Castles of Clan Kerr

Ferniehirst Castle
Ferniehirst Castle, located near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders, was the ancestral seat of the Kerrs of Ferniehirst. Built around 1470, it became one of the most important Border strongholds and was known for its left-handed spiral staircase—fitting for the famously left-handed Kerr warriors. It was sacked by the English in 1523 and later retaken by Sir John Kerr with French support in 1549. The castle was restored in the 19th and 20th centuries and remains in the hands of the Marquesses of Lothian. It features turrets, battlements, and thick defensive walls typical of a fortified Border tower.

Cessford Castle
Cessford Castle, near Kelso, was the stronghold of the Kerrs of Cessford, later Dukes of Roxburghe. Built in the 15th century, it was one of the largest and strongest castles in the Scottish Borders. It was attacked and burned multiple times during the Anglo-Scottish wars but was always rebuilt by the powerful Kerr family. The castle was abandoned in the 17th century when the family moved to Floors Castle. Its towering ruins still stand, surrounded by the remains of curtain walls and a defensive ditch.

Floors Castle
Floors Castle, just outside Kelso, became the principal seat of the Kerrs of Cessford when the Dukedom of Roxburghe was established. Built in 1721 by architect William Adam, it was later expanded in the 19th century by William Playfair into a grand baronial mansion. Though not a defensive castle, it reflects the clan’s elevation to aristocracy. The house features turrets, formal gardens, and a famous art collection. It remains the residence of the Duke of Roxburghe.

Newbattle Abbey
Newbattle Abbey, near Dalkeith in Midlothian, was granted to the Kerrs after the Reformation and became the seat of the Marquesses of Lothian. Originally a Cistercian monastery, it was converted into a private residence in the late 16th century. The Kerrs rebuilt and expanded it over the centuries into a grand house surrounded by parkland. The estate remained with the family into the 20th century. Today, it serves as an educational institution and retains traces of its ecclesiastical and baronial past.

Kersland Castle
Kersland Castle, near Dalry in North Ayrshire, was the seat of the Kerrs of Kersland, a cadet branch of the clan. Built in the 15th century, the L-plan tower was occupied until the late 1600s. Only a portion of the lower structure survives, now part of a farmhouse. The Kersland family were involved in religious and political affairs, particularly during the Covenanter period. The site is remembered locally for its long Kerr heritage.

Nisbet House
Nisbet House near Duns was purchased by the Kerrs in the 17th century and became the residence of a cadet branch of the family. Originally built by the Nisbet family around 1630, the house combines defensive features with Renaissance elegance. The Kerrs lived here for nearly 300 years before it was sold. The house was restored in the 20th century and is now privately owned. Its architecture reflects a mix of fortified house and classical influences.

Littledean Tower
Littledean Tower, located near St Boswells in the Borders, was held by the Kerrs in the 15th and 16th centuries. It guarded a key crossing of the River Tweed and served as a defensive watchpoint. The tower is now a ruin but still displays its thick stone walls and parts of the spiral stair. Folklore associates it with local hauntings and hidden treasure. It was a lesser-known but strategically important Kerr outpost.

Corbet Tower
Corbet Tower, near Morebattle, was a stronghold of the Kerrs of Corbethouse, a cadet line of the Cessford branch. Acquired in the early 1500s, it stood in a commanding position above the Kale Water. The tower was the site of local feuds and clashes with neighboring families like the Rutherfords. Though ruined today, it remains a visible landmark. Only portions of the structure survive, overgrown and part of the surrounding farmland.

Gateshaw Tower
Gateshaw Tower, also near Morebattle, was a Kerr holding in the 16th century. Likely built as a small peel tower, it guarded a northern approach from England. The tower was part of the Kerr network of reiver fortifications across the Borders. No visible remains exist today, but the estate name survives. It reflects the clan’s extensive landholding and defensive strategy in the Marches.

Castles Loosely Associated with Clan Kerr

Roxburgh Castle
Roxburgh Castle, located near Kelso, was a royal fortress destroyed in 1460. Though never owned by the Kerrs, it gave its name to the Dukes of Roxburghe, the title held by the Cessford branch. The ruins lie near Floors Castle, the current family seat. The Kerrs inherited the surrounding lands, tying the historic site to their lineage. Only grassy mounds and low wall remains are visible today.

Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle, though never a Kerr residence, was commanded by Lord Mark Kerr during the 1745 Jacobite Rising. As governor, he held the castle against the Jacobites while the city was briefly occupied. The event highlights the Kerrs’ military role in national affairs. The current castle dominates Edinburgh from Castle Rock. It is one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks.

Redcastle (Black Isle)
Redcastle, on the Black Isle near Inverness, is associated with Clan Kerr through military action. In 1649, a Covenanter force led by Colonel Kerr attacked and partially destroyed the castle during the Civil War. The action was part of a campaign against Royalist Mackenzies. Though the Kerrs never held it, the castle was touched by their involvement. It now stands as a ruin overlooking the Beauly Firth.

References

Coventry, M. (2010). The Castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s Castles. London: Batsford.
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Castle Records and Listings.
Maxwell-Irving, A. M. T. (2014). The Border Towers of Scotland. Stroud: The History Press.
Clan Kerr Society. (n.d.). History and Heritage of Clan Kerr.
RCAHMS. (n.d.). National Monuments Record of Scotland.