Time Team
Labouring for the Maxwells
Just 50 years ago his uncle, Sir John de Maccuswell, built a castle not 200 metres from here. Some say it wasn't to his liking, others that he could feel the spray from the Solway Firth a little too keenly. What no one doubted was its inspired location with the Irish Sea to one side, and a hundred acres of marshy willow woods all around the rest. This moss, as we call it here in South-west Scotland, is a God-given trap of ditches and marshes that would confound any enemy with its sights set on Caerlaverock.
Now it has come to the nephew to try to better what the older generation of Maxwells created and then so quickly abandoned. He has hired nigh on a thousand of us to build his dream fortress, from the likes of me, an unskilled woman labourer earning just sixpence a week, to my boss, the master mason on four shillings.
For his money, Maxwell will have the strongest castle in Scotland, or so he tells us every day. Certainly it will be a building that will not go unnoticed. They say the plans are for a triangle, three-sided, equilateral they say. It's to be a shield in shape, design and purpose here on this precious coast line, protecting Scotland from the invading English.
Together we will work for years, maybe as many as ten, assembling the quarried red sandstone into a fortress that never will be overcome. He's brought in folk from all parts: masons; quarrymen; woodcutters; smiths; miners and carpenters.
Already the carts, wagons and boats have set to work bringing the materials to Caerlaverock. Some of the wood we've taken from local woodland, but much of it has made a long journey, as have the coal, iron and tin which traveled from mines in England and Wales. Myself, I can scarce believe the scale of the thing, nor imagine the cost.
There is a rumour, though. They say Caerlaverock Castle will cost the Maxwells £10,000; more money than any decent man could begin to fathom. But if it keeps the English out of our homes and off our land, who could deny it will be money well spent?
The plans are good, the masons say. Tall defensive curtain walls will surround the main part of the castle, with towers built along. From their height the defenders will have a clear view of enemy forces and a perfect platform from which to bombard them.
It's to be round towers, too we've been told; much more stable than square if their foundations are rocked by siege engines. They say anything fired at a good round tower will just bounce straight off - and that is something I would like to see. Although, if the castle were ever under siege, I know where I'd like to be. The towers are the safe places which can be defended even if the castle itself has been breached.
But here at Caerlaverock, we shed blood, sweat and tears to be sure that will never happen. A broad moat is to be dug, so there'll be no climbing of the castle walls by English soldiers. If they dared make an attack on Caerlaverock the wooden drawbridge would be hoisted and the heavy wooden door at the main gate barred shut.
This is our shield; for many, our life's work, and in it we place our faith in each other, in our craftsmanship and in the Maxwells. Together, mason, labourer and nobleman we can build our defence here on the Solway Firth and let it be known that Caerlaverock will stand firm.