Stranraer Castle

Stranraer Castle, Wigtonshire
Photo © jaqian, 20 August 2006

This is a conspicuous object in distant views of the town, and is seen rising above all the surrounding houses. These hem it in closely on all sides, so much so that the building is somewhat difficult to get at, and can only be seen from the back gardens of the adjoining houses. The castle has been heightened, probably in the seventeenth century, in a fantastic but picturesque manner. These alterations took place when the structure was converted into the town jail. The original building is of the ordinary type of the castles of Galloway, but of greater passive strength than many. It is nearly square on plan, measuring about 36 feet by 29 feet over the walls, with a staircase turret projecting 5 feet at the north-west corner, which is carried up to the top. The cellars are vaulted, and have very massive walls. The first floor is also vaulted. It will be observed that the north wall is of great thickness, and contains a considerable entresol mural chamber, about 21 feet long by 6 feet wide. Leading off the hall itself are several smaller mural closets, and of these several also occur on the other floors.

The history of the building does not appear to have been investigated, and almost nothing is chronicled regarding it. It is said to have been called "Chappel," and to have been the residence of the Kennedies of Chappel. From the continuous corbelling of the parapet, the large bead on the windows, and other details, it is probably a building of the sixteenth century.

References

Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland from the Twelfth to the Eighteenth Century by David Macgibbon and Thomas Ross, 1889