What is recorded here
Cousland Castle began as a St Clair hunting lodge before passing through Ruthven, Herries and Stair hands, suffering fire in 1529 and military damage after Pinkie. Its vaulted tower still marks the north-east corner of a square garden whose thick walls survived the loss of the later house. The place may have held a chapel or even a nunnery, but what remains is a borderland of stone, memory and disputed ownership.
Scotland's National Record of the Historic Environment records Cousland Castle as Castle (medieval), Chapel (period Unknown), Garden (17th Century), House (16th Century), Nunnery (medieval)(possible). The official map says its point is accurate as follows: NGR given to the nearest 1m. The record does not by itself mean that the public may enter the place.
Cousland Castle was built by the de Vaux family in the 12th century and later held by the Crichton family in the 14th century. It is remembered for its strategic importance in the Borders region and its association with the Crichtons, a powerful noble family in Scottish history.
The historic-place record does not grant public access. Check current conditions and ownership before entering land or a building.
Places near here
CouslandDitch (medieval), Drain (medieval), Organic Material (bone)(period Unassigned), Unidentified Pottery(s) (medieval) · 124 yd
HadfastCropmark(s) (period Unknown) · 896 yd
Pencaitland Railway WalkVisitor information · 947 yd
Hadfast Valley Wildlife ReserveNature reserve · 1212 yd
Cousland ParkDitch (post Medieval) · 1538 yd
Carberry Tower, Garden, SundialSundial (17th Century) · 1.1 mi
Carberry TowerCountry House (17th Century) - (19th Century), Tower House (16th Century) · 1.2 mi
Cowden Bog WoodForest · 1.2 mi
Falside CastleDovecot (17th Century), House (17th Century), Tower House (medieval) · 1.6 mi
Whitehill, Whitehill VillageNo Class (event) (21st Century) · 1.8 mi
St Clement's WellsNo Class (event) (period Unassigned) · 1.8 mi
War MemorialMemorial · 2.6 mi