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Old Caerlaverock Castle


The site of Old Caerlaverock Castle is in woodland behind the more famous Caerlaverock Castle, and stands on a square platform surrounded by a moat.

The old castle was built around 1220 by the Great Chamberlain of Scotland Sir John De Maccuswell (an early spelling of Maxwell) following a grant of land from Alexander II. However it appears to have only been used for a short time, as around 1270 work began on its more famous neighbour, and the old castle was soon abandoned.

Before 1998 the site consisted of an earthen mound surrounded by a moat. Following excavations in 1998 and 1999 wall footings were revealed, giving a picture of the castle which once stood here. The top of the mound, measuring around 27 metres square, was encircled by a curtain wall. Inside this wall were a number of buildings, including a two storey block at the east corner measuring around 10.5 metres by 7.5 metres.

Old Caerlaverock Castle

Immediately to the south of the castle mound a harbour was found, which would once have been linked to the Solway Firth.

It was discovered that many of the buildings had no real foundations, instead being built directly onto the natural silt and clay. There was evidence that some of the walls had moved in antiquity, which possibly led to the construction of further towers at the north, west and south corners of the curtain wall.

This structural instability may also possibly explain why the old castle was soon replaced. Archaeomagnetic dating of burnt clay in the main hall suggests that the it was last used between 1250 to 1275, or 1250 to 1310, covering the date at which the new castle was built.

Today the remains of the wall footings can be seen, along with a section of metalled courtyard.

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Clans associated with Old Caerlaverock Castle

Maxwell

Surnames associated with Old Caerlaverock Castle

Maxwell

Where is Old Caerlaverock Castle?

Old Caerlaverock Castle is in the parish of Caerlaverock and the county of Dumfriesshire.

Grid reference:NY 02706 65451

Lat / long:54.974199,-3.521636

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OS Map for Old Caerlaverock Castle

OS map 314
Solway Firth (Wigton & Silloth)
OS Explorer map 314


OS map 322
Annandale (Annan, Lockerbie & Beattock)
OS Explorer map 322


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Directions to Old Caerlaverock Castle

Enter a starting point

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Weather at Old Caerlaverock Castle

9°C
max 9°C / min 9°C
16km/h NE
1013mb
69%
100%
05:46 18:49

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Cummertrees at 14:27

References (websites)

Canmore
Historic Environment Scotland

Castles near Old Caerlaverock Castle

Caerlaverock Castle

0.2km away

Locharwoods (possible) (site of)

2.4km away

Middle Locharwoods (possible) (site of)

2.6km away

Nether Locharwoods (possible) (site of)

3.2km away

Isle Tower

3.5km away

Ingleston motte

4.6km away

Cockpool Castle (site of)

4.8km away

Kirkconnell

5.4km away

Kelwoodside (site of)

5.5km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Old Caerlaverock Castle

McCulloch's Castle fort

8.3km away

Curriestanes cursus

11.7km away

Twelve Apostles stone circle

16.1km away

Holywood South cursus

16.1km away

Holm cursus

16.3km away

Holywood North cursus

16.5km away

Fourmerkland cursus

18.3km away

Gallaberry cursus

18.4km away

Trailflat cursus

19.7km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Old Caerlaverock Castle

Trusty's Hill Class I rock carving

44.6km away

Eggerness Class I rock carving

56.8km away

Borthwick Mains Class I symbol stone

63.7km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

110.3km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

110.3km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

110.4km away

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

127.7km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

135.2km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

135.2km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Old Caerlaverock Castle

Whitecleugh silver chain

58.5km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

80.1km away

Borland silver chain

80.7km away

Whitlaw silver chain

95.0km away

Haddington silver chain

118.6km away

Hoardweel silver chain

121.7km away

Traprain Law silver chain

122.9km away

Norrie's Law hoard

146.9km away

Dunnicaer fort

235.8km away
more Pictish sites....

Accommodation near Old Caerlaverock Castle

Cavens Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurantDumfries
8.5km away
Hetland Hall Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barCarrutherstown
9.4km away
Aston Hotel Dumfries
hotel, restaurant, barDumfries
9.8km away
Premier Inn Dumfries
hotel, restaurantDumfries
10.8km away
Moreig Hotel
hotelDumfries
11.7km away
The Rondo Guest House
hotelDumfries
11.8km away
The Queensberry
hotelDumfries
11.9km away
Cairndale Hotel and Leisure Club
hotelDumfries
11.9km away
Powfoot Golf Hotel
hotelPowfoot
11.9km away
Best Western Station Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDumfries
12.1km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Old Caerlaverock Castle

Cavens Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurantDumfries
8.5km away
Hetland Hall Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barCarrutherstown
9.4km away
Aston Hotel Dumfries
hotel, restaurant, barDumfries
9.8km away
Premier Inn Dumfries
hotel, restaurantDumfries
10.8km away
Best Western Station Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDumfries
12.1km away
Kirkconnel Hall Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEcclefechan
19.2km away
Best Western Dryfesdale Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLockerbie
20.7km away
Friars Carse Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurantAuldgirth
22.0km away
King's Arms Hotel, Castle Douglas
hotel, restaurant, barCastle Douglas
26.4km away
Trigony Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurantThornhill
31.0km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Inveraray Castle and standing stone
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
Dunbar harbour and castle
Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 14th of May 2010 at 2:00 pm. Updated on the 14th of April 2020 at 5:39 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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