James VI & I took a great interest in Berwick.

Wood carvings from the Earl of Dunbar's Palace, now in Berwick Parish Church

In 1603 it was the first town to welcome him to his new kingdom of England, and one of his first acts was to confirm its ancient charter. One of his closest advisers, George Hume, Earl of Dunbar commissioned a palace on the site of the castle from James Murray, the king's master of works.

In 1611, with the palace all but complete, Dunbar died suddenly, "not without the suspicion of poison", as one chronicler says. All work was suspended.

The palace was demolished to provide stone for the Parish church and a splendid chest in the church preserves some of the carvings. But the Old Bridge, opened in 1634, the funding of which the Earl organised, survives as his permanent memorial.



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