Comlongon Castle

Comnlongon Castle is a well-preserved and impressive great tower of c1500 which overlooks a small burn and wide low-lying lands which drain the Lochar Water into the Solway Firth. Adjacent is a baronial mansion which replaced earlier manorial buildings.

The lands were anciently part of the lordship of Nithsdale, and were granted to the Murray family in the 14th century, when the seat was a ditched mound by Cockpool farm, to the south-west, undoubtedly a site much assaulted during the wars with England. The license to build a new castle was granted in 1501 to Sir John Murray, who erected a great tower on a new site. The castle was briefly surrendered to the English during the Rough Wooing, but was recaptured a few months later. The tower was then maintained by the Murray family into the latter 18th century, by which time a mansion had been added. This became the main residence until 1900, when the present baronial building replaced it. Until recently the castle was run as a venue and hotel, but is not currently open to the public.

HES Canmore database entry