Border Reivers

Bastle

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A bastle was a defended building, named after the ‘bastilles’ of France - protected places. Bastles were likely to be owned by the Headsman of a Surname, and fairly wealthy farmers.

Bastles were rectangular buildings of stone, with two storeys. The walls were about one metre thick, making the bastle very strong. Bastles were often built within view of another bastle so that the alarm could be raised and help called for from surrounding families.

Many of the bastles that still stand today were built in the 17th Century, after James VI of Scotland became James I of England in 1603. They reflect both the local suspicion of the new peace and unity, and also the increased wealth available once raids became much less common.