Kevin Nosferatu: Robert Maxwell

Just down from Dumfries, on the edge of the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve, there sits the rather spectacular ruin of Caerlaverock Castle, and that is where I headed off to today. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get to go inside as, at the time of writing, it seems to be that every building in the care of Historic Environment Scotland is shut and nestled in scaffolding. This makes it great fun when trying to photograph somewhere, to see how one can avoid the unsightly skeleton of metal poles sprouting out at the exact point where the building looks best. I gave it a good try, though sometimes I think it would be easier to photograph the scaffolding and forget about the building.

Caerlaverock Castle

The Caerlaverock Castle I visited today is actually the second of two castles sharing the same name. The first is just down the road with only the foundations and moat now remaining. It was abandoned due to it getting flooded in several storm surges, and was replaced by the second castle, which was completed in around 1290.

Caerlaverock Castle was built in a unique triangular shape with towers at each corner and is surrounded by a moat.

A diagram showing the plan of the site of Caerlaverock Castle. Taken from 'The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland from the Twelfth to the Eighteenth Century - Volume One.' By David MacGibbon and Thomas Ross. Published in 1887

Caerlaverock Castle – Plan of Site

The castle was originally a stronghold for the Maxwell family, being built for Sir Aymer Maxwell, with his son Sir Herbert de Maxwell and his household, becoming the first occupants.

In 1300 the castle was besieged by King Edward I of England and his army. This was in retaliation for an attack on the English held Lohmaben Castle, which had been carried out by the garrison stationed at Caerlaverock. The garrison, which consisted of only sixty men, managed to repel the full might of the English army several times before being forced to surrender. The castle was then in English hands for a while before eventually being returned to the Maxwell family. However, due to them backing the wrong side between those vying to be the Scottish king, the castle was again captured and taken from them in around 1355, and this time it was also partially dismantled.

A few years later the Maxwells got hold of the castle again and Sir Robert Maxwell (no, not the infamous fat one who owned the Daily Mirror) rebuilt much of the castle between 1373 and 1410. Family descendants of his then carried out a whole lot more building work, making the castle quite fancy with a nice, comfortable mansion in it.

A photograph of the ruins of Caerlaverock Castle showing the front towers and entrance to the castle, along with the drawbridge going over the moat around the castle. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.

Moat and drawbridge around the castle

A photo looking along the drawbridge of Caerlaverock Castle to the door to enter the building. The wooden door is closed. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.

Drawbridge over to castle entrance

A photo showing the rather eroded coat of arms carved in stone above the entrance to Caerlaverock Castle. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.

Coat of Arms above entrance door to the castle

Black and white photograph showing the stone walls around the courtyard of the castle. Photograph taken from the Seventh Report with Inventory of Monuments and Constructions in the County of Dumfries for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland by Herbert Maxwell & others. Published 1920

Courtyard of the castle – photo from RCAHMCS, 1920

Unfortunately for the Maxwells, who were Catholic, the rise of Protestantism in Scotland didn’t bode well for them. In 1640 an army of Covenanters besieged Caerlaverock. The siege went on for thirteen weeks before those inside were forced to surrender. The Covenanters then let Lord Maxwell, his wife and their page go free, but executed everyone else, around forty people, who had been defending the castle. The castle, which had been badly damaged during the siege, was never occupied again.