Bewcastle Castle

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The fairly substantial stone ruins of Bewcastle Castle stand on private ground near the Demense Farm, though permission may be obtained to view it from a nearby path by asking.
Built on the site of an earlier Roman fort, Bewcastle was first constructed from timber in around 1092 before stone from the Roman site was recycled into the castle as it was more solidly constructed in around 1350.
The Musgrave family were constables of the castle during the reiver period and in 1596 John Musgrave led a number of large raids over the border including a fray of 2,000 men to Auchinbetrig in the Debateable Land where they drove away 200 nolt.
He also took 500 men to a raid on John Armstrong of Gilnockie’s land where they lifted 300 kye and oxen and 24 score sheep, so they weren’t afraid to flex their muscles. When Armstrong’s bill for the raid appeared at Carlisle, he’d inflated it to 400 kye and oxen, 20 horses, 10 score sheep, gold and money of a high value and ‘insight’ – his other goods. Whether it was an early example of an over-inflated insurance claim or not we’ll never know.
But Bewcastle was also ridden upon and in 1581 Sir Simon Musgrave complained that the Elliots and Crosers had taken cows, oxen and prisoners and a year later the Armstrongs of Mangerton burned his mill.

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