Scotland · Ruin
Carsluith Castle
Carsluith Castle is a small 15th–16th century Scottish tower house on the shore of Wigtown Bay in historical Kirkcudbrightshire, Galloway. Its main rectangular tower and a later stair tower survive as a ruin; the site is a scheduled monument in the care of Historic Environment Scotland and open to the public.
Its prime
1565
Today
Ruin
As it stood in 1565
What Carsluith Castle looked like in its prime.
A compact rectangular tower house set close to the shoreline, its main block rising to crow-step gables with corbelled wall-walks along the gable ends and three round turrets at corners. A later, narrower stair tower is attached to the north-east and is topped by a gabled cap-house. The ground-floor entrance is through the stair tower; the basement is vaulted and divided into two cellars with gunloops. Traces show a carved gargoyle drain on the west side and holes in the north wall where a timber gallery once stood.
Its story
The story of Carsluith Castle.
The lands of Carsluith, beside Wigtown Bay in Galloway, were held by the Cairns family until 1460, when they passed to James Lindsay of Fairgirth, Chamberlain of Galloway. Through the daughter of Sir Herbert Lindsay the castle then came to Richard Brown, and the tower that stands dates largely from the 16th century.
The Brown arms are carved above the door with the date 156-, the last digit is now illegible, though it was read as 4 in the 19th century. A Roman Catholic family, the Browns feuded with the Protestant McCullochs of Barholm; in 1579 Richard's son John was fined £40 when his own son failed to appear on a charge of murdering the McCulloch laird of Barholm.
The main tower, 9.8 by 7.6 metres, rises to crow-stepped gables with corbelled wall walks and round turrets on three corners, joined by a later stair tower with a gabled cap-house. Now a roofless ruin, Carsluith is a scheduled monument in the care of Historic Environment Scotland and open to the public.
Step inside
7 places to explore in 1565.
The record describes 7 distinct spots at Carsluith Castle, including 2 interiors: vaulted basement cellars with gunloops, hall with windows and fireplace. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
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Clans who held Carsluith Castle.
The families that held Carsluith Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.
Cairns
The Cairns family held the lands of Carsluith until 1460.
Lindsay
Held by the Lindsays from 1460, beginning with James Lindsay of Fairgirth, Chamberlain of Galloway.
Held by the Browns from the 16th century; their arms are carved above the door with the date 156-.
