of the old fortalice remained when it was visited by Francis Grose in 1790; it was used as a redoubt or citadel by the Lords of Tweedie and passed to the Hays family by marriage. The castle probably dates from the late 15th or early 16th centuries and may have been built by the Tweedies of nearby Drumelzier. The remains indicate a rectangular castle with curtain-walls that enclosed a courtyard with a tower-house at the south corner; circular towers were located at the north and west angles. An anonymous 17th-century account indicates that Tinnis Castle was blown up by Malcolm Fleming, 3rd Lord Fleming in the course of an ongoing feud between the Flemings and the Tweedies of Drumelzier. However, in 1592 James VI ordered the demolition of "Tynneis" belonging to James Stewart, with Harden and Dryhope, belonging to Walter Scott, for their part in the Earl of Bothwell's raid on Falkland Palace. The murder of John Fleming, 2nd Lord Fleming In 1524, John Fleming, 2nd Lord Fleming, was attacked and killed by a party of men led by John Tweedie of Drumelzier while hawking in the vicinity of the village. The feud between the Tweedies and the Flemings had its roots in Tweedie's desire to secure the marriage of Catherine Frizzel, heiress of Freud in Tweedsmuir, to his eldest son, James. Catherine may already have been married to one of Lord Fleming's illegitimate sons. Three surviving members of Fleming's party were held captive by the Tweedies until Catherine was delivered to Drumelzier. In 1530, in an attempt to resolve the dispute, the Lords of Council ruled that John Tweedie should fund a chaplaincy in Biggar to say masses for the soul of the murdered Lord Fleming. Merlin and Drumelzier In local tradition it is here, that Merlin, the great wizard of Arthurian legend, was imprisoned inside a riverbank tree by the enchantress Morgan le Fay. Many historical sites can be found in the area, from Bronze Age forts, to medieval casts. 'Myrddin Wyllt', 'Merlinus Caledonensis' or 'Merlin Sylvestris' (c. 540 – c. 584) is a Welsh figure in medieval legends, regarded as a prophet, madman, pagan and a prototype for today's composite representation of the Merlin of Arthurian legend. He was said to be born in Carmarthen, South Wales, which a popular but false folk etymology claims is named after the bard; Celticist A. O. H. Jarman suggests that