# Castle Holydean

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**Holydean Castle** (pronounced "hollydeen") was a castle sited near [Melrose](/source/Melrose,_Scottish_Borders) in [Bowden](/source/Bowden,_Scottish_Borders), 1.25 miles SW of the village, in the [Scottish Borders](/source/Scottish_Borders) region of [Scotland](/source/Scotland), and the former [Roxburghshire](/source/Roxburghshire).

The castle was founded by [King David I](/source/King_David_I). It was destroyed in 1276, rebuilt in 1530 by Dame Ker, and destroyed again by the 3rd [Duke of Roxburghe](/source/Duke_of_Roxburghe) in 1760. Very little of it now remains. This Norman castle was named after the Lords [Holydean](/source/Holydean), who were originally the deans of [Kelso Abbey](/source/Kelso_Abbey): monks who held great power in what was one of the largest feudal territories and most profitable regions of Scotland. The peerage title, barony, and castle eventually went to the [Kerrs](/source/Clan_Kerr) who were made [Earls of Roxburghe](/source/Duke_of_Roxburghe), and later Dukes.

Holydean Farm stands on the site of the old Holydean Castle. A stone block rescued from the castle now forms the lintel of the farmhouse doorway, and the castle well is still preserved. The castle's alternative name is Hobbie Ker's Well.

## References

- A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: *A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical*, edited by Francis H. Groome, originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

## External links

- [CANMORE/RCAHMS record of Holydean](http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/288198/details/holydean/)
- [RCAHMS record for Holydean Castle](http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=55731)
- [Geograph image: Farmland at Holydean, viewed from a track between Holydean Farm and Over Whitlaw Farm](https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1087003)

## E-book

- [Alexander Jeffrey, The history and antiquities of Roxburghshire and adjacent districts (Volume Four, pages 28 of 30](http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/alexander-jeffrey/the-history-and-antiquities-of-roxburghshire-and-adjacent-districts--volume--ffe/page-28-the-history-and-antiquities-of-roxburghshire-and-adjacent-districts--volume--ffe.shtml) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120304053433/http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/alexander-jeffrey/the-history-and-antiquities-of-roxburghshire-and-adjacent-districts--volume--ffe/page-28-the-history-and-antiquities-of-roxburghshire-and-adjacent-districts--volume--ffe.shtml) 4 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine

## See also

- [List of places in the Scottish Borders](/source/List_of_places_in_the_Scottish_Borders)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Castle Holydean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Holydean) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Holydean?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.