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Renton Peel

Renton Peel once stood a short distance to the north-east of Renton House, but nothing of it now remains.

In the 11th century the “mansio of” Renton was granted by King Edgar to the monks of Coldingham Priory which was under the authority of the Church of Durham. The area was forested at the time and the family who resided at Renton had, by the reign of William the Lion, become hereditary foresters responsible for the woods of Renton, Reston, Brockholewood, Akeside, Kirchedeneswood, Harewood, Swinewood and Houndwood. The family took the name Renton, although some apparently also used the surname of Forester.

When the earliest castle was built at Renton is unknown, as is what form it took. It’s possible that its earliest incarnation was built from wood and may date back to the 11th or 12th centuries. This building would likely have been replaced at a later date with a stone structure.

The site of the castle is on rising ground to the north of the Eye Water, approximately halfway between the Howpark Burn to the west and the Atton Burn to the east. It may not immediately seem like a particularly good defensive position, with higher ground to the north of it, however the valley below was, and still is, a major route between Scotland and England and the castle would have overlooked it.

A Richard of Renton is mentioned in documents dating to the first half of the 13th century as being married to Mariota of Chirnside, with whom he had a son, Patrick. The “villa of Renton” is mentioned in various 13th and 14th century documents, however during the 15th century the male line of the Rentons of Renton died out. In 1498 the female heir married into the family of Ellem and the barony of Renton passed into that family. Other branches of the Rentons had acquired property in the surrounding area, and the Rentons of Billie are mentioned in charters in the 15th and 16th centuries, and the Rentons of Lamberton from the 16th century.

Given its position close to the border with England it is unsurprising that the castle at Renton featured heavily in the wars of the 15th and 16th centuries. It was razed in 1515 and again on the 17th of May 1544 when the English army of the Earl of Hertford destroyed it on their way to Berwick.

The male line of the Ellems of Renton died out upon the death of David Ellem of Renton, and in 1558 his daughter Janet married Patrick Home of Killknow, son of Alexander Home of Manderston, at which point Renton passed to the Home family.

I have been unable to establish if Renton Peel was rebuilt after 1544, however Renton appears on 17th century maps suggesting it was still a place of some importance. It should be noted however that the village of Renton stood to the north-west of the castle and it may be this which is being referenced, although Blaeu’s tower symbol is used.

Mercia, vulgo vicecomitatus, Bervicensis / auct. Timothei Pont. Merce or Shirrefdome of Berwick.
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1654map image courtesy of NLS

Renton House was built a few hundred metres to the west, possibly in the early 18th century. Whether or not it replaced an earlier house is unclear. A sundial carved with the date 1715 has led to the suggestion that Renton House was built in this year.

By this time Renton Peel was certainly in ruins and the last remains of the tower were removed in the 18th century during improvements, presumably related to the landscaping of the new house’s grounds.

When Sir John Home of Renton died in 1785 the title and lands of Renton were inherited by his cousin Sir Alexander Stirling of Glorat. Alexander’s mother, Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Sir Alexander Home of Renton, had married Sir John Stirling, third son of Sir George Stirling of Glorat. Renton remained a Stirling property until the 20th century.

In 1956 a large stone, said to be from Renton Peel, occupied the site but that now seems to have gone. All that remains to identify the site of the castle is the slightest of indistinct mounds measuring approximately 18.0m in diameter.

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Alternative names for Renton Peel

Ranton; Ranynton; Raynton; Rayntoun; Regnintun; Reignintun; Rentoun; Rentown; Tower of Renton

Clans associated with Renton Peel

Home

Renton

Surnames associated with Renton Peel

Home

Renton

Stirling

Where is Renton Peel?

Renton Peel is in the parish of Coldingham and the county of Berwickshire.

Grid reference: NT 8237 6538

Lat / long: 55.881245, -2.2833797

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Renton Peel

OS map 346
Berwick-upon-Tweed (Eyemouth, Duns, St Abb’s Head & Cockburnspath)
OS Explorer map 346


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Directions to Renton Peel

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Weather at Renton Peel

12°C
max 12°C / min 12°C
10km/h W
1026mb
82%
99%
03:22 20:58

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Dunglass at 00:38
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References (books)

A History of Coldingham Priory
Alexander Allan Carr
Edinburgh, 1836
Caledonia (Volume 2)
George Chalmers
Paisley, 1887
The Sterling Genealogy (Volume 1)
Albert Mack Sterling
New York, USA, 1909
Village Kirks of the Borders of Scotland
James Denham
Raleigh, USA, 2013

References (websites)

Canmore
  • Ancestry UK

Castles near Renton Peel

Kilspindie Castle

2.7km away

Houndwood

3.9km away

Bowshiel Tower (site of)

4.5km away

Press Castle

4.7km away

Blackerstone (possible) (site of)

5.8km away

Lumsdaine (site of)

5.9km away

Cockburnspath Tower

5.9km away

Bunkle Castle

6.0km away

Heugh Head (site of)

6.0km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Renton Peel

The Chesters fort

3.1km away

Edin's Hall broch and fort

7.2km away

Cockburn Law fort

8.1km away

Broomhouse Mains souterrain

9.2km away

Castle Dikes fort

9.7km away

Aytonlaw fort

9.9km away

Duns Law fort

11.4km away

Broxmouth (site of) fort

17.1km away

The Chesters fort

18.4km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Renton Peel

The Coves, Caiplie Class I symbols

46.2km away

Crail Class III cross-slab

47.5km away

Abercrombie 1 Class III cross slab

48.6km away

Abercrombie 2 Class III cross slab

48.6km away

Abercrombie 3 Class III cross slab

48.6km away

Abercrombie 4 Class III cross slab

48.6km away

Largo Class II cross slab

55.3km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

57.0km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

57.0km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Renton Peel

Hoardweel silver chain

6.5km away

Traprain Law silver chain

25.8km away

Haddington silver chain

31.9km away

Whitlaw silver chain

36.8km away

Norrie's Law hoard

59.0km away

Borland silver chain

78.2km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

80.6km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

110.2km away

Dunnicaer fort

119.3km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Renton Peel

The Craw Inn
hotelReston
5.5km away
Old Linthill
self-cateringEyemouth
11.7km away
Allanton Inn
hotel, bar, restaurantDuns
11.8km away
Pavilion Lodge, Duns Castle
self-catering cottageDuns
11.8km away
Bank House, Duns
self-catering apartmentDuns
12.1km away
Groom's Cottage, Wedderburn Castle
self-catering cottageDuns
12.5km away
Keeper's Cottage, Wedderburn Castle
self-catering cottageDuns
12.5km away
West Lodge, Wedderburn Castle
self-catering cottageDuns
13.0km away
Garden Cottage, Wedderburn Castle
self-catering cottageDuns
13.0km away
SlowSheep@theLazyFox
bed and breakfastFoulden
14.1km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Renton Peel

Allanton Inn
hotel, bar, restaurantDuns
11.8km away
Hirsel Cottage Tea Room
caféColdstream
25.1km away
Castle Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantColdstream
25.7km away
Smeaton Nursery Gardens & Tearoom
caféEast Linton
26.4km away
The Courtyard Restaurant, Floors Castle
café, restaurantKelso
32.6km away
The Terrace Café, Floors Castle
caféKelso
33.0km away
Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barNorth Berwick
34.7km away
Ducks at Kilspindie House
hotel, restaurant, barAberlady
38.8km away
Gosford Bothy Farm Shop
caféAberlady
39.1km away
George & Abbotsford Hotel
hotel, barMelrose
41.7km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 12th of November 2011 at 4:50 pm. Updated on the 21st of May 2018 at 5:05 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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