Near East Linton on a rocky mound a few fragmented walls remain of
Markle castle, with the shell of a 1300's tower and a 1500's hall
house to the east forming a small courtyard. The entire site was
originally surrounded by a fortified ditch which helped highlight
it's position. There was a village of Markle. But it has long since
vanished, so too have the monastic buildings mentioned in early
accounts.
It was the Hepburns who first raised a tower of Markle in the
late 1300's. The Hepburns were descended from a Northumbrian knight
'Adam de Hepburne' who in 1271 was captured in battle by Lord
Dunbar, Earl of March. Later 'Hepburne' saved Lord Dunbar from a
wild horse and was rewarded by marrying Lord Dunbar's daughter and
becoming a Dunbar vassal Lord holding Hailes castle which
encompassed the lands of 'Merkill'. The Hepburns rose from
vassaldom in the 1400's to become powerful Lothian Lairds in their
own right, holding the castles of Hailes ,Markle, Waughton, a town
house at Haddington, St Martins and Nunraw tower. Branches of the
family in the 1500's held Bolton, Beanston, Humbie, Monkrigg,
Morham tower and Smeaton tower. This rise ended abruptly with James
Hepburn 4th Earl of Bothwell, 'Mary's Bothwell', third husband of
Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1567), chief instigator in the
assassination of Lord Darnley, Mary's second husband. After the
defeat of Mary's forces at Carberry hill and then Langside, Hepburn
fled to Scandinavia where he died insane in the prison of Dragsholm
castle. Hailes castle and Markle then passed to the Stewart Earls
of Bothwell.
Markle castle was attacked on two occasions. First in 1401 by
George Dunbar exiled owner of Dunbar castle with the aid of the
English Knight 'Hotspur' Percy. Secondly it was burnt in 1544 by
the Earl of Hereford's men during the wars of the 'Rough Wooing'
where by use of force the English hoped to bring about the marriage
of the infant Mary Queen of Scots to the English Prince Edward.
Markle is now a popular fishery and is usually host to a number
of anglers, especially at weekends. The castle walls will give some
cover but please be discreet when retrieving and replacing the
cache. You can drive almost right up to the castle, but for a
pleasant walk you could head over from the car park at Pencraig
Wood (there’s a cache there!) on the old A1, with its
excellent views across to Traprain Law (and there’s one here
too!)
Please note that this cache is not available at night. The
fishery is closed and secured at night and to avoid any
inconvenience please keep your visits to daylight hours and no
later than 8pm in the Summer. It is also helpful if you could let
the fishery office know that you are just visiting the castle. Your
co-operation would be very much appreciated.