Berwick Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Berwick Castle |
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| Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England | |
Berwick Castle 'Breakneck Path' and castle wall
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 Berwick Castle
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| Coordinates | 55°46′26″N 2°00′42″W / 55.7738°N 2.0116°W |
| Type | Motte and bailey |
| Site information | |
| Owner | English Heritage |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
| Events | Wars of Scottish Independence |
Berwick Castle is an old, ruined castle in Berwick-upon-Tweed, England. It's a cool historical spot in Northumberland. This castle has seen many important events over hundreds of years. It was often fought over by Scotland and England.
History of Berwick Castle
King David I of Scotland ordered Berwick Castle to be built around the 1120s. It was first a strong Scottish fortress.
In 1175, English forces took the castle. This happened because of a deal called the Treaty of Falaise. But then, King Richard I of England sold it back to Scotland. He needed money to pay for the Third Crusade, which was a big religious war, around 1190.
In November 1292, King Edward I of England's representatives came to Berwick. They announced in the castle's great hall who would be the next King of Scotland. King Edward chose John Balliol over Robert the Bruce.
English forces led by King Edward I took the castle again in March 1296. This was during the First War of Scottish Independence. However, Robert the Bruce's forces won the castle back for Scotland in April 1318.
In 1330, a Scottish leader named Robert de Lawedre was in charge of the castle. He was paid for his work when he left his job.
In 1464, records show that Robert Lauder of Edrington was paid to fix parts of Berwick Castle. The castle finally became English for good in August 1482. This happened after Richard III of England, then Duke of Gloucester, captured it from the Scottish Lord Hailes.
The castle became less important in the late 1500s. This was because new, stronger walls were built around the town of Berwick. These new walls were built during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
Over time, the castle started to fall apart. People even used its stones to build other things. For example, stones from the castle were used to build the local church, Holy Trinity.
Sadly, in 1847, the castle's Great Hall was pulled down. This was to make space for the Berwick-upon-Tweed railway station. Today, much of the castle is in ruins, but you can still see parts of its old walls.
Images for kids
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Berwick Castle 'Breakneck Path' and castle wall
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19th-century engraving of Berwick Castle by William Miller after J.M.W. Turner, with Berwick Old Bridge from 1624 in the background.
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Remains of the castle Curtain Wall (left) next to the Royal Border Bridge of 1850 over the River Tweed.
