Langton Castle
Encyclopedia
Langton Castle is a now destroyed medieval fortress at Langton, near the burgh of Duns
, Berwickshire
, Scotland
. Little remains of the structure.
Originally belonging to the Vipont
s, the castle and its estate passed to the Cockburns
in the early 14th century. The castle was then the caput
of the Cockburns of Langton
until 1745.
From 1389 to 1396, Sir Alexander Cockburn of Langton was the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland.
In a dispute over suceesion to the estate, the castle was besieged by William Cockburn and his brother in law, David Home of Wedderburn
in 1517. Antoine d'Arces, Sieur de la Bastie, the French deputy for Regent Albany, summoned Cockburn and Home to resolve the dispute. They in turn broke off the siege and ambushed Bastie near Preston
, there they slew him and displayed his head at the Mercat cross
of Duns.
Mary, Queen of Scots visited the castle in 1566.
In 1745, Cockburn of Langton was killed at the Battle of Fontenoy
and the estate was bought by a Mr David Gavin in 1758, whereafter the castle and the village of Langton were demolished to make way for a new mansion house. The villagers of Langton were relocated to the new village of Gavinton
. Gavin married Lady Elizabeth Maitland, daughter of James Maitland, 7th Earl of Lauderdale
, their daughter Mary married John Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane
whose descendant demolished the house and built a final Langton House in 1886 designed by David Bryce
. This last house was demolished in 1950 and only a decorative gateway remains.
Duns
Duns is the county town of the historic county of Berwickshire, within the Scottish Borders.-Early history:Duns law, the original site of the town of Duns, has the remains of an Iron Age hillfort at its summit...
, Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Little remains of the structure.
Originally belonging to the Vipont
Vieuxpont
Vieuxpont is the name of a significant family in the history of Westmorland. According to Thomas the name originated in France on or about 1066 as Vieuxpont - alternative spellings include Vieuxpont, Veteripont Vezpont, Veepon, Vexpont, Vipont, Vypont, Vispont, Vypunt, Vespont, Vipond, Vypond,...
s, the castle and its estate passed to the Cockburns
Cockburn (surname)
Cockburn, often , is a Scottish surname that originated in the Borders region of the Scottish Lowlands. In the United States most members of the same family have adopted the simplified spelling 'Coburn'...
in the early 14th century. The castle was then the caput
Caput baroniae
In English customs, the Caput baroniae was the ancient, or chief seat or castle of a nobleman, which was not to be divided among the daughters, in case there be no son to inherit. Instead, it was to descend entirely to the eldest daughter, caeteris filiabus aliunde satisfactis....
of the Cockburns of Langton
Cockburn Baronets
-Baronets Cockburn of Langton, Berwick:*Sir William Cockburn, 1st Baronet *Sir William Cockburn, 2nd Baronet *Sir William Cockburn, 3rd Baronet *Sir Archibald Cockburn, 4th Baronet...
until 1745.
From 1389 to 1396, Sir Alexander Cockburn of Langton was the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland.
In a dispute over suceesion to the estate, the castle was besieged by William Cockburn and his brother in law, David Home of Wedderburn
Wedderburn Castle
Wedderburn Castle, near Duns, Berwickshire, in the Scottish Borders, is an 18th century country house. It is the historic family seat of the Home of Wedderburn family, cadets of the Home family .-History:...
in 1517. Antoine d'Arces, Sieur de la Bastie, the French deputy for Regent Albany, summoned Cockburn and Home to resolve the dispute. They in turn broke off the siege and ambushed Bastie near Preston
Preston, Scottish Borders
Preston is a small village in the pre-1975 ancient county of Berwickshire, now an administrative area of the Scottish Borders region of Scotland....
, there they slew him and displayed his head at the Mercat cross
Mercat cross
A mercat cross is a market cross found in Scottish cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life. It was originally a place where merchants would gather, and later became the focal point of many town events such as executions, announcements and proclamations...
of Duns.
Mary, Queen of Scots visited the castle in 1566.
In 1745, Cockburn of Langton was killed at the Battle of Fontenoy
Battle of Fontenoy
The Battle of Fontenoy, 11 May 1745, was a major engagement of the War of the Austrian Succession, fought between the forces of the Pragmatic Allies – comprising mainly Dutch, British, and Hanoverian troops under the nominal command of the Duke of Cumberland – and a French army under Maurice de...
and the estate was bought by a Mr David Gavin in 1758, whereafter the castle and the village of Langton were demolished to make way for a new mansion house. The villagers of Langton were relocated to the new village of Gavinton
Gavinton, Berwickshire
Gavinton is a small settlement in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, south-west of Duns, the former county town of Berwickshire. The hamlet sits on a minor road off the A6105 Duns-to-Greenlaw road at .-History:...
. Gavin married Lady Elizabeth Maitland, daughter of James Maitland, 7th Earl of Lauderdale
James Maitland, 7th Earl of Lauderdale
James Maitland, 7th Earl of Lauderdale , and was one of the sixteen representative peers for Scotland in the House of Lords....
, their daughter Mary married John Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane
John Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane
Lieutenant-General John Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane FRS , known as John Campbell until 1782 and as The Earl of Breadalbane and Holland between 1782 and 1831, was a Scottish soldier and landowner....
whose descendant demolished the house and built a final Langton House in 1886 designed by David Bryce
David Bryce
David Bryce FRSE FRIBA RSA was a Scottish architect. Born in Edinburgh, he was educated at the Royal High School and joined the office of architect William Burn in 1825, aged 22. By 1841, Bryce had risen to be Burn's partner...
. This last house was demolished in 1950 and only a decorative gateway remains.