Clan Rising
Jedburgh Castle today

Scotland · Demolished

Jedburgh Castle

Jedburgh Castle was a medieval fortress at Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders that was demolished in 1409. In the 19th century a prison was built on the same site; today the castle no longer survives above ground and the jail building occupies the location.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1100

Its prime

1300

Today

Demolished

As it stood in 1300

What Jedburgh Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact, coursed-stone fortress set immediately behind a low curtain wall with regular crenellated parapets and an arched ground-level gateway. A rectangular, multi-storey keep rises behind the curtain, with at least one smaller projecting tower visible, and narrow slit windows pierced through the masonry. The stone is pale grey and the approach is directly across the town churchyard and its rows of gravestones; the castle at prime is fully roofed and intact.

Its story

The story of Jedburgh Castle.

Jedburgh Castle stood at Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders, and was fought over during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Its end came from its own side: in 1409 the castle was demolished by the Scots, commanded by Sir James Douglas of Balvenie.

Nothing of the medieval fortress survives above ground. In 1820 construction began on the site of a reform prison built on the John Howard system, and that jail building occupies the castle's location today.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1300.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Jedburgh Castle, including 1 interior: view into the inner ward through the gateway. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the churchyard pathExterior of the arched gateway in the curtain wallWalk along the curtain wall parapetView into the inner ward through the gatewayBase of the rectangular keepSmall projecting tower on the curtain

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Questions about Jedburgh Castle

What is the history of Jedburgh Castle?

Jedburgh Castle was a medieval fortress first raised in the 12th century. It stood at Jedburgh and was fought over during the Wars of Scottish Independence. In 1409, the Scots commanded by Sir James Douglas of Balvenie demolished it. A reform prison based on the John Howard system was then built on the site, with construction starting in 1820.

Why was Jedburgh Castle built, and what was it used for?

Jedburgh Castle was built as a medieval fortress. It was fought over during the Wars of Scottish Independence, showing its military purpose. After the castle was demolished in 1409, the site’s use changed: construction of a reform prison based on the John Howard system began in 1820.

What is inside Jedburgh Castle?

Inside Jedburgh Castle, the documented view is into the inner ward through the gateway. The surviving site does not provide a list of rooms or interior features of the medieval fortress. The jail building now occupies the location of the castle, and opened to the public as Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum.

Where is Jedburgh Castle?

Jedburgh Castle is at Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. Jedburgh is the nearest town named in the site description, while the castle is also described as being at Jedburgh in Scotland. The site stood immediately behind a low curtain wall and was approached across the town churchyard.

When was Jedburgh Castle built?

Jedburgh Castle was built in the 12th century, with the first raising dated to 1100. The site’s recorded prime year is 1300, placing its described intact, roofed form in the 14th century. No separate construction phases for the medieval fortress are given.

Was Jedburgh Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Yes, Jedburgh Castle was fought over during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The supplied history does not give dates for individual attacks or sieges, nor does it state which side held the castle in each encounter. Its final destruction came in 1409, when the Scots demolished it.

What did Jedburgh Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Jedburgh Castle was a compact, pale-grey, coursed-stone fortress. A rectangular multi-storey keep rose behind a low curtain wall with regular crenellated parapets, an arched gateway and at least one smaller projecting tower. Narrow slit windows pierced the masonry, and the fortress was fully roofed and intact.

Is Jedburgh Castle still standing?

Jedburgh Castle is no longer standing and is not a surviving ruin. The medieval fortress was demolished in 1409, and nothing of it survives above ground. A jail building constructed on the site occupies the location today; it was restored to an 1820s appearance in 1968.

Can you visit Jedburgh Castle?

Yes, the site of Jedburgh Castle can be visited as Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum. The jail building opened to the public and features local history displays. It occupies the location of the demolished medieval fortress, rather than preserving the castle above ground.

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