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Auchen Castle today

Scotland · Ruin

Auchen Castle

Auchen Castle is a ruined 13th-century quadrangular castle near Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway. The site retains earth-covered and rubble-faced stretches of its curtain walls and a rounded corner bastion; it was designated a scheduled monument in 1937.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1483

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1483

What Auchen Castle looked like in its prime.

A quadrangular enclosure of lowered, earth-reinforced curtain walls built of local pale grey rubble stone, set on a grassy low ridge above a valley and a steep ravine. The north side held the original entrance accessed by a causeway across two linked fish ponds; the north-west angle has a rounded bastion of coursed rubble. Much of the wall is now turf-covered earth with exposed stone faces and a broad surrounding ditch except at the north causeway.

Its story

The story of Auchen Castle.

Auchen Castle was probably built by the Kirkpatrick family in the early to mid-13th century, possibly to replace the nearby motte-and-bailey castle at Garpol Water, commanding the valley of the River Annan to the east and the ravine of the Garpol Burn to the south. Its walls were protected by a broad ditch, crossed on the north by a causeway over a linked pair of fish ponds.

The estate first appears on record in December 1306, in a charter by which Sir Roger de Kirkpatrick loaned money to Sir Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford. After Kirkpatrick's death at the siege of Lochmaben Castle in 1313, the lands appear to have passed to Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray; what happened to them after his death in 1332 is unclear.

By the 15th century the castle was owned by the Douglases of Morton, before passing to the Johnstones of Corehead, possibly during King James II's campaign against the Douglases. Earth-covered and rubble-faced stretches of the quadrangular curtain walls and a rounded corner bastion survive; the ruin was designated a scheduled monument in 1937.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1483.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Auchen Castle, including 2 interiors: garderobe in the east curtain wall, great hall (interior). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

South approach across the ridgeNorth causeway over linked fish pondsNorth entrance and dog-leg pendNorth-west round bastionGarderobe in the east curtain wallGreat hall (interior)Artillery-adapted curtain wall and parapet

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Whose castle

Clans who held Auchen Castle.

The families that held Auchen Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Kirkpatrick

    Probably built by the Kirkpatricks in the early to mid-13th century; held until Sir Roger de Kirkpatrick's death at the siege of Lochmaben in 1313.

  • Randolph

    Apparently held by Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, from 1313 until his death in 1332.

  • Douglas

    Held by the Douglases of Morton in the 15th century.

  • Johnstone

    Passed to the Johnstones of Corehead, possibly during James II's campaign against the Douglases.

Questions about Auchen Castle

What is the history of Auchen Castle?

Auchen Castle was probably built by the Kirkpatrick family in the early to mid-13th century, possibly replacing the motte-and-bailey castle at Garpol Water. The estate is first recorded in December 1306. After Sir Roger de Kirkpatrick died at the siege of Lochmaben Castle in 1313, ownership appears to have passed to Thomas Randolph, then to the Douglases of Morton and the Johnstones of Corehead.

What is inside Auchen Castle?

Inside Auchen Castle, the surviving features include a garderobe in the east curtain wall and the great hall. An inventory from October 1483 records furnishings and objects associated with the hall, including a folding table, bed curtains and canopy, hangings, a cushion, and kitchen ware.

Why was Auchen Castle built, and what was it used for?

Auchen Castle was built to command the valley of the River Annan to the east and the ravine of Garpol Burn to the south. Its walls and broad ditch provided defensive protection, while a north causeway crossed linked fish ponds. In the late 15th or early to mid-16th century, it was adapted for use as an artillery fortification.

Where is Auchen Castle?

Auchen Castle is near Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway. It stands on a grassy low ridge above a valley and a steep ravine, with the River Annan to the east and Garpol Burn to the south. The castle is located in the administrative territorial entity of Dumfries and Galloway.

When was Auchen Castle built?

Auchen Castle was built in the 13th century, probably in the early to mid-13th century. The first-raised year is not recorded. Its later development included an artillery adaptation in the late 15th or early to mid-16th century, when the walls were lowered and reinforced with masonry and earth.

Which family or clan held Auchen Castle?

The Kirkpatrick family probably held Auchen Castle first, followed by Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, from 1313 until his death in 1332. The Douglases of Morton held it in the 15th century, before it passed to the Johnstones of Corehead, possibly during James II's campaign against the Douglases.

What did Auchen Castle look like in its prime?

Auchen Castle was a quadrangular enclosure of lowered, earth-reinforced curtain walls built from local pale grey rubble stone. Its north side had an entrance reached by a causeway over two linked fish ponds, while the north-west angle had a rounded bastion. Much of the wall is now turf-covered earth with exposed stone faces and a broad surrounding ditch.

Is Auchen Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Auchen Castle is a ruin, but substantial parts of its curtain walls and a rounded corner bastion survive. The surviving walls are earth-covered and rubble-faced, with exposed stone faces in places. The ruin was designated a scheduled monument in 1937.

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