NY934753/Traces/Private Residence (view available from Public Footpath)

Above the Dry Burn, Roger Widdrington in 1346 had been granted a licence to crenellate his house at West Swinburne.This was noted in 1415 as a fortalice, held by Sir John Widdrington. it had an enclosing curtain wall by 1479. Described as in decay by 1541 and as a large but roofless tower. In 1596 Sir Robert Kerr broke into the castle and released James Young, who had been imprisoned as part of a feud. The hall which replaced this tower is now itself gone having been built around 1600. It was confiscated from the Royalist Sir William Widdrington in 1652 and sold to Gilbert Crouch . It was sold again in 1678 to Thomas Riddell. It was recorded as "an ancient pile" in 1715. Riddell's son William demolished most of the Castle for its materials in 1728. The remains comprise two tunnel vaulted basements east of the present house. The present mansion was built out of the ruins of the old Castle by Thomas Riddell about 1760. This new building said to be a striking cream colour (FG 1976), is a Grade 2* listed building