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Caerlaverock Castle is a medieval fortress located in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, notable for its distinctive triangular or delta-shaped plan and impressive red sandstone construction. The castle was founded in the late 13th century, with the earliest fortifications dating to around 1290, and it served as an important stronghold for the Maxwell family, who held the lordship of the region. The castle's physical layout comprises a substantial curtain wall with corner towers, a gatehouse, and associated domestic buildings arranged around a central courtyard, with evidence of harbour facilities reflecting its strategic position near the Solway Firth. Caerlaverock underwent significant modifications and repairs throughout the medieval and early modern periods, including damage and reconstruction following Scottish Wars of Independence conflicts, and the castle remained an important seat of power for the Maxwells until it was severely damaged during the English Civil War.
Caerlaverock Castle and Old Castle,castles,courtyards and harbour is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90046. View the official record →
Caerlaverock Castle is a medieval fortress located in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, notable for its distinctive triangular or delta-shaped plan and impressive red sandstone construction. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90046.
Caerlaverock Castle and Old Castle,castles,courtyards and harbour dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a castles,courtyards and harbour. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Caerlaverock Castle and Old Castle,castles,courtyards and harbour is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM90046.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Ward Law, prehistoric enclosure and roundhouse 360m WSW of (1.3 km), Ward Law, fort and Roman camp (1.4 km), Isle Tower, 400m NNE of Bankend (3.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Caerlaverock Castle and Old Castle,castles,courtyards and harbour's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Caerlaverock Castle and Old Castle,castles,courtyards and harbour stands on Stewartry Group, bedrock that formed in the Early Permian. The rock here is sandstone, breccia and conglomerate.