Border Reivers at Tosson Tower

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 ...

The beacon monument on the hillside above Penrith marks the spot where warning fires were lit to let the surrounding farms know of impending reiving raids. The Castle itself, now mostly ruined, was constructed between 1399 and 1470 by Ralph Neville to defend the country against Scottish invaders and is now in the upkeep of English Heritage and is sited in a public park. Penrith is a good 30 miles from the Border in the North Lakes but the surrounding countryside was still a target for Scottish riders. In 1593 sixteen locals, mostly Huttons, were being robbed of sheep and horses while one Robert Wood’s house was broken into and two of his horses lifted. And the population weren’t immune to assaults from their own countrymen, either. In 1597, the powerful Lowther’s men attacked people coming from the town’s market, pulling them off their horses and robbing them. Henry Leigh, writing of the incident to Lord Scrope, said it was ‘as if hell had been broken loose.’ ...

Rockcliffe Castle was purpose built by Lord Dacre ‘for the readiness and defence of all services.’ The steward at Rockliffe was in charge of readying a fray at short notice and acted as a sort of passport control, where no Scotsman could pass beyond without licence. Rockcliffe was of such importance to the English West Marches in the 16 th century that its steward was described as key to ‘all the safety of the West part of the wardenry.’ The castle was constructed in 1522 by Sir Christopher Dacre and in 1603 was used to jail the notorious prisoners – ‘Robsey’ Robert Graham and Richard ‘Arthur’s Richie’ Graham. Rockliffe castle was demolished around 1659 with the stones from the building being used in the construction of the Old Hall in the village. While no remains can be seen of the old Castle today, there is a thousand-year-old Norse cross near the church of St. Mary’s.