (19a-b)
NT 9945 - NT 995531. Old castle wall remainder of Elizabethan ramparts, scheduled. (19c)
NT 993 534. Berwick Castle and White Wall. The visible remains are as follows: The west wall of the 13th century castle and 16th century guntower on the west side. The stepped wall running south from the castle to the water tower with 16th century guntower. The polygonal tower at the SE angle of the castle and to the north an earthern bank covering the surviving part of the twin-towered castlegate. To the west of the polygonal tower a length of curtain wall has been partly rebuilt in the 19th century. The schedule includes the area of Berwick Castle below the railway station and goods yard. (19d)
Full bibliography (19e).
NT 993 534. All that remains of the castle is the west wall forming the west boundary of the railway property, with a spur-wall running down to the river, and to the east of the railway in the grounds of Castle Vale House, fragments of a polygonal tower and traces of the castle wall leading north from it. Surveyed by RCHME at 1:1250. (19f)
NT 994 533. Berwick castle. Scheduled No ND/16A. (19g)
The remains of a medieval castle are visible as a structure on air photographs centred at NT 9932 5340. The remains of Berwick Castle consist of the western wall and three towers. (19k)
Listed by Cathcart King. (19e)
Listed. (19l)
Despite the Henrician modifications to the castle to accommodate artillery, the survey of Berwick's defences in 1533 had concluded that if the town fell to Scottish or rebel hands, the castle was ill-equipped as a place to retake it, and the town was well-positioned to theaten a loyal garrison in the castle. A further survey of 1550 reached the same conclusion, and the remedy decided on was to create a defendable citadel within Berwick's walls, and the abandonment of the castle as a defensive structure. (19m)
An accessible publication containing an overview of the development of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle. (19n)
The castle is discussed in the context of the development of the defences and the town in general. (19o)
The castle features in an English Heritage guide to the fortifications of Berwick published in 2011. The guide in particular notes the high level of warlike activity involiving the Castle during the medieval period, including 14 major attacks or seiges between 1216 and 1481, particularly in 1318 following the Scottish victory at Bannockburn.
The role of the castle was superseded from the mid 16th century onwards by developments in town artillery defences and it was then effectively used as a barracks.
In 1641 the castle was sold to the town and used for quarrying stone. It was also subsequently pillaged by soldiers in the Civil Wars of the 1640s. Part of its ruins were flattened by the railway and associated station from 1844. The guide contains a full tour of the town's fortifications, with plans, maps and historical images. (19p)
A wreck of a victualling ship bound for the castle took place on 4 June 1318, between the town's capture by the Scots on 8 April and the surrender of the castle itself for want of provisions in late June 1318, thus this wreck (1445730) had a direct impact on the castle. (19q)
General association with Berwick Town Defences (HER 2426), The Main Guard (HER 2477), Berwick Town Defences (HER 30161), medieval town defences (HER 30162), and Lords Mount (HER 30163). (19)
N2424
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1967; D Smith
WATCHING BRIEF, Berwick Railway Station car park (Town Sewerage System, Berwick-upon-Tweed) 1999; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
WATCHING BRIEF, Castle Vale Residential Home (Town Sewerage System, Berwick-upon-Tweed) 1999; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
TRIAL TRENCH, Berwick Railway Station 2000; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
WATCHING BRIEF, Castle Terrace, Berwick-upon-Tweed 2000; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Berwick Railway Station 2000; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
WATCHING BRIEF, Berwick Railway Station car park 2001; THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRACTICE
WATCHING BRIEF, Berwick Railway Station car park 2002; The Archaeological Practice
TRIAL TRENCH, Berwick Railway Station car park 2002; PRE-CONSTRUCT ARCHAEOLOGY
GROUND PENETRATING RADAR SURVEY, Station car park, Berwick-upon-Tweed 2002; STRATSCAN
TRIAL TRENCH, Berwick Railway Station Car Park 2003; PRE-CONSTRUCT ARCHAEOLOGY
WATCHING BRIEF, Berwick-upon-Tweed Railway Station 2003; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Till Tweed NMP 2003; English Heritage
WATCHING BRIEF, White Wall, Berwick Castle 2009; Northern Archaeological Associates
WATCHING BRIEF, Land at Railway Street, Berwick 2011; TWM Archaeology
HERITAGE ASSESSMENT, English Heritage Coastal Estate: risk assessment 2011; English Heritage
WATCHING BRIEF, Berwick Station 2019; Northern Archaeological Associates
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Berwick Survey ; RCHME
EVALUATION, Berwick Castle Walls ; The Archaeological Practice
WATCHING BRIEF, White Wall, Berwick-upon-Tweed castle ; Mike Bishop
WATCHING BRIEF, Berwick Railway Station car park (Town Sewerage System, Berwick-upon-Tweed) 1999; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
WATCHING BRIEF, Castle Vale Residential Home (Town Sewerage System, Berwick-upon-Tweed) 1999; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
TRIAL TRENCH, Berwick Railway Station 2000; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
WATCHING BRIEF, Castle Terrace, Berwick-upon-Tweed 2000; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Berwick Railway Station 2000; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
WATCHING BRIEF, Berwick Railway Station car park 2001; THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRACTICE
WATCHING BRIEF, Berwick Railway Station car park 2002; The Archaeological Practice
TRIAL TRENCH, Berwick Railway Station car park 2002; PRE-CONSTRUCT ARCHAEOLOGY
GROUND PENETRATING RADAR SURVEY, Station car park, Berwick-upon-Tweed 2002; STRATSCAN
TRIAL TRENCH, Berwick Railway Station Car Park 2003; PRE-CONSTRUCT ARCHAEOLOGY
WATCHING BRIEF, Berwick-upon-Tweed Railway Station 2003; TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Till Tweed NMP 2003; English Heritage
WATCHING BRIEF, White Wall, Berwick Castle 2009; Northern Archaeological Associates
WATCHING BRIEF, Land at Railway Street, Berwick 2011; TWM Archaeology
HERITAGE ASSESSMENT, English Heritage Coastal Estate: risk assessment 2011; English Heritage
WATCHING BRIEF, Berwick Station 2019; Northern Archaeological Associates
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Berwick Survey ; RCHME
EVALUATION, Berwick Castle Walls ; The Archaeological Practice
WATCHING BRIEF, White Wall, Berwick-upon-Tweed castle ; Mike Bishop
Disclaimer -
Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.