Cruggleton Castle

The ruins of the once-grand Cruggleton Castle are located high on a rocky promontory 1½ miles (2.5 km) south of Garlieston in the Machars of Dumfries and Galloway. Built in the 13th century on the site of an Iron-Age fortification, Cruggleton was a substantial courtyard castle that was the property of the Lords of Galloway. It passed to the Comyns but, during the Wars of Independence, Cruggleton was captured by King Edward I of England (1239 - 1307) before being retaken for Scotland by William Wallace (1274 - 1305). This original castle was probably destroyed, but a successor was in the 1370s by Archibald 'The Grim' Douglas (1328 - c.1400). This was also torn down c.1455 when the Black Douglases were suppressed by King James II (1430-60). Cruggleton was rebuilt and several ancillary ranges added in the 16th century. Its stormy history continued; the castle was placed under siege by John, 5th Lord Fleming in an attempt to force Robert Stewart, the Commendator of Whithorn, to turn over his lands. The castle was taken by the Kennedys and passed to the Agnews, before being abandoned in the late 17th century. The ruin was quarried for its stone and all that remains today is an arch which represents part of the vaulted roof of the kitchen.


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