Dalswinton Castle

Dalswinton Castle Details

Dalswinton Castle, site of important C13 castle of Comyns & C14 castle of Stewarts. Replaced by C18 mansion, gardens sometimes open

  • Closest To: Dalswinton,Dumfries,Thornhill
  • Access: Occasional Access
  • Grid Reference: NX943841

Dalswinton Castle was perhaps once a very substantial border fortress which occupied a large natural mound overlooking the River Nith. The strategic value of the site known since Roman times, it seems likely that it was the site of a fort of the lords of Nithsdale in the 12th century.

The estate passed to the Comyn family by marriage, perhaps in the reign of Alexander II, and it is probably due to the Comyns that the substantial castle was built here, the walls of which may have been up to 4.5 metres thick. It was repeatedly targeted in the early 14th century Wars of Independence, and probably never brought back into use after Robert Bruce dismantled it in 1313. It may have been repaired, or replaced, by the Stewart family of Garlies in the early 15th century, and by the 16th century a tower and courtyard were occupied by the Stewarts here. In the early 17th century the Stewarts sold Dalswinton, and a new tower house was built on low ground, itself to be removed and a single tower left as a garden feature when the Miller family erected the new mansion on top of the mound. Today this house and estate are private and the gardens open one day a year through the Scotlands Gardens scheme.

HES Canmore database entry – Dalswinton Castle
HES Canmore database entry – Dalswinton Tower House
HES Canmore database entry – Dalswinton House
Dalswinton Estate Official website

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