The Bassett Family of Cornwall

Hume Castle is the heavily modified remnants of a late 12th or early 13th century "Castle of enceinte".

William, grandson of Waltheof, Earl of Dunbar, himself a descendant of the Earls of Northumbria, acquired the lands of Home in the early 13th century, and took his surname from his estate, a not uncommon practice of the time. It is assumed that he built the first stone fortifications at the site.

James II stayed at Home en route to the siege of Roxburgh Castle, the last English garrison left in Scotland following the Wars of Independence. (James was killed by an early Bombard during the siege.)

The change of the central vowel of the family name, "Home" to "Hume", is amusingly thought to have occurred during the disastrous Battle of Flodden in 1513. Alexander, 3rd Lord Home led his troops into the fray with his battle cry "A Home! A Home!", apparently many of his force thought that he was calling the retreat, and they did indeed go home.