Zamek Threave, Scottish guides, Historic Investigations
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The mighty tower of
Threave Castle
lies on an
island in the River Dee.
Today it is a peaceful place,
giving little hint of its
turbulent past and key role
in medieval Scotland.
INVESTIGATING
THREAVE CASTLE
Information for Teachers
INVESTIGATING
HISTORIC SITES
THREAVE CASTLE
2
Timeline
1000s
Island the
residence of Fergus, lord
of Galloway
The mighty tower of Threave Castle
lies on an island in the River Dee.
Today it is a peaceful place, giving
little hint of its turbulent past and
key role in medieval Scotland.
Pupils will enjoy the walk through
farmland, the boat trip across the
river and the chance to explore the
castle tower.
The ‘Black’ Douglas family, powerful
and ambitious, came into conlict with
the monarchs of the time. After James
II murdered the 8th earl at Stirling,
the 9th earl vowed to seek revenge. In
1447 the defences at Threave had been
fortiied with a new artillery house, one
of the irst purpose-built gun defences
in the British Isles. In 1455 their strength
was tested.
1308
Residence burned
by Robert the Bruce’s
brother
1369
Threave built for
Archibald ‘the Grim’
Douglas, lord of Galloway
1400
‘ The Grim’ dies
Historical background
After attacking all other major Douglas
strongholds, in June 1455, James II and
his army besieged Threave, his inal
target. The siege lasted for over two
months until the garrison was inally
bribed to surrender. After this the castle
became Crown property.
The defensive advantages of an island
are obvious and it is likely that Threave
island was inhabited from early times.
The name Threave comes from an
Old Welsh word meaning homestead,
perhaps dating habitation here to
the 6th century, when Welsh was the
language spoken locally.
1447
New fortiications
built
1452
James II murders
8th earl of Douglas at
Stirling
1455
James II besieges
Threave for two months;
garrison bribed to
surrender; Threave
annexed to Crown
In the 16th century the Maxwell family
was made keeper of the castle. Their
staunch Catholicism was seen as
suspicious in the post-Reformation
years and in 1639 the castle was once
again besieged by forces of Covenanters,
after Maxwell declared his support for
Charles I. Threave held out for 13 weeks,
until Charles I himself authorised the
surrender.
Traditionally this is where Fergus, lord of
Galloway had his residence in the 11th
century. This building was destroyed
by the brother of Robert the Bruce in
1308 after he defeated one of Fergus’
descendants in battle nearby.
1460
James II killed at
siege of Roxburgh Castle
1473
James III presents
castle to his wife, Queen
Margaret
1502
James IV visits
In 1369 Archibald ‘the Grim’, lord of
Galloway and later 3rd earl of Douglas
built Threave Castle as his strong and
defensive headquarters. However, he
spent little time here, much of his time
taken up with attendance at court and
parliament.
Since that time the castle has not been
inhabited. It was taken into state care in
1913.
1526
Lord Maxwell
becomes keeper of
Threave
1640
Threave besieged
by Covenanters;
surrendered after 13
weeks
1913
Threave taken into
state care
HISTORIC SCOTLAND
EDUCATION
THREAVE CASTLE
3
Supporting learning
and teaching
A visit to
Threave Castle
is
particularly appropriate for
teachers woking on class
study topics such as:
Before the visit
Working on site
• It is helpful if pupils have some of
the architectural terminology of
castles as this makes discussion
on site easier. Words particularly
relevant to Threave might include:
battlement, spiral stair, latrine
closet, gun loops, arrow slits
.
Other useful words are:
artillery,
ammunition, garrison, siege
. Pupils
could produce an illustrated class
dictionary to explain these and
other terms.
When exploring the castle, in addition
to our suggestions for discussion,
pupils should be encouraged to look
critically at what they see and to make
and test theories based on physical
evidence. Some general starting points
could include:
• The Middle Ages
• Castles
The
Curriculum for
Excellence
aspires to
motivate and challenge pupils
through a wide range of
varied learning experiences.
Site visits have a particular
role to play in joining up
learning outcomes across the
curriculum. A visit, and use of
the supporting materials, will
help to:
• What materials were used to build
the castle? Why were these materials
chosen? Are there any materials
which might have rotted away or
been stolen since then?
• Without going into too much detail,
it is worth discussing the Douglas
family and how they provided a
threat to the king.
• Do you think this room has always
looked like this? Can you see
anywhere it has been altered? Why
might it have been changed?
• develop successful
learners
by challenging
pupils to consider how life
has changed for people.
It will help them to think
critically about evidence
and arrive at their own
conclusions.
• What evidence is there for everyday
life?
• Help pupils gain a clearer grasp of
the time scale by making a time
line with them, counting back the
centuries and then marking on key
events in the history of the castle.
This could be added to after the
visit.
Pupils can record evidence by taking
notes, sketching, taking photographs,
recording impressions into a tape
recorder.
• develop conident
individuals
. Pupils wilI
learn about aspects of their
community’s past, develop
an understanding of social
changes, establish some
of their own values and
communicate their views
on different historical and
social issues.
