The Neidpath Castle located in Peebles, Scotland was most likely constructed for the Sheriff, Sir William de Haya. During 1686 it became the property of the Earl of March, who upgraded the surrounding grounds with orchards of trees and vast garden expanses. Until the middle of the sixteenth century the castle was name, Jedderfield. This was one of the few structures that managed to escape destruction by the armies and the attacks of Oliver Cromwall for a very long time.
When the firing of a cannon finally did the castle in, it was given up and surrendered. After the castle was purchased by the Duke of Queensbury partial repairs were made. However not long following the castle fell into disrepair and ruin. The trees were cut down and the gardens were neglected and became over grown. By the year of 1790 a section of the tower in the upper wings collapsed. Since that time period the many have traveled to the town, staying in the best of Peebles hotel, such as William Wordsworth, and Sir Walter Scott.
In modern days it has been a favorite movie shoot location, most recently the site for shots in Merlin, Joan of Arc and The Bruce. Neidpath is owned by a private family today. Usually the towers of castles throughout Scotland are square, but unusually, the towers of the Neidpath Castle are not so. Each wing of the castle is in the shape of a parallelogram, with rounded rather than square corners. Hand mortar was used during the construction of the castle, another rarity not found often in Scotland architecture.
It is presumed that the castle is constructed in the style of the Norman’s, very similar to the Tower of London. The mortar is so hard and dense, that during the seventeenth century, a stair way was carved out of one of the walls, which caused no damage to the rest of the structure. Amazing castles dot the landscape of Scotland, creating a mystical and dramatic view for travelers visiting the United Kingdom for the first time.