Associated with this ancient Castle, the reader of poetry cannot
fail to remember the delicately beautiful legend, regarding
a daughter of one of the Earls of March and the young Laird
of Tushielaw, as it has afforded a theme for the muse of two
of our most celebrated contemporaries—to Sir Walter Scott, in
his ballad “The Maid of Neidpath;” and to Mr Campbell, in
his song of “Earl March looked on his dying child.”
The Castle itself is more distinguished for strength than
architectural beauty; and was built by the powerful family of
Frazer, from which it passed, by intermarriage, into that of
the Hays of Yester, ancestors of the Marquis of Tweeddale.
In 1686, the second Earl sold his estates in Peebles-shire to the
first Duke of Queensberry, who settled them on his second son,
the Earl of March. At the death of the last Duke, the Castle
and adjoining estate fell, by succession, to the present Earl of
Wemyss, who also assumed the title of Earl of March.