On the Historic Scotland website:
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/
education_unit
teachers can ind
additional resources to help with work
on site. These include compiling an
Evidence Record and a My Impressions
Record.
• Discuss the organisation of life in a
castle. Pupils could investigate the
roles of the key castle ‘managers’:
steward, constable
or
keeper,
marshal
and
chaplain
. Further
details of this can be found in
the Historic Scotland publication
Investigating Medieval Castles in
Scotland
.
Suggestions for follow-up work
• develop responsible
citizens
. It will help to
increase pupils’ social
and historical knowledge
and understanding and
encourage greater respect
for their own historic and
built environment.
Following the visit pupils can pool their
indings in groups to create a fuller
record of the castle. This could form
the basis for a range of presentation
activites, for example:
• There is plenty of good evidence
on site relating to defending and
attacking castles. Discuss with pupils
the range of ways that castles could
be attacked and defended.
• A guide book or lealet for future
visitors.
• develop effective
contributors
by
broadening pupils’
knowledge and
understanding through
investigative, creative and
critical thinking.
• A slide show with commentary.
• Some children ind it hard to grasp
that a castle was ever anything
other than a ruin. Discuss how wind
and weather can affect the look
of a building as well as the many
deliberate changes that people
choose to make to buildings as their
use evolves.
• Imaginative writing based on
the lives of the people who lived
or worked at the castle – even a
prisoner.
• A series of drama sketches showing
snapshots of life in the castle through
the ages.
HISTORIC SCOTLAND
EDUCATION
THREAVE CASTLE
4
Plan of Threave Castle
On the trail of the
Black Douglases
Our suggested tour
route guides you and
your pupils around the
site at Threave. After the
introduction, it doesn’t
really matter on the order
in which you visit the
locations, so you may
prefer to split your class
into groups and start at
different points.
After crossing the river
and checking in with
the steward, we suggest
you visit these locations,
marked on the plan to
the right:
1. Introduction: Outside
the Castle
2. Outside the Tower
Based on drawing on
pp4/5 of plan, but with my
numbers rather than theirs,
plus ferry route and kiosk
marked.
3. The Tower Entrance
4. The Kitchen and Cellar
5. The Hall
6. The Artillery Tower
7. The Harbour
Background information
is given in the pack for
each location. It is written
in simple language so
that it can be read aloud
to pupils if desired. Also
included are suggested
questions for discussion.
Reconstruction drawing of tower
house
Cut-away reconstruction drawing
of tower house, as on pp8-9 of
guidebook, with labels
Allow about an hour for
the tour.
HISTORIC SCOTLAND
EDUCATION
THREAVE CASTLE
5
Did you know...
Tour notes: On the trail of the
Black Douglases
The Douglas family were
close allies of Robert
the Bruce. After he died,
Archibald the Grim’s
father, the ‘Good Sir
James’ Douglas was given
the task of taking Robert’s
heart on a pilgrimage to
the Holy Land. That’s why
they have a heart on their
shield.
Leave the coach in the carpark. Walk along a well-surfaced path for about half a
mile until it comes out at the River Dee. Ring a brass bell hanging by the river, which
will summon a small boat from the island. After everyone has crossed, check in with
the site steward at the ticket kiosk.
Stand beside the information board closest to the kiosk.
Location 1: Outside the Castle
Background information for teachers. This can be read to pupils.
• This castle was built more than 600 ago for a man called Archibald Douglas. He
was the lord of Galloway but was known to his enemies as Archibald the Grim and
to his friends as Lord Douglas.
• When the castle was irst built, several things would have looked a bit different.
The river was much higher then, so the island would have been smaller.
• There used to be lots of other buildings as well as the stone tower house. These
were where all the servants lived and worked, and where guests stayed.There
was probably a big hall here too, used for formal events. We know about these
buildings because archaeologists did a lot of work here, and found lots of objects
and the foundations of buildings.
• These buildings were pulled down in the 1440s when the castle was in danger of
being attacked, so that the defenders could have a clear view of the enemy. They
used the stone from these buildings to build the extra walls to defend the castle.
Threave from the ticket kiosk
Teacher prompts Desired pupil responses
Why do you think Archibald the Grim Easy to get to – river used as
thought that this was a good place for a castle? transport.
Easy to defend – on island, harder
for people to attack.
Flat all around – easy to see if
enemy is heading your way.
Arms of Archibald the Grim
Look at the picture on the left of the panel.
This is what historians think the castle looked
like in 1400. Compare it with what you can
see today.
What is the same? There is still an island, a tower
house, a river.
What has changed? Tower has no roof. Other
buildings no longer there. River
level is lower so island is bigger. A
stone wall has been built around
the tower, which is still there.
Can you see any signs today of the Some uneven humps and bumps
other buildings? where buildings used to be.
Go and stand closer to the tower, just to the right of the round defensive wall tower,
close to another big information panel showing a cross-section
HISTORIC SCOTLAND
EDUCATION
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