Cousland Castle

Cousland Castle

Cousland Castle sits in a field in the middle of Cousland village. You can see the remains of the original castle and also some remains of the modern 16th & 18th c additions to the site

"Cousland Castle is thought to have been begun in the late 12th or early 13th century as a strong square keep. In 1215 it came into the possession of the St Clair (Sinclair) family of Roslin.

In 1494 Cousland Castle passed to William Ruthven, the 1st Lord Ruthven through via the marriage of a daughter of Sir Thomas Cranstoun of that Ilk and Sir Patrick Ruthven of Ruthven.

Ruthven may have made improvements to the castle as some of the features were identified in an archaeological excavation in 2008 as being typical of the 15th century." (from stravaiging.com)

"Sir George Hay was an influential and powerful man and also an early industrialist with patents for iron and glass manufacture, he was also the Lord Chancellor of Scotland (1622). When Cousland was under his ownership they have a witch-hunt in the year 1630.
We know the ‘witches’ were held in the tolbooth in Cousland, which could have been the castle, given that it is the only secure building in the settlement." (from couslandvillage.co.uk)

Whitslaid Tower

Whitslaid Tower

Returned to Whitslaid Tower and the weeds have gone a bit now so you can explore a bit more freely. It is such a nice wee ruin which has a fairly unremarkable history, however as noted on our previous visit, it has a nice little hobbit-home look about it.

In 1565 a Warrant under the Signet charged the sheriff of Berwick and his deputes to apprehend Gilbert Lauder of "Quhitslaid" (d. before 1590), Richard Lauder younger of that Ilk (killed June 1567), and William Lauder, brother of said Gilbert, who had been put to the horn for the slaughter of the George Wedderat deceased, burgess of Lauder, but had fortified and were holding the house of Quhitslaid (Whitslaid).
In 1662 a Commission was assembled and authorised to try two witches at Lauder. One of those on it was Gilbert Lauder of Whitslaid. This Gilbert Lauder of Whitslaid appears to have had financial problems and was subsequently forced to part with Whitslaid to an advocate named Mr. John Peter.

You can see our previous visit here

Markle Castle

Markle Castle

"North of the East Lothian village of East Linton on a rocky mound a few fragmented walls remain of Markle castle, with the shell of a 1300's tower and a 1500's hall house to the east forming a small courtyard. The entire site was originally surrounded by a fortified ditch which helped highlight it's position. There was a village of Markle. But it has long since vanished, so too have the monastic buildings mentioned in early accounts." (from www.douglashistory.co.uk)

The remains of Markle Castle (originally 'Merkill') are located near a fishery so there is vehicular access right to the site and a carpark. Most people at Markle are there for the fishing so the ruins themselves are quiet but there are quite a few people milling about.

In one section of the ruins you can see the remains of a spiral staircase