Fatlips Castle

Fatlips Castle sits on top of Minto Crags, looking out over Teviotdale. The tower has been known through the centuries as Mantoncrake Castle, Catslick Castle, Minto Castle and now most familiarly, as Fatlips Castle.

A few suggestions for this name are that Fatlips was the name given to a legendary spirit dwelling in Dryburgh Abbey, by a hermit woman who took up residence in the ruins of the abbey. She claimed that Fatlips stamped the moisture away from the ground where she slept with his heavy iron boots. This gave rise to the idea that Fatlips lived in medieval ruins. It is also suggested that one of the pleasures of a visit to Fatlips used to be that every gentleman, by privilege, kissed one of the ladies on entering the ruin. Also, there was once a goat supposedly nicknamed Fatlips on the Dunion, which warned of the approaching English by bleating loudly. Whatever the origin of the name, being unusual, Fatlips adds an aura of mystery and castle adds an air of importance.

There is evidence of an older fort nearby, possibly from the Bronze Age. Little is known of that fort or how the site was likely used during the Roman occupation. The site was used by the Turnbull Reivers from the mid-1300s through to the 1600s. In 1375, Walter Turnbull received a charter for the barony of Minto from David II, son of Robert the Bruce. Walter’s son, “Out with the sword”, John Turnbull, built the first of the second millennium towers on top of Minto Crags towards the end of the 1300s. That tower, which provided a distant view towards England, used bonfires to signal the occupants of Bedrule Castle, across the river Teviot to the south, of impending danger. The entrance to the tower leads to a vaulted basement with a spiral stair in one corner giving access to the other two storeys and a garret. A round cap house found at the garret leads to a corbelled parapet. The tower is 8.15 metres by 9.83 metres, and 17 metres tall.

The castle was destroyed in 1545 by Lord Hertford (Edward Seymour) sent by England’s King Henry VIII, who was pursuing Mary Queen of Scots betrothal to his son Edward VI. Fatlips was then acquired by Sir Gilbert Elliott in1705, whose family were to take the title of Earl of Minto. The castle was extensively restored in 1857 by Sir Gilbert and the interior was renovated by the architect Sir Robert Lorimer. The interior was further renovated in 1897-1898. It was used as a hunting lodge and private Elliott museum until about 1960. Since that time until very recently, the building fell into disrepair and was in ruins, worsening each year. Eventually, as there was not much roof left at all, the door was cemented closed to prevent people from entering and being injured.

Many years ago, Gemma Barnard set out to inform people of Fatlips’ peril and to raise awareness of its need for restoration. She grew up in the Bedrule area and used to climb the crags to the castle frequently, where she played and looked out across the beautiful Borders. Her efforts paid off when, in November 2011, H.E.S (Historic Scotland as it was called then) along with the Minto family took on the task of restoring Fatlips. The reconstruction of Fatlips in cooperation was done (as far as possible) to replicate the original structure. This included using the same types of materials for the roof and parapet, the stones were hand cut into the same shapes and sizes as the original parapet and local merchants participated in providing the materials used.

The castle, being a significant part of the Turnbull history, has long been a destination point for Turnbulls of the Borders and further afield. It was a dream for many that the castle would be restored and saved from destruction.

Further information from John Rogerson

In the restoration of Fatlips in 1898 the room on the first floor had a pitch pine ceiling which had the arms of the Earl of Minto painted on it and also carved bosses. I took the photo below in 1971; I had to lie on my back to take the photo with a time exposure. I believe it is the only one as the ceiling later collapsed due to water ingress. I remember going there in the 1970s and seeing the yett in place in the doorway and a muzzle loading cannon outside the castle, round its breach is the inscription: ASSVERVS KOSTER ME FECIT AMSTELRE DAMI 1637. The translation reads: “Ahasuerus Koster made me in Amsterdam 1637”. The breech end is enriched with Fleur-De-Lys. The inscription on the gun carriage reads “This gun was taken by Admiral Elliott 28 Feb 1760 from the French squadron commanded by Monsieur Thurot, in naval action off the Isle of Mann”.

There was a shed on the far side of the hill that housed horse-sleighs that possibly originated from Canada, which is where the late Lord Minto’s first wife was from. There was also a fine example of a trap made by Croall and Croall of Edinburgh, which was a famous firm of coachbuilders, probably the best in Scotland. The shed also housed a Native American canoe which had fallen into disrepair due to a leak in the roof. There used to be a wooden chalet on the left side of the hill, which was used by the late Lord Minto’s wife and many members of the public as a place for picnics. I believe it burned down as no trace remains.