General Notes

REFN: 3649AN
REFN: P3650REFN: P2777
Sir William Borthwick of that ilk. Ambassador to England 1398-1415 ,
granted a charter of the lands of Borthwick, Selkirkshire by the Regent
A lbany 1410, hostage for safe return from England of James I of Scotland
1421, commissioner to treat for the King's release 1423. married a
daughter of Sir Thomas Hay of Lochorwart. [Burke's Peerage]
BORTHWICK CASTLE
Just over a mil e and a half south-east of Gorebridge, Midlothian.
Borthwick castle is one of the most impressive tower houses in Scotland
and at a height of 110 feet it i s the tallest.
Complete and largely unaltered during its 580 years, it was bui lt by Sir
James Borthwick (later Lord Borthwick) in 1420, on the site of an e arlier
motte castle known as Lochorwart, granted to him by James I. It is
U -shaped in plan and has walls up to 14 feet thick at lower levels. (Note
Jame s, 1st Lord Borthwick was son of William & Miss Hay)
[Note the first Lord Bort hwick was William-not James, and another site
states it was built by William in 1430]
Borthwick Castle is one of the most important historic buildings in
Scotland. It is a twin towered baronial keep, built by the first Lord
Borthw ick (conflicting sources say that is was built by Sir James
Borthwick,later L ord Borthwick, in 1420, or by Sir William Borthwick in
1430. Further research is required but I think it was probably built by
Sir William, who later beca me the first Lord Borthwick.)
One history says that the castle was built on th e site of an earlier
motte castle known as Lochorwart, granted to Lord Borthw ick by James I.
Another states that in about 1378 the Borthwicks acquired the Lothian
lands of Catcune, but before long they won from the Hays the much ri cher
property of Locherworth and there built about 1430 the majestic Borthwic k
Castle. Whether the "winning" of the land from the Hays was through James
I taking it from them and granting it to the Borthwicks I know not at
this s tage!