Dunskey Castle

[1] Dunskey Castle is a scheduled monument,[2] a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.

[4] Timothy Pont's map drawn c. 1580 – 1590 shows Dunskay Castle with 2 watchtowers on the cliff edge fronting the sea.

[5] Francis Grose's drawing dated show of 10 May 1790s the ruins of the foundations and sea-wall on the south, and what looks to be the large entrance door in the southern corner from where the inside staircase may have led straight up to the new "Hall" built c.1520.

[8] and in 1291 the nearby Wigtown Castle was in the hands of the same Edward I who committed it to the charge of Walter de Currie or Cory / Corry / Coree (laird of Dunskey).

on John Balliol the Scottish King (reigned 1292-1296 after which Scotland was without a monarch for 10 years and Sir William Wallace fought the English in 1297, but was defeated at Falkirk in 1298).

[10][11][12][13] On 28 August 1296 the Ragman Rolls for Wigtownshire had been compiled at Berwick-on-Tweed, which time and place King Edward I of England also convened a Parliament of those Scottish nobles summoned by him to attend at the border city.

The Wigtownshire roll contained 26 names, and some who were later associated with Dunskey Castle were Thomas de KITHEHILT (Adair of Kinhilt / Kilhelt); Fergus MakDowylt (MacDowell); Thomas MacUlagh (MacCullough / McCullagh); Andrew (McDowell) de Logan; Dougal MacDowly (MacDowell / McDowell); Gilbert de Hanneth (Hannay); William MacUlagh (MacCullough / McCullagh); Michel MacUlagh (MacCullough); Johan Seneschal (Stewart, from whom descended the Earls of Darnly and Lennox); Maria, Queen of Mann and the Isles.

suo, – quod ipse Gilbertus et heredes sui masculi essent caput totius progeniei sue tam in calumpniis quam in aliis articulis et negotiis ad KENKYNOLL pertinere valentibus; unaetum officio ballivi comitatus de Carric et hominum ipsius dectione et cum armorum ostensione in omnibus, sub comite de Carric qui pro tempore fuerit; – que idem Gilb.

[20] – was he a bailie & Kenkynol, as Exchequer Roll 1455 shows Gilberti Kenedy, BALLIVI comitatus de carric had ward of Kylnnahelt (Dunskey).

[21] Gilbert Kennedy of Dunure, bailie of Carrick, did not enjoy Dunskey Castle for long as in 1455, Exchequer Rolls of Scotland records that he was compensated for NOT having the ward of Adair.

In 1457 the Exchequer Rolls, Vigtoun (Wigtownshire) listed "Libri Responsionum" notes that Rolandi Adair t. Gilhelt (Kilhelt) had sasine of Crecach, Dunnone, Pennyanach, Kildonan (Dunskey, o'wise Portree see p. 688), Carny, and Lochbeg (Laughbeg or Middle Laigh).

[24] Carny is shown on Pont's map as "Karn Multibrugh" north of Lefnol (Leffnoll / Lesnoll / Lochnoll) and as "Cairn" on Ainslie's 1782 map of the County of Wigton, in the National Library of Scotland, digital library early maps[25] In 1486 ADAIR (Adare), Rolland, deceased, father of William Adair (who must have been under-age) the ward of his lands of Kilhelt, Portre (Dunskey), Kildonane and Drummore, had been granted to an Alexander Bruce c.1468 who had had them in error for 18 years.

[27] About 1489 Dunskey / Dunsky Tower House [ otherwise Castle ] was partially burnt by Sir Alexander (Sandy) M'Culloch of Myrtoun Clan McCulloch.

[30]29 August 1496 "Anent the complaynt made be Wilzeam Adaire of Kilhelt and Archibald Makculloch of Ardwell apoun Schir Alexander McCulloch of Mertoune, knicht Clan McCulloch, Owchtre McDowell of Gerthloy (Uchtred McDowell of Garthland) Clan Macdowall, and thare complicis, that quhair thai war dylatit of art and part of the slauchter of umquhile DYONYSE of Hammyltoun, quilkis was slane on Mydsummer evin that last was, in the toune of Wigtoun, thai bean innocent thareof, and was redy al tymes to underly our soverane Lordis lawis tharefore as was allegiit, quharefore the persons forsaid with thare complicis assegit the place of DUNSKAY pertenyng to the sade Wilzeam Adair and rasit fyre and byrnt the sammyn and skaithit the said Wilzeam in househald geire tharethrou, extending to the soume of xl li., throw the quhilk fyre rasing thai birnt ane box pertenyng to Elyse McCulloch quhilk thai had in keping and in it j li.

[34] The arched entrance appeared to be approximately at the south-eastern bottom corner room with circular steps leading up to the new hall.

[37][38] In 1520–1521 Ninian Adair had only a short time to enjoy his new additions to Dunskey Castle as in 1523 his son William was mentioned as his heir.

[39] In 1520–1521 (as Ninian Adair's heir, William, was under-age) the warde his lands (including Dunskey castle) were put into the hands of the Gilbert Kennedy, 2nd Earl of Cassilis and Lord Maxwell.

"Joane Montgrumie alias Mackmath, relict of the "deceased" Hew Montgrumie sometime of Balharie in the Country of Doune, (Ireland), gentleman" "the 3 merk land of Marrock, with the castle, tower and fortalice of Dunskey situate thereupon" to which lands had pertained to Hew Montgomery now Viscount of Airds, his father (John Shaw's father-in-law?

"[48]Viscount Montgomery was heavily in mortgage after sustaining his troops for a long period, (as was Sir Robert McLellan), so Dunskey Castle passed to the Blair family who were or had been Ministers at Portmontgomery als Portpatrick.

p. 814 #2156 Apud Edinburgh, 10 January (1649) REX, – concessit et de novo dedit (KING Charles I – consents to a new deed ?)

The Viscount was in financial difficulties due to the upkeep of his troops, and had borrowed largely from his agent who foreclosed on a mortgage and became possessed of the whole of the Montgomery property in Galloway.

[51][52][53] By 1684 Dunskey Castle was in ruin, only 50 years after Viscount Montgomery had added the new gallery wing extensions.