Horsburgh Castle facts for kids
Horsburgh Castle is a fascinating old building that now stands in ruins. It's also known as Horsbrugh Castle or Horsbrugh Tower. This historic tower house is located right by the River Tweed in the beautiful Scottish Borders area of Scotland. You can find it near Glentress Forest on the A72 road, which connects Peebles to Galashiels.
The castle was built way back in the 16th century, which means it's over 400 years old! It was constructed by a family known as the Horsburghs. Today, only parts of the castle remain, showing us glimpses of its past.
Close to Horsburgh Castle, you'll find several small villages and interesting places. These include Over Horsbrugh, Nether Horsburgh, Kailzie, and Kailzie Gardens. There's even another ruined castle nearby called Nether Horsburgh Castle.
What's in a Name?
You might notice that the name of the castle is sometimes spelled differently. For example, some maps, like the Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 73, show it as Horsbrugh Castle. This map also mentions Horsbrugh Ford, which is a shallow place in a river where you can cross. However, the nearby village is called Nether Horsburgh.
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) lists the castle as Horsburgh Castle. But they also say that the name Horsbrugh Castle is correct. This is supported by the spelling of local farms and a special plaque on the castle ruins. This plaque is a memorial to a very important person named Florence Horsbrugh, Baroness Horsbrugh (1889-1969). She was a Baroness, which is a type of noble title, and a politician. Even with these differences, many people commonly call it Horsburgh Castle.
Protecting History
Horsburgh Castle is considered a very important historical site. Because of this, Historic Environment Scotland has given it a special status. It is now a scheduled monument. This means it is protected by law to make sure it is preserved for future generations to learn about and enjoy.
