Langton Castle facts for kids
Langton Castle was an old fortress in Scotland, near the town of Duns in Berwickshire. Today, almost nothing is left of this medieval castle. It was once a very important building in the area.
Who Owned Langton Castle?
The first known owners of Langton Castle were the Vipont family. But in 1330, the castle and its lands changed hands. This happened when Sir Alexander de Cokburne married Maria de Vipont, who was an heiress. After this marriage, the castle became the main home for the Cockburn family of Langton. They lived there for many centuries, until 1745.
Important People at Langton Castle
From 1389 to 1396, a man named Sir Alexander Cockburn of Langton held a very important job. He was the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. This meant he was in charge of the official seal used to approve important documents for the King or Queen of Scotland.
In 1517, there was a disagreement over who should inherit the castle. William Cockburn and his brother-in-law, David Home, attacked the castle. They surrounded it, trying to take control. A French official named Antoine d'Arces, who was helping the Scottish Regent, tried to settle the argument. However, William Cockburn and David Home stopped their attack on the castle. Instead, they attacked and killed Antoine d'Arces near Preston. They even showed his head in the town of Duns.
Mary, Queen of Scots herself visited Langton Castle in 1566. This shows how important the castle was at that time.
The End of Langton Castle
In 1745, a member of the Cockburn family who owned Langton Castle was killed in a battle in Europe called the Battle of Fontenoy. After this, the estate was sold. In 1758, a man named David Gavin bought the land.
Mr. Gavin decided to tear down Langton Castle. He also had the nearby village of Langton demolished. He wanted to build a new, grand house in its place. The people who lived in Langton village had to move. They were relocated to a new village that was built for them, which was named Gavinton.
David Gavin married Lady Elizabeth Maitland. Their daughter, Mary, later married John Campbell. His descendant later tore down the house Mr. Gavin built. In 1886, a final Langton House was built, designed by the architect David Bryce. However, this last house was also demolished in 1950. Today, only a fancy gateway remains from all these buildings.
