Hermitage castle mary queen of scots biography

For 400 years Hermitage served as the "guardhouse of the bloodiest valley in Britain".

Hermitage castle mary queen of scots biography

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James vi and i

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Its history has sufficient intrigue, romance and violence to make the legend of the castle's builder fighting a giant wearing impregnable armour seem rather superfluous. The proximity of Hermitage Castle to the English border made it a particular prize for both countries.

Even the building of it by the King's butler, Sir Nicholas de Soules in about 1240, almost brought the nations to the brink of war. It was disputed territory for much of its history.

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This can be seen in the great strength of the castle, which reflects both the wealth of its owners and its strategic position. It is the best of the medieval border castles to survive. The first Hermitage castle was a timber and earthwork castle.

The Wars of Independence saw Hermitage Castle change hands several times. It came into the possession of Sir William Douglas in 1338, but after his murder in Ettrick Forest in 1353, his widow marr