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Caerlaverock Castle is 8 miles south of
Dumfries, 22 miles west of Gretna, on
the B725 road, built from the 1200s for the
Maxwell Clan.
The Castle can be visited 1 April - 30
September every day 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, and 1
October - 31 March every day 10.0 am to 4.00
pm. Small charge to enter. Postcode: DG1
4RU
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Caerlaverock Castle is a triangular shaped
Castle built in the 1200s for the Maxwell
family. It has a moat all round and is next to
the vast Solway Firth body of water, that also
helped protect the Castle.
The area by the Castle at the Solway is now
a Nature Reserve.
The Castle has a visitor centre with a small
shop, cafe, and museum with a film about the
siege of Caerlaverock Castle in 1300, also
period costumes to dress up in for photos.
Caerlaverock Castle History
1220 - Alexander II of Scotland granted
these lands to Sir John Maxwell, leading to one
of the first stone Castles to be built in the
area.
That square Castle may not have been
completed, as work on the present Castle began
soon after on a more secure spot a short
distance north. Little remains of the original
Castle.
1270s - Caerlaverock Castle was completed
for Sir Aymer Maxwel.
1296 – 1328 - the Scottish Wars of
Independence are fought, involving most
Scottish Clans and Castles.
1299 - soldiers from Caerlaverock Castle
attacked Lochmaben Castle, 17 miles north,
which was under control of English forces.
1300 July - King Edward I of England led a
mighty army against Caerlaverock Castle. 60 men
inside the Castle managed to hold out for a
number of days before being forced to
surrender.
The Castle was damaged and changed hands a
number of times during the Scottish Wars of
Independence.
1373 to 1410 - Sir Robert Maxwell rebuilt
much of the Castle.
1450s? - the Gatehouse was
reconstructed.
1567 - the Catholic Maxwell's fought for
Mary, Queen of Scots after her forced
abdication.
1570 - Caerlaverock was besieged and
extensively damaged by an English Protestant
force.
1593 - John, 8th Lord Maxwell, repaired the
Castle so it could be used for defense against
their neighbour's and long time enemy, the
Johnstones of Annandale.
1593 - the 8th Lord Maxwell was killed by
the Johnstones during a fight at Dryfe Sands by
Lockerbie 17 miles north.
1602 to 1605 - the 9th Lord Maxwell killed a
number of Johnstones until peace was agreed
between the two Clans.
1619 - Robert, 10th Lord Maxwell, was
created Earl of Nithsdale and appointed to the
Privy Council of Scotland.
1630s - Robert had Nithsdale Lodge built
inside the Castle with a reanaissance facade,
and intricate carvings.
1640 - Caerlaverock Castle was captured and
partially destroyed by a Protestant Covenanter
army after a 13 week siege.
The Castle was never repaired or lived in
from that time.
Covenanters
were fighting against King Charles I who had
tried to change the way Scottish Churches were
run, leading to the Bishops Wars, Wars of the
Three Kingdoms, and English Civil War.
1946 - Caerlaverock Castle was taken over by
Historic Environment Scotland to serve as a
visitor attraction.
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