Newbie Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newbie Castle |
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| Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland UK |
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Newbie Mains Farm. Site of Newbie Castle
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 Newbie Castle
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| Coordinates | 54°58′12″N 3°17′29″W / 54.97001°N 3.29144°W |
| Type | Tower house |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Newbie Mains Farm |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Demolished 1816. |
| Site history | |
| Built | By 1526 |
| Built by | Corrie |
| Materials | Stone |
The old Newbie Castle (also called Newbay Castle or Newby Castle) was once an important building near Annan in Scotland. It was located close to where the River Annan meets the Solway Firth. This castle was the main home for the Barony of Newbie. Over time, different families like the Corries and then the Johnstones owned it. A place called Newbie Harbour on the River Annan was also nearby.
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History of Newbie Castle
Newbie Castle was taken down around 1816. Its stones were used to build Newbie Mains Farm. Today, only a small piece of the castle wall remains.
Long ago, in the 1200s, a battle called Bruce's Acres happened near the castle. It is said that Robert the Bruce faced a tough fight against the English here. Later, old human bones and swords were found in a nearby area called Newbie Moss. This suggests that a battle really did take place there.
What Newbie Castle Was Like
Newbie Castle was likely a tower castle. It probably had a moat (a ditch filled with water) and a drawbridge. The castle was damaged several times during attacks. At one point, the owner used stones meant for a bridge to add a new part to the old tower.
An old pear tree, known as the 'Marquises Tree', was once in the castle garden. People say it was planted by one of the Marquises of Annandale. This tree is even marked on old maps from the 1800s and 1900s.
In 1859, two sets of stone coffins were found near the shoreline. They were close to Newbie Mains Farm. The Newbie Burn is a small stream that flows from Newbie Muir. It empties into the sea near Newbie Mains.
Newbie Mill
The Newbie Barony also had an old mill. It was powered by the Old Mill Burn, which came from Newbie Loch (a lake that is now drained). In the mid-1800s, this mill was quite large. It had three floors and was used for grinding wheat and corn. It was powered by water and had several grinding stones.
Who Owned Newbie Castle
Thomas Corrie of Kelwood and Newbie died in 1513. After this, the castle was sold to the Johnstone family. However, it took 24 years of legal battles for the Johnstones to fully own it. Sir James Johnstone, who bought the castle, ended up with many debts because of these lawsuits.
Later, the Barony of Newbie was owned by the Marquises of Annandale. They were also part of the Johnstone family. The history of the castle's owners is a long story of family disagreements and legal fights.
Newby Harbour
Newby Harbour was a small inlet near the River Annan. Old maps from the early 1800s show it. The Old Mill Burn flowed into the River Annan at this harbour.
Over time, the harbour area filled up with mud and sand. This happened because stone piers were built on the river. These piers changed how the water flowed. They helped keep a deep channel for ships going to Annan Harbour. We don't know much about what the harbour was used for. However, before a bridge was built, a boat would have been needed to cross the River Annan easily.
Images for kids
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Site of the old Newbie Harbour
