A modest summit on the north bank of the River Tweed, at the west end of Peebles High Street, Castle Hill is today occupied by the Old Parish Church of Peebles, with its modern church halls behind. However, it was once the site of Peebles Castle, founded by David I in the 12th century and regularly used as a Royal residence. The castle was probably destroyed in the 14th century, during the Wars of Independence, although is mentioned as late as 1685. By the 18th century it was being quarried for stone and bowling green was laid out on the western part of the site, with a new parish church was built to the east in 1783, to be replaced by the current church in 1887. All that now remains of the old castle is an indistinct motte and a section of post-Mediaeval wall. In 1977, archaeological investigations revealed traces of two wooden buildings on the summit of the motte, which were dated to the 12th century.
