On this day in 1482: Berwick is captured by England

The historic Border town has changed hands between England and Scotland 13 times.

Aerial views of Berwick-Upon-Tweed. Picture: TSPL

Berwick, which has a population of around 12,000, has a mayor rather than a provost, as there would be in Scotland.

But the town’s ceremonial robes are purple instead of scarlet, which goes back to its time as a Royal Scottish Burgh.

It is the only English town with a football team in the Scottish Football League – Berwick Rangers, left, while the Tweed, is recognised as a Scottish river.

Research has found that 25 per cent of the town consider themselves English, 25 per cent Scottish, and half Berwickers.

Berwick, which has an English name meaning “corn farm”, began as a small settlement in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria.

It was taken by the Scots in 1018 and became a hotly disputed territory.

It continued to change hands until on this day, August 24, in 1482, it caputred by England and finally confirmed as English. It has remained so ever since.

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