Isle of Whithorn Castle

Isle of Whithorn Castle, Dumfries And Galloway Photo © Astrid Horn, 29 June 2009

Isle of Whithorn Castle, Dumfries And Galloway .

The castle, called "The Isle" in the 19th century, stands on elevated ground near the Drummulin Burn. The building is comparatively small and is nearly square in plan, although the principle of an 'L' shaped arrangement is retained. In the early 1800s it was the residence of the Superintendent of the Coastguard, Sir John Reid. The 'Captain's Garden' is an extension into the harbour, now with several houses on it, but originally a garden associated with the castle. Still called the Captain's Garden it is decorated with simulated man o'war gun ports. A one story servants quarters and outhouse is attached to the east of the castle. Above the door of these quarters is a stone with the initials of Patrick Houston of Drummaston and his wife Margaret Gordon, together with the likely date of construction, 1674. This stone has been moved from the old entrance door of the main building. The angle turrets on the second floor are carried on three plain corbels and do not show at all in the inside of the building. A Gothic-style porch was once attached to the Drumelan burn side of the castle.

The Bysbie corn mill was located on the other side of the Drummulin Burn from the castle and a sizeable mill pond and sluice supplied the water power; the mill remains lie behind the Queen's Arms Hotel. A Chalybeate 'Spa Well' was located below the castle as shown by the 1850s 6 inch to the mile OS map.

--ISLE OF WHITHORN CASTLE, WIGTONSHIRE.

This building, designated as above on the Ordnance Survey, but by Symson called "The Isle," and described as a "good stone house," is situated on elevated ground close to and overlooking the Isle of Whithorn. Round the knoll on which it stands there winds immediately to the north the Drumoulin (i.e. mill ridge) Burn, the mill itself standing just below the castle on the other side of the burn.

The Isle is a comparatively small building, measuring about 35 feet by 30 feet, and 27 feet or so to the wall head. It is thus nearly square in plan, although the principle of the L arrangement is still retained, and the angle is filled up with an ample staircase, only a portion of the steps of which are on the wheel.

The structure has, no doubt, undergone considerable changes, especially when occupied fifty or sixty years ago by Sir John Reid, Superintendent of the Coastguard. Only the western wing is vaulted, the east wing being (now at least) the kitchen. The entrance had evidently been at the foot of the staircase, but a large porch having been erected there, the doorway has been removed to afford a wider passage.

To the east a one-story range of building, nearly 50 feet in length, has been added for servants' and outhouse accommodation. Over the doorway in this range has been inserted a small stone with the initials P.H. and M.G., and the date 1674. The probability is that this stone may have been originally over the entrance door and transferred when it was taken down. The initials are evidently those of Patrick Houston of Drummaston, who is mentioned by Symson as proprietor here in 1684, and who probably built the castle. His wife's name was Margaret Gordon. The Houstons owned a considerable amount of land about the Isle and Whithorn, especially those of Drummaston, an old barony immediately to the south of Whithorn, the court hill of which is still in existence, and the barony book is in the possession of Sir Andrew Agnew.

The door to the vault has been at the north end, but it is now built up, and a door broken out to the south through what must have been a window. Above this are two floors with large modern windows, and now present no features of interest.

At each angle of the west wing on the second floor level there are angle turrets, each carried on three plain corbels, but they do not show at all in the inside. It is evident that all the arrangements have been extensively modified to suit modern comfort and convenience.

The roof timbers are of home-grown oak, and the slating is fixed to the sarking with wooden pegs. The building is entirely rough-cast and whitewashed, so that nothing can be seen of the old masonry.

THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND BY DAVID MACGIBBON AND THOMAS ROSS, 1889--