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Threave Castle (HS)

Castle Douglas

This massive tower, on an island in the middle of the River Dee was the main stronghold in Galloway of Archibald ‘The Grim', third Earl of Douglas. It was built in the latter part of the 14th century. An unusual feature is the artillery fortification which surrounds the castle. This state of the art defensive work was built in about 1450 for the use of a newly invented weapon, the ‘Gun'. The entrance to the castle, at first floor level, used to be reached by timber stairs with a marble platform. At the upper level there were projecting wooden galleries. The holes of their timber supports can still be seen. The castle was partly demolished during the religious wars of the mid 17th century, although enough remained for it to house prisoners during the Napoleonic wars of the 19th century.