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Berwick Castle was never merely a fortress; it was the hinge of the eastern Border, the key to the Tweed, and the most frequently contested stronghold in Britain. Its history is a sequence of captures, sieges, treaties, and political reversals that reflect the wider struggle between the two kingdoms.
Origins and Early Transfers (12th century)
- 1120s — Built by King David I of Scotland, establishing Berwick as a major Scottish royal burgh.
- 1175 — Handed to England under the Treaty of Falaise after William
the Lion’s capture.
- c.1190 — Sold back to Scotland by Richard I to
fund the Third Crusade.
These early exchanges set the pattern: Berwick was a bargaining chip, a pledge, and a prize.
The Wars of Independence: The Most Violent Century
1296 — Edward I’s Sack and Capture
In March 1296, Edward I stormed Berwick, taking both town and castle in
a brutal assault that opened the First War of Independence. From this point, Berwick became the English king’s northern headquarters.
1318 — Bruce’s Recapture Robert the Bruce
retook Berwick in April 1318 after a daring night assault led by Sir
James Douglas and Walter Stewart (though the castle itself fell after a
separate operation). This restored Scottish control for over a decade.
1333 — The Siege and the Battle of Halidon Hill
Edward III besieged Berwick to break Scotland’s Bruce‑aligned government. The Scots attempted relief, leading to the catastrophic defeat at Halidon
Hill. After the battle, Berwick Castle and town surrendered to England.
This moment begins a long English occupation, though Scottish attempts to retake the town continued intermittently.
Late Medieval Struggles and Repairs
14th–15th centuries
— A Garrisoned English Outpost
Throughout the 1300s and 1400s, Berwick Castle remained a heavily
fortified English base. Captains such as Robert Ogle (1435) are recorded
in command.
The Scottish Crown continued to fund raids and sieges, but none succeeded in permanently reversing the loss.
11464
— Scottish Repairs (during a brief Scottish phase)
The Exchequer Rolls note Robert Lauder of Edrington being paid for
repairs to the castle in 1464 — evidence of a short period of Scottish
control or shared authority.
1482 — Final English Conquest - In the last week of August 1482, Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III) captured Berwick Castle from Patrick Hepburn, 1st Lord Hailes.
This was the final transfer: Berwick remained in English hands
thereafter.
After the Battles: Decline and Transformation
- 16th century —
Obsolescence and the Elizabethan Ramparts Gunpowder artillery rendered the medieval castle increasingly obsolete. Under Mary I and Elizabeth I, England built the massive bastioned ramparts that still dominate the town’s defences today.
By the late 1500s, the castle itself was decaying; in 1590, a key tower collapsed in wet weather.
See also:
• Berwick - research requests
•
History of Berwick -
Contributed by Andrew Spratt
•
Treaty of Berwick, 1357
• Treaty of Berwick, 1560
•
Treaty of Berwick, 1586
Contributions:
The Douglas
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