Thirlestane Castle, old castle 510m SSW of Thirlestane

Heritage listing

Date Added 31/12/1977 Last Date Amended 31/08/2015 Type Secular: castle Local Authority Scottish Borders Parish Lauder NGR NT 56495 47389 Coordinates 356495, 647389 The monument is the remains of Old Thirlestane Castle and an area around it where associated buildings and enclosures formerly stood. The castle dates probably from the 13th to 15th centuries. It comprises an oblong tower with a secondary stair block to the SW. The S wall of the tower and the stair block survive as unroofed structures, standing two to three storeys high. To the W of the tower, the footings of two near-parallel building ranges are visible as low, grass-covered banks. To the S of the tower, two sub-rectangular enclosures are visible as low, turf-covered banks, and a larger, irregular enclosure lies N of the tower. A curvilinear bank to the S represents a potential kiln site. The monument stands 190m above sea level, occupying ground that slopes gently to the ESE. It is overlooked from the NW, but stands immediately above a steep scarp down to the Boondreigh Water, which lies about 200m to the ESE. The scheduled area is irregular on plan, to include the remains described above and an area around them in which evidence for the monument s construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. On the W side, the scheduling extends up to but excludes a drystone dyke with post-and-wire fence. The monument was first scheduled in 1977, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this. — The monument is the remains of Old Thirlestane Castle and an area around it where associated buildings and enclosures formerly stood. The castle dates probably from the 13th to 15th centuries. It comprises an oblong tower with a second

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.