Branxholme Castle

Branxholme Castle stands about 3 miles southwest of Hawick in the Scottish Borders. Historic Environment Scotland lists it as category A (LB13686, listed 16 March 1971), recording an original tower and barmkin from 1544 that was demolished in 1570 and rebuilt around a courtyard, of which the south range survives, though obscured by later additions from 1790 onward. Other historical accounts describe the surviving core as a five-storey, 16th-century tower house altered and incorporated into a later mansion.

The land was held by Clan Scott from 1420. The castle was burned by the Earl of Northumberland in 1532, rebuilt by 1547, and then deliberately slighted by the Scotts themselves in 1570 before English forces under the Earl of Sussex completed its demolition with gunpowder. Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch began reconstruction from 1571, finished by his widow Margaret Douglas in 1576.

The building was extensively remodelled in 1837 by the architect William Burn for the 5th Duke of Buccleuch. After standing empty for twelve years, it was restored from 2017 by Carol Shanley and Brian Desport and reopened as a family home, wedding venue, spa, cafe and guest accommodation, according to the current owners' own site.