Bedrule Castle
Bedrule Castle is a 13th‑century ruined castle in the Rule Valley of the Scottish Borders, built by the Comyns and later held by the Douglases and the Turnbulls. The earthwork site on a bluff above the Rule Water preserves the footprints of an oval curtain wall, multiple circular towers and a central keep; excavations and geophysics have revealed wall lines and robbed masonry but the castle was abandoned in the 16th century.
Its prime
1540
Today
Ruin
As it stood in 1540
What Bedrule Castle looked like in its prime.
Perched on a partially artificial bluff with Rule Water along its western foot, the castle in its prime formed an oval enclosure roughly 200 by 130 feet, defined by a continuous stone curtain wall. Two towered gatehouses guarded a northwest entrance; circular towers stood at the southeast end and at west and southwest points, with corresponding towers on the northeastern side. A rectangular keep occupied the western interior, and the enclosure contained houses and subsidiary yards; masonry comprised cut facing stones and rubble walling.
Its story
The story of Bedrule Castle.
Bedrule Castle was built in the 13th century by the Comyn family on a bluff above the Rule Water in the Scottish Borders. Edward I stayed a night at 'Rule' on 30 September 1298, after the Battle of Falkirk, on his way to besiege Jedburgh Castle. When the Comyn lands were forfeited in 1306 the castle passed to the Douglas family, who made the Turnbulls their tenants.
The Turnbulls of Bedrule earned a notorious name — David Hume of Godscroft describes Border lairds reluctant to sign a band joining "the lawless and notorious Turnbulls of Bedrule". In 1516 they joined Lord Home in rebellion against Regent Albany, and the young James V issued a remission that November naming several of the family. On 19 April 1570, during the Marian Civil War, "Bedrowell, a howse of Sir Andrew Trumble" was burnt by an English army under the Earl of Sussex; Lord Hunsdon noted it was the first house Leonard Dacres took for his succour when he fled England.
The castle was abandoned in the 16th century. On the earthwork site above the Rule Water, excavation and geophysical survey have traced wall lines and robbed masonry — the footprint of an oval curtain wall, multiple circular towers and a central keep.
Step inside
8 places to explore in 1540.
The record describes 8 distinct spots at Bedrule Castle — including 2 interiors: central keep and inner courtyard, inner courtyard with houses and enclosures. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Create History
Recreate Bedrule Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1540 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate this castle →Whose castle
Clans who held Bedrule Castle.
The families that held Bedrule Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
Comyn
Built by the Comyns in the 13th century and held until their lands were forfeited in 1306.
Passed to the Douglas family on the Comyn forfeiture of 1306.
Turnbull
Tenants of the Douglases from the early 14th century; "Bedrowell, a howse of Sir Andrew Trumble" was burnt by the English in 1570.
