434 Mr Tate on Harhottle Castle. 



their gfoods from the incomes of thefts and spoils continually 

 and nightly attempted and enterprised in these parts by the 

 Tyndale, Redesdale, and other Scots thieves, brought and 

 conducted into these parts for such evil purposes by the said 

 Tyndales and Redesdales, so that the countries adjoining 

 these dales suffer as much as other countries, adjoining the 

 Scottish Borders." 



Such was the abnormal condition of the district, which 

 caused the wardens of the marches and other officials to report 

 on the state of Harhottle Castle, and to urge repeatedly, that 

 it be repaired and strengthened. In 1523, it is said to be in 

 sore decay in timber, lead, and walls. An important survey 

 was made under royal authority, by Bellysys, Collingwood, and 

 Horsley, which gives the fullest account of the state of the 

 castle ;* and, as we wander round the ruins, to note the 

 architectural character of this ancient stronghold, we sliall 

 take that survey with us, and refer also occasionally to subse- 

 quent reports made by Parr, Bowes, and Ellerker. 



This castle stood proudly on the south bank of the Coquet 

 near to Harhottle burgh, on a hill Avhich was steeply scarped 

 on all sides, excepting a portion on the east. Built as we 

 have seen about 1160, it had, like most Norman castles a don- 

 jon or keep, a barbican or entrance gateway, an inner and an 

 outer bailey, enclosed by curtain walls which were strength- 

 ened by mural towers. Around the keep was a fosse, and 

 around the whole enceinte was another deep fosse which was 

 crossed by a draw-bridge. All these arrangements are similar 

 to those of Alnwick Castle ; but the keep of Harhottle was 

 much smaller, and not round but quadrangular. Outside of 

 the entrance gateway was a barmekyn, an outer defence 

 chiefly for the protection of cattle. 



On the south side stood the keep, on a conical hill, rising 

 steeply out of the hill on w^hich the other parts of the castle 

 were placed, — probably the mote hill of the older inhabitants. 

 Of small extent is the area on the top, so that the erections 

 there, though high, were never of great extent. According to 

 the survey, the hall, of which the foundations remain, was 

 48 feet long and 30 feet broad, the roof of which was " evell 

 covered with slate ;" but the walls had been in fair condition, 

 as only 13s. 4d. are set down " to pynde them with ston 

 and rowthe cast with lime." Here was the chamber in which 



* This survey is in the. Record Office, but a copy of it is printed in Harts- 

 horne's Feudal aud Military Antiquities, p. 57-59. 



