Tibber's Castle

The ruins of Tibber's Castle lie on the west bank of the River Nith, within the estate of Drumlanrig Castle. The site is 2 miles north of Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, south west Scotland. It occupied a key site, defending Nithsdale, one of the main potential invasion routes into Scotland, and as such played an important role in the Scottish Wars of Independence. The remains of Roman roads and temporary camps lie nearby, suggesting that the strategic importance of Nithsdale had been long recognised.

History

The castle was begun by Sir Richard Siward, Sheriff of Dumfries in the late 13th century. It was built on an earlier motte, known as "Mote de Tibris". In the 1290s the Siwards supported Edward I of England in his invasion of Scotland. Edward himself stayed here in 1298 following his victory at the Battle of Falkirk, and in 1302 he granted £100 for strengthening works to the castle.

In 1306 the castle was taken by the Scots under Robert the Bruce, although it was quickly recaptured by the English, and John de Seton, who had been defending the castle for the English, was hanged for his failings. After the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, the castle changed hands again, and the Scots may have partially dismantled the structure after this.

The castle and its lands passed to the Dunbar Earls of March, then to the Maitlands of Auchen in 1489. The land came into the possession of the Douglases of Drumlanrig in 1592. What was left of the castle in 1547 was burned by another invading English army, along with the original Drumlanrig Castle. Today the ruins stand no higher than 3 metres.

The castle

The "Mote de Tibris" is an elongated, partly artificial mound, with a conspicuous rampart and ditch forming a bailey approximately 60m by 90m (200 by 300 ft). Part of this ditch is rock cut, with some evidence of a causeway.

The castle itself is located at the north end of this motte, and is roughly rectangular, measuring approximately 36m by 25m. Circular towers 4.5m across were located at each corner. The gateway and remains of a barbican are located in the south-east corner, with the south-east tower doubling as a gatehouse. This arrangement is common to other castles in the area, including Morton Castle, and Caerlaverock Castle, and shows the influence of Edward I's castles in Wales, exemplified by Harlech, though on a much smaller scale.

The hall block was located in the north-west corner, with a second block in the south-west corner and a well in the centre of the courtyard. The east wall unusually comprised two walls with a space between, allowing the formation of a dog-leg postern gate. Excavations were carried out at the castle in 1864. Finds included two coins of Edward II, and a 15th century dagger, now in Dumfries Museum.

References

*Coventry, Martin "The Castles of Scotland (3rd Edition)", Goblinshead, 2001
*Gifford, John "The Buildings of Scotland: Dumfries and Galloway", Penguin, 1996
*Salter, Mike "The Castles of South West Scotland", Folly Publications, 1993
*Steell, Geoffrey "Dumfries and Galloway (2nd Edition)", Stationery Office, 1996

*National Monuments Record of Scotland, Site Reference NX89NE 2.0 [http://lmid1.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.details_gis?inumlink=65153]