Kirkintilloch Castle
Kirkintilloch Castle Details
Kirkintilloch, earthworks of C12/13 castle of Comyns and later Flemings. Probably abandoned by C15
- Closest To: Kirkintilloch
- Access: Free Public Access
- Grid Reference: NS651740
The earthworks of Kirkintilloch Castle are accessible to the public as they lie within the Peel Park. They overlook the Kelvin Water and are just to the north of the line of the Antonine Wall. What remains is about a quarter of the old castle mound and surrounding ditch. Early accounts show that the castle was surrounded not just by a ditch but also a bank, and that there were two stone walls, which is suggestive of extensive re-use of Roman remains.
The castle and settlement of Kirkintilloch were the property of the Comyn family from the 12th century and remained in their hands until 1307, when the family power was destroyed by Robert the Bruce. Kirkintilloch Castle, which had been held by a garrison of up to 70 English soldiers, was probably slighted at this point, having changed hands several times between 1299 and 1302. The new lord was Malcolm Fleming, but he elected not to rebuild Kirkintilloch, retaining his seat locally at his main property at Cumbernauld.
HES Canmore database entry
Local Authority web page for Peel Park